The Palmer Moose came into the Central Peninsula this weekend with an unblemished first-place 5-0 conference record, and left with two losses: first to Kenai 4-3 on Thursday, and Friday night to the Soldotna Stars, 5-3.
The Stars came out gangbusters, scoring just 37 seconds into the game from a goal by Gehret Medcoff, adding a 2nd tally 2 minutes later by Andrew Arthur, on a power play.
But the Moose were undaunted, replying with 3 unanswered goals before the end of the period: Kalen von Gunten, Kinan Greco and Zidane Dietz gave the Moose a 3-2 lead at the end of the first stanza.
The Stars knotted the score at 3-3 with the 2nd period’s only goal, another power play affair by Theiler Boone.
An intense 3rd period followed, marked by roughing calls and coincidental minor penalties. Arthur scored the game-winner, another power play, at the 5-minute mark and Marshall Deraeve got the insurance with less than 5 minutes remaining.
Tanner Clyde had 33 saves for the Stars while Keagon O’Bryan made 20 for the Moose.
The jam-packed standings show the Moose with a 6-2 record after defeating Homer, with Juneau at 7-3 and Kenai and Soldotna both with 6-3 conference records.
