Moose storm to win during first day of Division II state hockey tourney

The Palmer Moose held a modest two-goal lead after the first period. And then the floodgates opened.

Palmer scored nine goals during the final two periods and stormed to an 11-0 win over Tri Valley during the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank Division II State Hockey Championships Thursday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

With the win, the Moose skate into the Division II semifinals for the third straight year. Palmer captured the 2019 Division II state title and finished third last year. The Moose will face Soldotna Friday at 4 p.m. at the Menard.

Seven different Palmer players scored a goal and 16 different skaters recorded at least a point during the lopsided victory. Carter Greco led the Moose with a five-point night, bagging two goals and three assists. Nathan Wheeler and Xander Logan scored two goals each. Gavin Gore, Owen Hayes, Dylan Garrettson and Sophia Johnson also scored. Jeremy Horacek led Palmer with four assists.

The Moose outshot Tri Valley 42-6 in the win, and a combined 28-0 during the final two periods. Joseph Horacek recorded the shutout in the Moose net. Tri Valley’s Danny Renshaw made 31 saves in the loss.

Tri Valley plays Monroe Friday at 1 p.m. in the consolation round.

Homer 6, Houston 3

Defending Division II state champion Homer used four unanswered goals to get past Houston during the state quarterfinals Thursday.

Afanasy Efmov gave Houston the 3-2 lead, scoring with 9:33 left in regulation. Just more than a minute later, Kazden Stineff tied the score for Homer. Hunter Green provided the game-winner for the Mariners at the 3:52 mark of the third. Homer added a pair of late goals during a 61-second span.

After a scoreless first, Houston took a lead twice in the second period with goals by Eric Preboski and Anfim Konev.

Homer outshot Houston 30-26 in the win. Ari Bunside made 32 saves for the Hawks.

Homer moves on to face North Pole Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals. Houston faces Kenai at 10 a.m. in the consolation round.

Soldotna 6, Monroe 5 OT

Soldotna’s Aiden Burcham scored early in the extra period to lift the Stars to a 6-5 overtime win over Monroe Catholic during the Division II quarterfinals Thursday.

Silas Larsen led SoHi with a pair of goals. Chris Hodges notched a hat trick for the Rams.

Soldotna moves on to meet Palmer Friday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. Monroe will face Tri Valley Friday at 1 p.m. in the consolation round.

North Pole 4, Kenai Central 2

North Pole netminder made 36 saves to lead the Patriots to a 4-2 win over Kenai during the Division II quarterfinals Thursday. North Pole was outshot 40-24 in the game.

Kaleb Johnson scored twice for the Patriots.

North Pole moves forward and will face defending state champion Homer Friday at 7 p.m in the semifinals. Kenai plays Houston Friday at 10 a.m. in the consolation round.

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