The 2017 Peninsula Ice Challenge opened the high school hockey regular season and the local teams from Soldotna and Kenai High School’s suffered first round losses in the round-robin format, three-day tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
SoHi 1 – Monroe Catholic 6
In the tournament opener, the Soldotna Stars managed only a single, second period goal in a 6-1 loss to Monroe Catholic from Fairbanks. David Aley netted the Stars only goal midway through the second period with the Stars trailing 4-0. Monroe opened with a pair of early goals in the first period; with two goals in the first 3:32 of the contest. The Rams added three goals in the second and a single, third period goal for the six goal total.
In goal for the Stars, Corbin Wirz faced a barrage of shots,recording 49 saves on 55 shots.
The Stars face Service on Friday in the 4 p.m. pairing at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Kenai 1 -Service 7
The Kardinal hockey team battled Service throughout Thursday’s opening round contest; however, the Kards failed to light the lamp until late in the third period in a 7-1 loss to the Cougars. Service scored a pair of goals in the first period, added two goals in the second for a a 4-0 advantage; then scored three, straight in the third for a 7-0 advantage. The Cougars two, second period goals came :31 seconds apart and were both short-handed goals; a rare feat in high school hockey.
Wyatt Harvey scored the Kardinals lone goal with 2:25 remaining in the game.
Kenai faces Monroe in the 2:15 p.m. game on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Follow the Kards and Stars on ESPN 1140AM and www.radiokenai.com with double-header hockey action on Friday beginning with the Sweeney’s Pregame Show at 2:05 p.m.
Peninsula Ice Challenge Schedule
Friday, November 3rd
…2:15 Kenai vs Monroe Catholic
…4:00 SoHi vs Service
Saturday, November 4th
…1:30 Service vs Monroe Catholic
…4:00 Kenai vs SoHi
