Soldotna and Homer cruised into the championship game of the Division II state high school hockey tournament by securing lopsided semifinal victories Friday night at the Patty Center in Fairbanks.
Soldotna blanked defending champion Palmer 6-0 and Homer stopped North Pole 7-1.
In Soldotna’s win, Trent Powell scored one goal and four assists, Galen Brantley added two goals and Corbin Wirz made 25 saves to lift the Stars. Palmer got 43 saves from goalie Tiernan O’Rourke.
In the other semifinal Isaiah Nevak racked up four goals for Homer, last season’s state runnerup. Nic Clark made 52 saves for North Pole.
In consolation games Friday, the Alaska Heat edged Houston 5-4 and Kenai Central tripped Tri-Valley 4-2.
Soldotna and Homer will meet Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Patty Center. Palmer and North Pole will play for third place at 2:30 p.m. and Kenai and the Heat will play for fourth place at noon.
An early version of this story incorrectly identified the Soldotna goaltender.