Jordan Knudsen lifted the Kenai Kardinals to a 5-4 overtime victory, powering the Kardinals over the Palmer Moose in the first game of the 2018 North Star Conference Hockey Championships. Knudsen scored just :23 seconds into the overtime period scoring his second goal of the contest.
Kenai 5 – Palmer 4 Overtime
The Kardinals fell behind 3-0 in the first period to the Moose; then rallied with three unanswered, second period goals to tie the game at 3-3 midway through the second period. Nate Beiser scored the Kards first goal :36 seconds into the second. Matt Hagel added a Kardinal goal at 5:03 on a Kenai power-play. Knudsen netted his first goal to tie the game at 7:26 of the second period.
Palmer retook the lead at 4-3 with a final Moose goal late in the second.
Levi Mese scored at 7:57 of the third period to knot the game at 4-4.
Knudsen posts the game-winner only :23 seconds into the overtime.
Final Score: Kenai 5 – Palmer 4 Josh Tree recorded 36 saves on 40 shots for the win in goal. Kenai was outshot 40-20 by the Moose.
Kenai advances to face Colony in the North Star Conference hockey semi-final game at 5:00 p.m. on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
SoHi 1 – Wasilla 4
The Soldotna Stars battled even with the Warriors through two periods of hockey in a 4-1 Wasilla victory over SoHi in Thursday’s second, first round contest.
Wasilla’s Porter Schachle scored a Warrior goal early in the period and SoHi’s Galen Brantley III answered with the Stars lone goal at the 10:19 mark of the first period.
Defense won the second period with both teams held scoreless.
Tied at 1-1 into the third period, the Warriors recorded three, third period goals, including an empty-netter, for the 4-1 tournament victory.
Final Score: Wasilla 4 – SoHi 1 SoHi goalie Corbin Wirz turned-away 33 of 37 shots; SoHi only recorded 12 shots on Wasilla’s goal.
Wasilla advances to face the Homer Mariners on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
All tournament games will be broadcast on ESPN 1140AM and www.raidokenai.com
Friday Schedule
5 p.m. Kenai vs Colony
7:30 p.m. Homer vs Wasilla
Saturday Schedule
3:45 p.m. Championship Game
