State tourney turns on puck bounce for Moose

WASILLA — A bounce or two in a different direction and the Palmer Moose could be headed to the state semifinals for the first time since 2009

But the Service Cougars used a fortunate bounce to grab the go-ahead goal early in the third period and score a 2-1 win over the Moose during the first round of the ASAA/First National Cup 4A state hockey championships at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Thursday.

Aaron McInnis scored the game-winning goal with 10 minutes left in the third period to lead the Cougars past the Moose and into the championship semifinals. Service will face rival South Anchorage tonight at 8 p.m.

“It could have gone either way,” Palmer head coach Brad Hanson said.

The shots were nearly identical, 24 for the Cougars and 23 for the Moose, and the teams played nearly two full periods of hockey before seeing the first score.

“It was a great game, an even game,” Hanson said. “That last goal, we should have got the puck out of the zone.”

Service’s Henry Yawit grab a turnover in the Palmer defensive zone, and dropped a pass back to McInnis to set up the game-winning score. Not only was it the game-winner, it provided a quick answer for Palmer’s game-tying goal.

Early in the third period, with the Moose skating on the power play, Ivan Good stepped up between the circles and slipped a shot into the Cougar net. That goal came at the 13:41 mark. McInnis scored just more than three minutes later.

Service held the first lead of the game, thanks to Glenn Corey’s goal with 3:43 left in the second. Service won a battle in the corner, moved the puck to the right wing circle and then to Corey, who stood between the circles.

With the loss, Palmer drops back to play West Valley today in the consolation semifinals at 8 a.m.

Both goalies came up with big saves in the game. Palmer sophomore Ashton Good finished with 22 saves.

“This is where he needs to shine,” Hanson said of Good.

“For the seven seniors, they’ve got to end on a good note,” Hanson said.

A win would push Palmer into the fourth-place game.

In other action on the bottom side of the bracket, defending state champion South Anchorage blanked West Valley 5-0. Kody Frantz scored twice in the win. The Wolverines also had a pair of shorthanded goals.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.