In-spite-of a regular season which does not allow for inter-district competition, covid mitigation plans which have limited spectators and contests, and a recent spike in covid numbers in the Mat-Su School District and closure of multiple Mat-Su schools which play hockey; ASAA Division II hockey teams will be afforded a season-culminating state championship event.
The ASAA/First National Bank Division II State Hockey Championships are scheduled for February 17 – 20 at the Menard Arena in Wasilla. The state hockey tournament will feature a play-in game on Wednesday, February 17th, with the winning team advancing into the bracketed-tournament format.
The proposed tournament includes four teams from the combined Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula (basically the Railbelt Conference) and three teams representing the Interior (Aurora Conference) and a team from Juneau (combined Juneau High and Thunder Mountain). Juneau has not played a conference game, but was awarded a berth to the DII hockey tournament.
According to Palmer High athletic director and ASAA board president Dale Ewart, based on current team records, the play-in game would be a pairing of Homer High from the Kenai Peninsula and Houston High from the Mat-Su.
The unofficial bracket for the first round of the Division II championships: Thursday, February 18th
Valley 1 vs Aurora 3
Peninsula 2 vs Aurora 1
Juneau 1 vs winner of Play-in Game
Peninsula 1 vs Aurora 2
ASAA will release the official state qualifiers and tournament brackets following the completion of the regular season on Saturday.
