Kenai, Soldotna, Homer set for state hockey tournament

Published 9:30 pm Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Soldotna, Homer and Kenai Central begin play at the Division II state hockey tournament Thursday at the Patty Center in Fairbanks.

Homer drew the top seed and plays No. 8 Tri-Valley at 5 p.m. Just one week ago, the Mariners toppled the Viking Warriors 12-2.

Soldotna won the Railbelt Conference for the second straight year, with Homer finishing second, but the Stars drew the No. 2 seed and play No. 7 seed Houston at 2:30 p.m.

Kenai Central, the No. 5 seed, plays North Pole, the No. 4 seed, at 7:30 p.m. The other game is No. 3 seed Palmer, the defending champ, against No. 6 seed Glennallen.

This is the second year for the three peninsula schools playing in Division II. Last year, the Kardinals did not make state. Soldotna lost to Palmer 4-3 in overtime in the semifinals, while Homer lost 6-5 to Palmer in overtime in the state final.

The winner of the Division II tourney plays in the Division I tourney from Feb. 13 to 15 at the Curtis Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla.

Division II state hockey

at Patty Center, Fairbanks

Thursday’s games

Game 1 — Homer vs. Tri-Valley, 5 p.m.

Game 2 — North Pole vs. Kenai Central, 7:30 p.m.

Game 3 — Soldotna vs. Houston, 2:30 p.m.

Game 4 — Palmer vs. Glennallen, noon

Friday’s games

Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon

Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2:30 p.m.

Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Fourth-sixth place — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, noon

Third-fifth place — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 2:30 p.m.

Championship — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m.