Adam Trieweiler scored four goals to help the Mariners cruise past Skyview 8-1. Junior Justin Adams scored a pair and seniors Travis Brown and Nate Miller scored.

"Some of (the goals) were the right place, right time, getting rebounds," said Head Hockey Coach John Butcher. "But he's a good player, a good skater. Adam's growing every year.

"Last year I watched him and he looked a little nervous. This year he's growing into it and he gets better every day."

Trieweiler started the Mariner scoring on a breakaway goal at the 8:31 mark in the first period. He scored two in the second to earn the hat trick and another in the third with an assist from sophomore Drake Piper.

"I wasn't really expecting it; I just had a pretty good game," said Trieweiler, who plays on Homer's second line. "My line was doing pretty good and hustling."

Brown scored in the first with a nifty backhand against Skyview goalkeeper Gabe O'Lena.

Adams scored on a breakaway in the second and off an assist from senior Scott Owen in the third.

Adams said the team has only had four practices on ice so far this season but many on the team have been playing together for years.

"We've been doing a lot of running," he said. "We didn't lose many players, and we're building off of last year."

Trieweiler said the team looks good so far.

"It's probably the best year Homer hockey has had," he said. "We have the best seniors we've ever had."

One senior, Alex Trieweiler, was happy his little brother scored four goals, but he wasn't going to let it go to Adam's head.

"He gave me a little talking to after the game," Adam said.

Coach Butcher said the team looked a little nervous to start Saturday's game.

"Started out a little shaky, we had some first game jitters," he said.

"Once we settled down, spread the puck around, we looked good. The seniors have another year experience and we skated right there with them even with theirtop three."

Skyview came into the game short-handed with seven of their players ineligible.

Butcher said limited ice time led to some miscues, including Skyview's lone goal scored by sophomore Paddy Iverson.

"We need to shore up our defenses, we had too many giveaways in the defensive end," he said. "We gave them most of the opportunities they had. It's something you can't really work on in the hallways. But all and all, for the first game, they played well. I'm pretty happy."

The Mariners face the Kenai JV squad Saturday at the Kenai Ice Rink. The Mariners' five seniors won't play, however, because they will be taking SATs.

Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.