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Kenai alumni top Soldotna

Kenai Central won the 14th Annual Hockey Alumni Game 9-8 in overtime over Soldotna on Saturday night at the Soldotna Sports Center.

Dustin Moore won the game for the Kardinals 24 seconds into overtime. Soldotna had jumped to a 4-1 lead after the first period and a 6-5 lead after the second period. The Stars held an 8-7 lead until late in the third period. Kenai Central pulled its goalie with 45 seconds left and forced overtime with just seven seconds showing on the clock.

Paddy Iverson, a graduate of Skyview skating for Soldotna, had five goals. According to Rick Koch, the chair of the alumni game committee, Iverson's wife, Karlyn Iverson, skated for Kenai and said her husband's scoring prowess would be rewarded with a sleeping spot on the couch for the foreseeable future.

Coaching for the Kardinals were Brian Gabriel Sr. and Greg Gabriel Sr., one of the founders of the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association. Aaron Swanson and Tony Hernandez were the bench bosses for the Stars. Swanson, the coach of SoHi's high school team, also had lost to the Kardinals in overtime on Friday.

Also, Kurt Saltenberger and Scott Sheldon received awards for being the oldest alumni on their teams from Peter Micciche, mayor of Soldotna, and Pat Porter, mayor of Kenai.

The attendance was about 400, raising about $2,300 for the Kardinals program. A specific focus of the money is to provide cash to players who otherwise would not be able to participate for the Kardinals.

Team Alaska seeks wrestlers, snowshoers

Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska is looking for athletes interested in being part of the Alaska Team to the 2010 Games, March 6 to 13 in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Athletes who are interested in representing Alaska in wrestling and snowshoeing should go to the Team Alaska Web site, www.awg.teamalaska.org, for further information.

Teams in all these sports will be selected through an application process. Interested athletes must complete a packet that includes an application (available online at the above-mentioned website) as well as other materials, which are specified in the selection criteria. The application packet must be sent to the sport coordinator for that sport.

Selection criteria and procedures for each sport are available on the Web site. Athletes, coaches and parents need to read these criteria and procedures carefully so that they can meet all the application requirements and deadlines. These documents include the names of, and contact information for, the Team Alaska sport coordinators. Age classes and other eligibility requirements are also specified.

Coaches who are interested in coaching should contact the sport coordinators immediately to learn more. A coaching position is available in girls wrestling. A female coach is needed.

Application deadlines are Dec. 31 for snowshoeing and Jan. 15 for wrestling. The snowshoeing sport coordinator is Guy Thibodeau. His e-mail is thibodeg@mail.jsd.k12.ak.us and his phone number is 463-8442 at home, 509-939-2609 on the cell phone and 523-1587 at work. The wrestling sport coordinator is Steve Wolfe. His e-mail is wolfefam@gci.net. His phone numbers are 235-7174 at home and 299-3257 on the cell phone.

Merkes takes 3rd at Besh Cup

Soldotna High School's Maranda Merkes led the peninsula at the second Besh Cup race of the season on Sunday at the Beach Lake Trails in Chugiak.

Merkes finished third in the Junior 2, five-kilometer girls classic race. Marion Woods won with a time of 15 minutes, 48 seconds, while Merkes crossed at 17:24. Also in that race, Homer's Shannon Wyatt took 23rd.

In the Junior 1 and older, 10-kilometer women's race Kailey Mucha of Kenai Central took 10th with a time of 34:23. Tazlina Mannix won at 32:34. Also, Soldotna's Bree Mucha was 37th, Homer master's skier Megan Spurkland was 38th, Soldotna's Jasmine Clock was 44th, Soldotna's D.Anne Martin was 49th, Homer's Maggie Bursch was 51st and Homer's Frances Bursch was 53rd.

In the Junior 2, five-kilometer boys race, Soldotna's Lucas Michael finished 14th at 16:21, while John Glen picked up the win with a time of 14:50. Also, Soldotna's Josiah Martin was 22nd.

A tough field showed up for the Junior 1 and older, 15-kilometer classic race. Lars Arneson, a graduate of Cook Inlet Academy, led the peninsula by finishing 20th in 44:53. David Norris won at 40:10. Also, Homer master's skier Jan Spurkland was 24th, Kenai Central's Anders Nyquist was 32nd, Kenai Central's Travis Semmens was 41st, Soldotna's Ryan Sanders was 55th, Soldotna's Aaron Chase was 59th, Skyview's Hunter Jackinsky was 63rd, Kenai's James Watkins was 80th, Soldotna's IntiMayo Harbison was 82nd and Homer master's skier Paul Gutzler was 102nd.

Finally, central peninsula skier Addison Gibson finished fourth in the Junior 4 and 5, two-kilometer girls race.