The puck dropped on the high school hockey season with the annual Peninsula Ice Challenge at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Soldotna recorded three victories with wins over, Kenai, Homer and Houston in the round-robin format tournament.
Peninsula Ice Challenge: Saturday Game Results
SoHi 5 – Kenai 2
An early three goal advantage in the first period for SoHi held-up to a two-goal attack by Kenai in the second period; as the Stars down Kenai to claim the Peninsula Ice Challenge.
The Stars scored three goals in under 2 1/2 minutes midway through period one for a 3-0 lead. SoHi goals were scored by Corey Hanson, Ethan Brown and Galen Brantley III.
Kenai answered with goals by Levi Mese and Jacob O’Brien to close to 3-2 after two periods.
A goal by Brown with only 2:30 remaining gave SoHi some breathing room; an empty-netter by Parker Lockwood sealed the game. Final Score: SoHi 5 – Kenai 2
Homer 4 – Houston 1
The Mariners netted three goals in the final four minutes for a 4-1 victory over Houston. Homer finishes the tournament with a 2-1 record.
Peninsula Ice Challenge: Friday Game Results
SoHi 4 – Homer 3
Galen Brantley scored the game-winning goal for the Stars with :05 seconds remaining in overtime for a 4-3 SoHi victory over the Homer Mariners. Sohi lead 3-0 after two periods of hockey; the Mariners scored three, third period goals to tie the game at 3-3.
Houston 8 – Kenai 3
Kenai managed only a single goal in each period on Friday as the Kardinals fell to the Hawks 8-3.
Peninsula Ice Challenge: Thursday Game Results
Homer 8 – Kenai 7
The opening game of the Peninsula Ice Challenge developed into an offensive shootout between Kenai and Homer with the Mariners scoring an overtime goal for an 8-7 victory over the Kardinals.
Kenai’s Levi Mese recorded a three goal, hat trick in the first period and the six goal, first period ended tied at 3-3. Homer scored the only goal of the second period for a 4-3 advantage. The offensive barrage continued in the third period. Kenai’s Matt Hagel opened the period with a power-play goal just :12 seconds into the third. Jacob O’Brien scored less than two minutes in and the Kardinals lead 5-4. Homer answered with back-to-back goals and regained the lead at 6-5 Mariners. Bailey Maxson tied the game for Kenai midway through the final period, only to have Homer answer and take a 7-6 lead. Levi Mese recorded his fourth goal of the game and the Kardinals re-tied the game with only 3:28 remaining. Regulation time ended with a 7-7 tie score. In the overtime, Homer’s Tyler Gilliland netted the game-winner. Final Score: Homer 8 – Kenai 7.
SoHi 3 – Houston 0
SoHi goalie Billy Yoder recorded a shutout in goal for the Stars as the SoHi hockey team recorded a season-opening 3-0 victory over Houston. The Stars outshot Houston 45-17 for the contest. SoHi’s Braxton Urban scored the first two goals for the Stars; opening the first period with a goal and staking the Stars to a 2-0 advantage with an early, third period goal. Parker Lockwood scored an insurance goal in the third period for the 3-0 SoHi win. Ethan Brown recorded three assists for SoHi. Final Score: SoHi 3 – Houston 0.
Friday, November 4
Hockey: Peninsula Ice Challenge
…SoHi v Homer & Kenai v Houston @ SRSC 5:30 & 8:00 ESPN 1140AM and radiokenai.com
Saturday, November 5
Hockey: Peninsula Ice Challenge
…Kenai v SoHi @ SRSC 3:45 ESPN 1140AM and radiokenai.com