Wasilla special teams shine in win over Knights

WASILLA — Even playing a man down, the Wasilla Warriors still found ways to frustrate the Colony Knights.

With the Cooper Hanson-led forecheck and its veteran top-4 on the blue line, Wasilla killed 9 of 10 penalties during a 4-1 win over the Knights at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena on Friday.

“I felt a few of those power plays we controlled,” Wasilla first-year head coach Trent Schachle said after the win.

Austin Cook, Cody Butcher, Tanner Schachle and Olaf Jensen each scored goals for the Warriors (3-0), but Wasilla’s penalty kill unit was the story of the game for WHS.

Thanks to the forechecking forwards and its play in the back end, Wasilla allowed only eight shots during the first two periods, despite allowing seven Colony power plays.

“The kids were aggressive on the puck tonight,” Schachle said. “We control the puck, we control the game.”

Colony converted on its ninth power-play chance of the game when blue liner Logan Sanders sent a shot from the top of the left wing circle into the net.

Kiana Verplancke did not allow a score until that Sanders goal early in the third, and earned the win in net for the Warriors.

“I thought Kiana played great,” Schachle said.

Cook gave the Warriors the 1-0 lead late in the first. Cook, skating in the neutral zone, dumped the puck into the Colony defensive zone. The puck took an odd bounce and hopped over the shoulder of Colony goaltender Colton Beebe, and gave Cook the unassisted shorthanded tally.

“We got that lucky bounce. That happens in hockey,” Schachle said. “It was a tough one for the goalie. It stinks for Beebe. But that happens. It happens in the NHL, lucky goals like that.”

Schachle said he was pleased with his team’s play early. The Warriors outshot Colony 8-4 in the first, and 16-8 during the first two periods.

“I thought we outplayed them in the first. We just needed to keep putting the puck on the net,” Schachle said.

Butcher knocked in a rebound of a Forrest Strick shot early in the second, and Tanner Schachle sent a laser from the top of the left wing circle, into the far upper corner of the net with 4:31 left in the period. Jensen added his goal in the third period.

Butcher led the Warriors with a goal and an assist. Tyler Hansen, Adam Apangalook and Garrett Conroy also had assists for Wasilla.

Wasilla 2, South 1

Freshman Wyatt Monear stopped 20 shots to lead Wasilla to a 2-1 win over South Anchorage Saturday night at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Wasilla 2, West 1

Luke Schruf supplied the game-winning goal to lead Wasilla to a 2-1 win over West Anchorage at the McDonald Center in Eagle River Tuesday.