The hockey opener for the Soldotna Stars featured a rematch of the 2020 Division II hockey state championship pairing, the Stars and Mariners facing-off on Saturday at the Kevin Bell Arena in Homer.
SoHi topped Homer 2-1 with an overtime goal by Gavin Haakenson.
SoHi 2 – Homer 1 Overtime
The Stars opened the regular season with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Mariners on the strength solid goaltending by freshman net-minder Tanner Clyde.
The Stars opened scoring with a power-play goal at 13:08 of the first period by Aiden Burcham. The Mariners tied the game with a second period goal by Casey Otis, the only goal of the period. Following a scoreless third period, the Stars scored the game-winner with 3:21 remaining in the overtime period with a game-winning goal by Gavin Haakenson.
SoHi goalie Tanner Clyde recorded 20 saves in the Star’s victory; Homer goalie Keegan Strong notched 29 saves.
Stars 2, Mariners 1, OT
Soldotna 1 0 0 1 —2
Homer 0 1 0 0 —1
First period — 1. Soldotna, Burcham (Walton), 13:08.
Second period — 2. Homer, Otis (Stineff), 5:35.
Overtime — 3. Soldotna, Haakenson (Walton), 4:21.
Goalies — Soldotna, Clyde (21 shots, 20 saves); Homer, Strong (31 shots, 29 saves).
