Wasilla scores hockey win over Houston

WASILLA — With a pair of quick strikes late in the first period and a stellar effort by its goalie, Houston nearly pulled off the big upset Wednesday.

But Wasilla senior Troy Verplancke scored with only 12 seconds left to give the Warriors a 5-4 nonconference win over the Hawks.

The Verplancke goal capped a Wasilla rally that saw the Warriors erase a deficit three times in the contest. Houston led 2-0 after the first period, and by scores of 3-2 and 4-3 in the second.

Junior defenseman Blake Carricaburu sparked the rally, scoring Wasilla’s first two goals of the game. He scored at the 13:17 mark of the second, and added another goal only 70 seconds later. Luke Schruf and Jack Reeves also scored during the second period for the Warriors, who outshot Houston 18-3 in the middle frame and 42-10 in the game.

Houston goalie Rhys Jones, a former Wasilla netminder, finished with 37 saves in the loss. Of the total, 34 stops came during the final two periods. Wasilla also outshot Houston 21-2 during the third.

The Jon Ball-Jon Lovelace connection continued to fuel the Houston offense. Ball and Lovelace each scored during a six-second span late in the first to give the Hawks’ the 2-0 lead. Lovelace added two goals in the second, giving him the hat trick. He also set up Ball’s goal with 58 seconds left in the first period.

Wasilla 5, Houston 4

Wednesday, Brett Arena

First period — 1. Houston- Ball (Lovelace) 0:58; 2. Houston- Lovelace (Ball) 0:52.

Second period — 3. Wasilla- Carricaburu (unassisted) 13:17; 4. Wasilla- Carricaburu (Clark, Tubbs) 12:07; 5. Houston- Lovelace (Thistle) 11:52; 6. Wasilla- Schruf (Reeves) 8:17; 7. Houston- Lovelace (unassisted) 1:19; 8. Wasilla- Reeves (Schruf) 0:26.6.

Third period — 9. Wasilla- T. Verplancke (Schruf, Apangalook) 0:12.

Shots on goal: Houston 5-3-2—10, Wasilla 3-18-21—42; Saves: Houston- Jones 3-14-20—37, Wasilla- K. Verplancke 3-1-2—6.