Warriors make statement, place 3rd

WASILLA —Wasilla may have finished one win shy of advancing to the state title game for the first time in 25 years, but the Warriors did accomplish something the Wasilla hockey program had not done in just as long — finish among the top 3 teams in the state.

Wasilla posted its first top-3 finish since 1989 with a 4-1 win over Chugiak in the ASAA First National Cup third-place game at the Menard Arena Saturday afternoon.

“We wish we would have been in that championship game for sure, but third is the best we’ve done in a long time,” senior captain Andrew Cooley said after the game. “We’ll take it. It’s been a good year. We’ll cap it with that.”

Wasilla’s roller coaster weekend started with a 4-3 upset of two-time defending state champion Dimond in the first round. The Warriors were down 3-0, but scored four unanswered goals to earn the program’s first state quarterfinal win since 2005. Wasilla was in reach of its first state tournament appearance since 1989, but suffered a 4-2 loss to West Anchorage Friday in the semifinals. Tyler Hansen, another senior captain, said it was tough to rebound from Friday’s loss, but he was proud of what the Warriors accomplished.

“It was hard getting up for this game after the loss. But we can definitely look back and be proud, especially going off on a winning note. Winning our last game. That’s going to stick in my mind,” Hansen said moments after posing for pictures with his five fellow seniors on the team. “Sure, we could have done something different (Friday). As far as I’m concerned, you can’t change that. You got to move forward. I’m really happy with where we are now.”

Wasilla head coach Trent Schachle, a Warrior alum who skated on teams that finished third in 1988 and second in 1989, echoed his players’ sentiments.

“It’s great for the kids, great for the team,” Schachle said of the win and the finish. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been third place.”

Wasilla used three goals in the final 3 minutes and 20 seconds of regulation to cement the third-place finish. Cooley broke the 1-1 tie. The defenseman raced up the left wing, through the circle and sent a shot into the far side of the Chugiak net.

“I thought, something’s got to happen now. I had Cooper (Hanson) on the far side, but I thought this is my chance,” Cooley said.

Cooley took the chance and delivered the game-winning goal for the Warriors.

“It was incredible,” Hanson said of the Cooley goal. “I was saying all day, we were working hard, but couldn’t put the puck in. Once we get one, the floodgates open. Sure enough, that happened.”

Wasilla needed less than a minute to add to its tally. Junior Tanner Schachle took a pass from Hanson, and used a quick move to beat a Chugiak defenseman, and another highlight reel-worthy move to freeze Chugiak goalie D.J. Paxon. Schachle scored to give Wasilla the 3-1 lead.

“That’s Warrior hockey right there,” Cooley said. “Come back, bear down and put away a couple goals.”

Late in the game, senior Forest Strick popped a puck over Paxon in the net to ice the game and give the Warriors the 4-1 advantage.

Freshman goalie Wyatt Monear made 24 saves to earn the win for the Warriors.

Trent Schachle said the message to the team was to continue working.

“We wanted to remind the kids, for six of these kids this is their last game. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for them,” Schachle said.

Schachle’s senior class includes Cooley, Hansen, Hanson, Strick, Jack Reeves and Troy Verplancke.

Wasilla 4, Chugiak 1

4A third-place game

Saturday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Wasilla- Schachle (Reeves, Hanson) 13:17; 2. Chugiak- Campbell (Casey) 3:46.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 3. Wasilla- Cooley (Reeves) 3:20; 4. Wasilla- Schachle (Hanson) 2:28; 5. Wasilla- Strick (Apangalook, Matson) 0:12.

Shots on goal: Wasilla 11-15-15—41, Chugiak 10-2-13—25; Saves: Chugiak- Paxon 10-15-12—37; Wasilla- Monear 9-2-13—24.