Palmer hockey squad notches top seed in upcoming North Star Conference tournament

WASILLA — The Palmer Moose have risen from the cellar.

After years of struggles to fight out of the bottom of the North Star Conference, the Moose are now sitting on top.

Palmer used a 4-0 win over the Wasilla Warriors at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Friday to claim the top spot in the NSC and score the first seed in the upcoming conference tourney.

Palmer senior Michael Hanson scored a pair of goals to lead the Moose to their ninth NSC win of the season. Senior Zach Richards and sophomore Jared Hanson also scored for PHS.

Goalie Will Rauchenstein stopped 18 Wasilla shots to earn the win in the Palmer net.

Palmer and second-seeded Soldotna (8-1-1) have first-round byes in the conference tournament that starts Thursday at the Menard Arena. Wasilla (7-2-1) is the third seed. A complete schedule can be found in the Tuesday edition of the Frontiersman. For more on Palmer’s win over Wasilla, see the Sunday edition.

Palmer 4, Wasilla 0

Friday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Palmer- J. Hanson (M. Hanson, Good) 9:54, 2. Palmer- M. Hanson (J. Hanson) sh 7:16.

Second period — 3. Palmer- M. Hanson (Good) 9:16, 4. Palmer- Richards (Isaacs, Reeves) pp 3:55.

Shots on goal: Palmer 8-14-9—31, Wasilla 6-5-5—16; Saves: Palmer- Rauchenstein 6-5-5—16, Wasilla- Yaskus 6-12-9—29.