Colony 4, Soldotna 3
Despite losing several key players from their 2023-24 roster, the Soldotna Stars looked strong in their season opener against the Division 1 Colony Knights. In addition to the loss of several graduating seniors, Tanner Clyde, Andrew Arthur, Gehret Medcoff, Mykah Booth, Kyler Howell, and Aiden Stinnett, the Stars also lost Jace Appelhans, Boone Theiler, and Luke Stuber from last year’s team to national squads.
Even still, a gritty Stars team gave a big and fast Colony group a run for their money in the first game of the annual Peninsula Ice Challenge on Thursday night.
Soldotna briefly held a 2-1 lead near the end of the first period after Marshall DeRaeve found the back of the net twice following the game’s opening goal by the Knights. Colony struck back with seconds remaining in the frame, though, tying the game 2-2 going into the second period.
In the second, the scoring slowed, but Colony managed to retake the lead 3-2.
Another Colony goal in the 3rd period looked like the game might be out of reach for the stars, but some quick stick work by Riley Cronin brought Soldotna back within one after the SoHi junior stole the puck right in front of Colony’s net and slammed it home.
The Knights held the Stars off down the stretch, though, handing Soldotna its first loss of the season.
Next up, the Stars take on the Palmer Moose, who routed the Kenai Kardinals 8-3 on Thursday night. The game will be at the Soldota Regional Sports Complex.
Follow the tournament schedule here.
Catch the game at 4:15 p.m. on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM, and radiokenai.com. Pregame coverage begins at 4:00 p.m.
Palmer 8, Kenai 3
The Kenai Kardinals fell to the Palmer Moose on the first night of the Peninsula Ice Challenge Thursday.
The Kardinals, boasting one of the more senior heavy lineups in Division 2 this season, struggled to find one another on the ice all night, leading to consistent heavy offensive pressure from Palmer.
The Moose outshot Kenai 46-15, and picked up a hat trick by senior forward Liam Hilscher. Hilscher had help from crisp passing as the Moose–who have a strong contingent of seniors as well–looked more like they were in mid-season form than a season opener.
Palmer took an early lead 3:13 into the first period when senior captain and Northern Lights Conference MVP prospect Elijah Von Gunten found Kinan Greco in the low slot. Greco capitalized on the pass to put the Moose up by one. Von Gunten would go on to finish the night with 4 points (1G, 3A).
Logan Mese, the 2-time reigning NLC MVP, answered back with two unassisted goals at 6:47 and 8:03, giving Kenai a 2-1 lead.
Another Palmer goal just before the first period ended, though, and the game headed for its first intermission level at two goals apiece.
In the second period, the wheels started to come off for Kenai as an offensive onslaught that would carry on through the rest of the game mounted for Palmer. Outshooting Kenai 18-6, Palmer scored four goals to Kenai’s one and headed into the third period with a comfortable 6-3 lead.
A bright spot for Kenai was a goal put together by a couple of underclassmen. Right out of a faceoff, Oliver Parrish got off a clean shot and Ryder Gagnon picked up the rebound for Kenai’s third and final goal.
Palmer added another two goals in the third period.
Also in the third period, Palmer Forward Bryce Horacek received a 5-minute major and was disqualified for a vicious hit to the head on Kenai’s Cole Langham. Langham was down on the ice for several minutes before leaving the ice for the remainder of the game.
Next up, the Kardinals will seek to right the ship against the Colony Knights, who edged the Soldotna Stars 4-3 on Thursday. The game will be at the Kenai Ice Rink.
Follow the tournament schedule here.
Catch the game at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM, and radiokenai.com. Pregame coverage begins at 4:00 p.m.
