West Eagle skaters fly by Hawks

WASILLA -- The West Eagles skated past the Houston Hawks 6-2 in prep hockey action at the Brett Ice Arena Friday.

The contest paired the large school Eagles with the two-time defending small school state champions.

The Eagles kept constant pressure on the Hawks, peppering Houston goaltender Mathew Dischner with 63 shots, including 26 in the second period.

Special teams proved to be the difference in the game with West netting three power play goals in five opportunities while Houston was 0-7 with the advantage.

The teams combined for 17 penalties worth 52 minutes in the contest.

"They were fired up and we did some youthful things," Houston head coach Jamie Smith said. "They are a large school looking for their first win and we are the small school. They have everything to win and we have nothing to lose."

West held only a 1-0 lead after the first period, but was able to stretch the margin to 2-0 quickly into the second frame.

West gained possession right off the opening face off of the second period and fired a goal past Dirshner.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second period, Houston cut the score to 2-1. Houston intercepted a West pass in the Eagles' zone and sophomore winger Wade Williams skated up the ice, accelerating past a West defensemen, and scored for the Hawks.

Minutes later, West was whistled with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but a Houston holding penalty negated the Hawk power play.

Following three seconds of 4-on-4 hockey, West went on the power play and almost immediately scored.

Drew Bullock skated around the back of the net, turned toward the goal and pushed the puck right below the crossbar to give West a 3-1 lead.

Bullock scored again just two minutes later taking a pass of the face off and scoring from the right corner of the net.

Late in the third period, Houston cut the score to 6-2 as freshman Larry Kincaid scored his third career goal. Kincaid took a pass from Matthew Bertling, skated down the right side of the ice and put the puck over the shoulder of the West goaltender.

The contest is one of 10 games that Houston will play against large school opponents this season.

"It is important to us that we don't fall back on our laurels," Smith said. "We may be the top dog at 3A, but there is always room for improvement."