The Soldotna Stars hockey team opened play at the Big Lake Lions Classic Hockey Tournament with a first-round, 3-2 overtime victory over Wasilla at the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center on Thursday.
SoHi advances to a 7:15 p.m. winner’s bracket game on Friday night against Palmer.
SoHi 3 – Wasilla 2 Overtime
Josh O’Lena buried the overtime, game-winning goal with 6:55 remaining in overtime to push the Soldotna Stars past the Wasilla Warriors on Thursday.
SoHi opened the scoring with a Gehret Medcoff goal in the first period and the Stars and Warriors closed the second period tied 1-1.
Silas Larsen gave SoHi a 2-1 lead about five minutes into the third period; Wasilla evened the game midway through the third at 2-2.
SoHi’s overtime winner by O’Lena was assisted by Larsen and Aiden Burcham. Star goaltender Ayden See recorded 23 saves on 25 shots for the victory.
First Round Results
Palmer 13 – Bartlett 2
SoHi 3 – Wasilla 2 OT
Monroe 2 – Colony JV 3 OT
Houston 8 – East 2
Friday Game Schedule: December 3rd
11 a.m. East vs Monroe
2:00 p.m. Wasilla vs Bartlett
5:00 p.m. Houston vs Colony JV
7:15 p.m. SoHi vs Palmer
Saturday SoHi Schedule
Win on Friday: SoHi plays in championship game against winner of Houston vs Colony JV 7:15 p.m.
Loss on Friday: SoHi plays loser of Houston vs Colony JV 5:00 p.m.
The three-day, bracketed tournament features Division I schools: Wasilla, Bartlett and East and Division II schools: SoHi, Palmer, Houston, Monroe and the Colony JV team.
