Kenais’ Ethan tree tries to poke the puck away from Colony’s Boston Weiland during a 6-6 tie Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)

Kenais’ Ethan tree tries to poke the puck away from Colony’s Boston Weiland during a 6-6 tie Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)

Friday prep hockey: Kenai’s Mese has 3rd-period hat trick in tie with Knights; SoHi, Homer lose

The visiting Kenai Central hockey team tied Colony 6-6 on Friday in nonconference action.

The Kardinals are 5-6-1 overall.

The back-and-forth contest saw the Kardinals’ Logan Mese score a hat trick in the third period to secure the draw.

Colony went up 1-0 early in the game on a strike by Adam Kara.

Kenai took a 2-1 lead by the end of the first period. Ethan Tree scored with help from Gavin Liles, and Will Howard scored on Mese and Avery Martin assists.

Colony tied it early in the second when Ethan McNulty scored with help from Kara.

Kenai went out front again with 3:45 left in the second period when Martin scored on Howard and Mason Vemette assists, but Colony tied it when Logan Lofland scored on a Cody Jorgensen assist with 1:54 left in the second period.

Colony went ahead with 13:56 left in the game when Matthew Ross scored on Kaden Lynch and Isaac McKenzie helpers, but Mese scored unassisted just five seconds later.

With 9:28 left, Sawyer Kelpe scored for Colony on a Lofland assist. A little over a minute later, Mese had things square with help from Howard.

With 7:38 to play, Ethan McNulty, assisted by McKenzie, again put the Knights out front.

Mese was again up to the task, scoring on a Tree assist with 4:52 left.

Seanna Swanson made 34 saves for the Kardinals, including seven in overtime. For Colony, Tess Jorgensen stopped 21 of 27 shots, and Jamon O’Bryan stopped 5 of 5.

Palmer 6, Homer 1

The visiting Mariners dropped to 0-2 in the Northern Lights Conference and 2-4 overall with the Friday loss.

After a scoreless first period, Homer got on the board first in the second. Makary Reutov scored unassisted just 18 seconds in.

After that, it was all Palmer. Homer goalie Blaise Banks made 45 saves, while Mily Christman stopped 13 for Palmer.

The Moose had a 2-1 lead headed to the final period on a Dane Joseph goal, assisted by Elijah Von Gunten, and a Tavian Mukaabya strike.

Palmer then closed with four goals in the third period. Von Gunten scored with help from Ryan Martin and Chase Ringler, Kaleb Von Gunten scored a power-play goal on a Bradford Heart assist, Elijah Von Gunten scored on Joseph and Martin assists, and Heard scored short-handed on a Zidane Dietz helper.

Wasilla 6, Soldotna 4

The host Warriors dropped the Stars to 6-3 overall with the Friday nonconference victory.

Soldotna was whistled for nine penalties to the one of Wasilla in the game. The Warriors took advantage by netting four power-play goals.

Karson McGrew pumped in four goals for the Warriors, while Mason Holler had four assists.

Just 1:10 into the game, the Stars had a 1-0 lead on a Daniel Heath goal assisted by Boone Theiler and Jace Applehans.

Less than two minutes later, Mason Varner had it tied on a Gabriel Lamm assist.

McGrew, assisted by Holler and Grant Barksdale, then scored late in the first on the power play.

With 13:45 left in the second, Heath tied the game unassisted. Applehans, assisted by Theiler, put the Stars up 3-2 a little over a minute later.

However, Soldotna had seven penalties in the second period and the Warriors would score three power-play goals before the period was up for a 5-3 lead.

The goals all came from McGrew. The first was assisted by Barksdale and Holler, while the next two were assisted by Holler.

Just 11 seconds into the third period, Wasilla was up 6-3 when Sterling Myers scored with help from Dalan Dubie.

With less than a second left, Andrew Arthur, assisted by Gehret Medcoff, scored for Soldotna.

Brycen Clyde made 21 saves for Soldotna, while Jordan Pfile also stopped 21 for the Warriors.

More in Sports

Photo courtesy Pete Dickinson
The SoHi junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams compete in the Battle for the Bird at Soldotna High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Kenai Peninsula Athletics Sapphire dance team performed the halftime show.
SoHi, Nikiski wrestling teams compete for Thanksgiving dinner

The Stars and Bulldogs faced off during the Battle for the Bird duals last Wednesday.

Runners of all ages gather for a photo in the Homer High School Commons after the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Due to icy outdoor conditions, the official run was moved to the high school halls. Photo courtesy Matthew Smith
55 turn out for Homer Turkey Trot

Each Thanksgiving morning, the Kachemak Bay Running Club and the City of… Continue reading

The varsity wrestling team is pictured after the Robin Hervey individual tournament in Kodiak on Nov. 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of Pete Dickinson
Sports briefs: Soldotna hockey, wrestling teams secure wins at weekend tournaments

SoHi hockey won the End of the Road tournament in Homer and the wrestling team gained 20 individual wins.

The Kenai Central High School varsity volleyball team is named the 2025 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament, held Nov. 13-15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The Kardinals defeated the Nikiski Bulldogs 3-2 in a "rematch" championship game on Saturday, Nov. 15, securing their third state title in the last four years. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Volleyball Booster Club
Kenai Central takes home 3rd volleyball state title

The Kards defeated Nikiski in a rematch championship game on Saturday during the state tournament in Anchorage.

Soldotna High School wrestlers won six individual championships during the Lancer Smith Memorial wrestling tournament in Wasilla Nov. 14-15. Photo courtesy of SoHi Stars Wrestling on Facebook
SoHi wrestling sweeps Lancer Smith tourney, eyes state title

SoHi girls and boys took first and second place as teams, respectively.

Soldotna’s Gracelyn Altobelli attacks against Nikiski’s Addison Perkins on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sports briefs: Soldotna volleyball claims third Northern Lights Region III title

The SoHi Stars will compete at the state tournament this weekend.

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer, Kenai football receive Division III All-State awards

Players on the Homer High School and Kenai Central High School varsity… Continue reading

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer football brings home back-to-back state titles

The Mariners defeated Barrow 20-0 on Saturday, winning the state championships for the second year in a row.

Homer's Nik Macauly runs past Kenai Central's Carson Cramer on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer football tops Kenai

The Homer football team defeated Kenai Central 44-6 on Saturday in Mid… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Brown Bears top Mountain Kings, win 2 of 3 at Showcase

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished up play at the North American… Continue reading

tease
Kenai volleyball ties for 3rd in Gold Bracket at West Spiketacular

The Kenai Central volleyball team tied for third in the Gold Bracket… Continue reading

tease
Soldotna football tops Lathrop, captures 20th straight conference title

The Soldotna football team defeated Lathrop 27-14 on Friday in Railbelt Conference… Continue reading