The 2023 ASAA First National Cup Division II Hockey State Championships continued play on Saturday with the Kenai Kardinals defeating North Pole 3-2 in the 4th Place Game at the Patty Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in Fairbanks.
Kenai 3 – North Pole 2
The Kardinals broke a 2-2 tie at 11:49 of the third period with a rebound goal by William Howard. The Kardinals trailed 1-0 in the first period when Avery Martin scored to even the game at 1-1; North Pole answered with a goal for a 2-1 first-period advantage. In the second period, Kenai’s Martin tied the game at 2-2 with 2:43 remaining. The third period Howard goal iced the win for Kenai.
Kenai finishes 4th in the DII state tournament with back-to-back victories following an opening loss to Juneau.
SoHi advances to the 2023 DII state championship game on Saturday at 5 p.m. and will face the Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears. The Bears upset Houston 4-3 on Friday to advance to the championship game.
