D’oh! Warriors thump Homer

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors are just one win away from the state tournament.

Wasilla used a 4-0 win over Homer during the first round of the North Star Conference tournament at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Thursday, and now sit within reach of its fifth straight state tournament berth.

“It’s a good start,” Wasilla captain Dylan Troisi said of the win over the Mariners.

Jade Johnston, Jeremiah Walker, Trent Wohlers and Eric Marshall each scored in a win that sets up a second-round match with second-seeded Soldotna.

Troisi admitted it was a bit difficult not to look past a Homer team that the Warriors had their share of success against this season and ahead to a Soldotna squad that the Warriors have registered a win and a tie against this year.

“It’s pretty tough, especially with a really young team,” Troisi said.

Johnston and Walker gave the Warriors the early lead, scoring within a 54-second stretch in the first period. Johnston beat Homer netminder Luke Eckert at the 10:50 mark and Walker registered an unassisted tally less than a minute later.

Wohlers and Marshall scored in the third period for WHS.

Walker, Johnston, Ryder Conroy, Skyler Day and Travis Koso each picked up assists for the Warriors, who outshot Homer 36-13 in the win.

Chris Yaskus earned the shutout in the Wasilla net.

Top-seeded Palmer and fifth-seeded Kenai Central will meet in the other semifinal match tonight. The Moose and the Kardinals face off at 5 p.m., and the Warriors and Stars will follow. The winners of each match will earn a berth to the state tournament, which starts Feb. 12 at the Menard Arena.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 4, Homer 0

North Star Conference tournament

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Wasilla- J. Johnston (Conroy) 10:50, 2. Wasilla- Walker (unassisted) 9:56.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 3. Wasilla- Wohlers (J. Johnston, Day) 10:47, 4. Wasilla- Marshall (Walker, Koso) 1:55.

Goalies: Homer- Eckert 32 saves, Wasilla- Yaskus 13 saves.