Precision passing on offense, tenacious defense and stellar goal tending powered the Soldotna Stars to a 7-1 Railbelt Conference hockey victory over the Kenai Kardinals on Tuesday night, Senior Night for the SoHi Stars.
SoHi recorded a pair of first-period goals, added a single, second-period goal and lit the lamp four times in the third period for the 7-1 victory. Kenai’s lone goal came early in the third period.
SoHi senior Galen Brantley III netted two goals and recorded two assists; senior David Aley added two goals and senior Journey Miller added three assists.
Senior goaltender Corbin Wirz recorded 32 saves on 33 shots for the Stars.
Kenai lone goal was scored by Travis Verkuilen. Kenai goalies Jackson Cross and Tommy Baker combined for 35 saves on 42 shots in goal.
Stars 7, Kardinals 1
Kenai 0 0 1 —1
Soldotna 2 1 4 —7
First period — 1. Soldotna, Trent Powell (J.Montague, Dahlgren), 4:07; 2. Soldotna, Brantley III (J. Montague, Larsen), 10:22.
Second period — 3. Soldotna, Aley (A. Montague, Walton), 4:18.
Third period — 4. Soldotna, Haakenson (J. Miller, Brantley III), 0:35; 5. Soldotna, Brantley III (J. Miller), 3:32; 6. Kenai, Verkuilen (Stock, Vann), 4:49; 7. Soldotna, Aley (A. Montague, Powell), 6:29; 8. Soldotna, Haakenson (Medcoff, J. Miller), 11:28.
Shots on goal — Kenai 8-11-15—34; Soldotna 14-10-25—49.
Goalies — Kenai, Cross (21 shots, 18 saves), Baker (21 shots, 17 saves); Soldotna, Wirz (33 shots, 32 saves).
SoHi improves to 7-1 in Railbelt play with two games remaining; Kenai ends conference play with a 5-4-1 record.
Hockey Schedule
Friday, January 31
HK: Kenai vs Tri-Valley @ Kenai Ice 7:00 p.m. KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com
HK: SoHi @ Juneau 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, February 1
HK: Kenai vs Tri-Valley @ Kenai Ice 11:00 a.m. KSRM 920AM and www.radiokenai.com
HK: SoHi @ Juneau 7:45 p.m.
Based on the unofficial standings, Soldotna, with two remaining games can pass Homer for the #1 Railbelt seed with a sweep of Juneau or a combination of one win and one tie.
The Kardinals hold a one point lead over Palmer for the 3rd place in the Railbelt, with Palmer having completed conference play.
(official team records must be submit by school on Sunday, February 2nd-brackets will be available Monday, February 3rd).
Railbelt Conference Standings (unofficial as of 1/29/2020)
Team…………………….Record…Total Points (2 pts per win, 1 pt for tie)
Homer Mariners 8-1-1 17
Soldotna Stars 7-1 15
Kenai Kardinals 5-4-1 11
Palmer Moose 5-5 10
Houston Hawks 1-9 2
Juneau Bears 1-7 2