The Homer Mariners claim their second-straight ASAA Division II Hockey State Championship defeating the Palmer Moose 3-2 in overtime in the championship game on Saturday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.
Homer played in its third-straight championship game; falling to Palmer in overtime 6-5 in 2019 and defeating SoHi 4-1 in 2020.
Homer 3 – Palmer 2 Overtime
The Mariners recovered from a opening onslaught by Palmer, which featured two Palmer goals in the first two minutes of the championship contest. Xander Logan scored at 1:22 and Nathan Wheeler scored at 1:48 to stake Palmer to a 2-0 lead before most spectators had settled-in.
The Mariners defense stiffened and Homer shut-out Palmer for the remainder of the game.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Casey Otis put Homer on the board with a 5 on 3 power-play goal and an assist by Haylee Owen. Homer had multiple power-play opportunities in the second period and the period ended 2-1 Palmer.
Matfey Reutov tied the game with a Mariner goal at 6:20 of the third period and the game ended regulation time tied at 2-2.
In the overtime period, Homer outshot Palmer 4-1 and scored the game-winner as Hunter Green pounded in a rebound in a scramble in front of the net. Reutov put the first shot on goal and followed with a second which bounced into the crease and was netted by Green at 3:02 of the overtime period.
Homer claims the 2021 ASAA Division II Hockey State Championship,
The Mariners entered the state hockey tournament as a #3 seed from the Kenai Peninsula with a 2-4 regular season record. In the regular season, the Mariners played and lost three, overtime contests; possibly, that seasoned the Mariners for a championship run. Homer defeated Houston 6-3 and defeate North Pole 4-1 enroute to the championship game.
