Hockey teams vie for state berths

SOLDOTNA The North Star Conference tournament got under way yesterday at the Central Peninsula Sports Center in Soldotna, with two teams earning berths in the state tournament.

Colony entered the tournament as the top seed, and earned a first-round bye. Soldotna, which handed Colony its only regular-season conference defeat, earned the second seed and the other bye awarded in the tournament.

Last night, Wasilla and Palmer squared off, with the winner facing Soldotna today. In the other first-round game, Kenai and Skyview squared off, with the winner facing Colony.

Both first-round games were played after the Frontiersman went to press. A complete recap of the entire tournament will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Frontiersman.

The Knights clearly enter the tournament as the favorites. They have beaten several Anchorage teams this year, and nearly went undefeated in the conference play, falling only once to Soldotna. The Knights atoned for that defeat by beating Soldotna two weeks ago.

The Warriors, on the other hand, look to make some waves with an upset of their own. Wasilla has played tough under new head coach Marc Dugas, with discipline on the ice given the utmost attention. The result has been some strong games of late, something the Warriors hope to carry over into the regional tournament.

Palmer has struggled this season, but the Moose have constantly been improving. Two weeks ago, they beat Kenai for their first and only conference victory, but they showed they have the ability to beat teams that do not take them seriously.

Wasilla beat Palmer 4-2 last week in what turned out to be a preview of a first-round game.

All games are being played at the Central Peninsula Sports Center.

The top two teams in the North Star Conference tournament advance to the state tournament, which is held next weekend at the same arena. Photo: Wasilla goalie Nathan Banbury makes a glove save while Garrett Willis helps. The North Star Conference tournament began yesterday in Soldotna.Photo by CASEY RESSLER.