On the strength of a four-goal, third period, the Homer Mariners rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat Houston 6-3 in first round action at the ASAA Division II State Hockey Championships on Thursday in Wasilla.
After a scoreless first period, the Houston Hawks netted a pair of goals for a 2-0 lead midway through the second period; goals by Eric Preboski and Anfim Konev.
Homer answered with a Hunter Green goal and a Brock Barth goal to even the game at 2-2 at the end of the second period.
Houston took back the lead at 5:40 of the third with a goal by Afanasy Efinov.
Then the flood gates opened for the Mariners as Homer scored four, unanswered goals. Kaiden Stineff tied the game at 3-3. Hunter Green gave Homer the lead at 4-3; Dylan Arno added a goal for a 5-3 Homer lead; and Casey Otis closed the scoring with a goal to give Homer the 6-3 victory. In goal for Homer, Keegan Strong recorded 27 saves on 30 shots.
Homer advances to play North Pole in the winner’s semi-final on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.
Follow the state hockey tournament on ESPN 1140AM and streaming live and free at radoiokenai.com.
