The Kenai Kardinals, the #1 seed from the Kenai Peninsula to the Division II state hockey tournament, fell to the North Pole Patriots 4-2 in the first round of the ASAA Division II State Hockey Championships.
Following a scoreless first period, North Pole scored on a Daigen Johnson power-play goal. Kenai answered with a Daniel Sheldon power play to knot the game at 1-1. The Patriots retook the lead just :21 seconds later on a short-handed goal Mack Sterner giving North Pole a 2-1 lead to end the second period.
The third period opened with a Jacob Begich goal to tie the contest at 2-2. North Pole closed the game out with a pair of goals, one for Kaleb Johnson and one for Austin Manns. Final Score: Patriots 4 – Kardinals 2.
In goal for the Kardinals Thomas Baker recorded 18 saves on 22 shots; North Pole’s Nic Clark recorded 32 saves on 34 shots.
Kenai will play in the consolation game at 10 a.m. on Friday against the loser of the Homer vs Houston game.
Follow the Kards on ESPN 1140AM and streaming free at radoiokenai.com.
