Representing Division II hockey at the Division I state hockey tournament is no small feat; the Homer Mariners, 2020 Division II hockey state champions, represented well in the tournament’s opening round.
South Anchorage, the #3 seed in the Division I bracket, downed the #6 seed Mariners 4-2 in tournament play on Thursday at the Curtis Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla.
South 4 – Homer 2
Homer goalie Keegan Strong turned-away 33 shots in a 4-2 loss to the South Wolverines, the Mariners battling to the final horn trailing by a lone goal until an empty-netter in the final minute gave South a two-goal cushion.
Kazden Stineff scored Homer’s first goal in the second period. Alden Ross pulled the Mariners to within a goal at 3-2 early in the third period (2:22).
The Mariners continue state tournament play with a pairing against Dimond (loser to #7 seed Colony) at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
The 2020 DI hockey state tournament is the second state tournament to feature a DII program in the eight-team bracket. The format originated in 2019 with the Palmer Moose losing to South in the first round 10-0.
Division I State Hockey Bracket: Click Here!
ASAA First National Cup Division I hockey championships
Thursday’s games
West 6, Service 1
South 4, Homer 2
Dimond 2, Colony 3 2OT Colony upsets #2 seed Dimond
Wasilla 7 – Eagle River 4
