Warriors back in state tourney

The last time the Wasilla hockey team advanced to the 4A state tournament, a democrat was the country's commander in chief, Nirvana topped the Billboard Music Charts and flannel was all the rage in fashion.

Several years have gone by and just a hair under a decade later, the Warriors are back to compete for the state title.

After an excellent regular season in which the Warriors finished 9-3 in Region III play, the Warriors will be in the hunt for a state medal. Unfortunately for the Warriors, their track toward hockey gold could not be any tougher as they drew two-time defending state champion Service in the first round.

Wasilla plays either Dimond or West Valley today at 11:30 in Kenai.

The Warriors earned their first state tourney berth of the 21st century with a 4-3 win over Skyview in the Region III semifinals. Wasilla overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to notch the win.

Chase Korsmo and Track Palin scored goals within a 10 second span midway through the second period to give Wasilla a 3-2 lead and Korsmo scored again four minutes into the third frame to seal the win for the Warriors.

Wasilla followed with a 6-1 loss to Kenai in the region championship game.

Kenai, the fourth seed in the tourney, opened with West and plays either Lathrop or Chugiak

today.