Homer Glacier King Pee Wee C’s took the title of 2015 Peninsula Power Play Tournament Champions in the annual tournament held in Kenai and Soldotna last weekend. The tournament fielded a division of six Pee Wee Tier III teams from around Southcentral Alaska.
The Homer team, coached by Chris Owen and assistant coach Joanna Riley, beat Kenai 5-4, Matsu Eagles 7-2, Anchorage Moose 5-0, and tied Anchorage Gomez Rams 0-0. Homer and Gomez moved forward into the semi-finals tied for first place with three wins and one tie each.The tiebreaker was based on number of points scored on each team. (Homer let in six goals; Gomez let in two goals, putting Gomez in the first place seat and Homer second.)
In semi-final games, the Rams beat Kenai 4-2, advancing them to the championship game. Homer played Anchorage Comets U14 girls team, beating them handily 8-2, in an early morning game in frigid -3 frigid temperatures at Kenai’s outdoor rink.
The championship game between Homer and Gomez looked like a repeat of their match-up earlier in the tournament, going into the third period scoreless. Finally, with less than 7 minutes remaining in the third period, Homer captain Casey Otis won a center ice face-off, and skated it down the ice to score the only goal in the championship game. The remaining minutes were focused on defense, and included one penalty kill and a six-man rush when the other team pulled their goalie.
Homer defended the goal, and won the game 1-0.
Goalie Keegan Strong had a total of 56 saves in the tournament. Micah Williamson and Terry Gilliland led the team, each with 6 goals and 3 assists; Kazden Stineff had 3 goals and 4 assists; Dylan McBride had 2 goals and 3 assists; Casey Otis had 1 goal and 4 assists; Fiona Hatton had 2 goals; Delilah Harris had 1 goal and 1 assist; Timmy Hatfield had 1 goal and 1 assist; and Aiden Arno had 2 assists.
The Pee Wees are starting their season undefeated, with a record of 9-0-1.