Kenai/Nikiski narrowly defeats Soldotna/Skyview in annual alumni hockey game

A late-game turnaround wasn’t enough to carry the Soldotna/Skyview High School hockey team to victory over the rival Kenai Central/Nikiski High School team during Friday’s annual alumni faceoff at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

The visiting Kenai/Nikiski team eked ahead with roughly four minutes left in the third period, breaking out of a 7-7 tie that had ensnared both teams. With help from John McGlasson (KCHS ‘05), Brad Fusaro (KCHS ‘07) scored the team’s winning eighth point, earning the team this year’s “Richard Redford Cup.” The Kenai/Nikiski team also won last year’s alumni game, the proceeds from which are split between Kenai and Soldotna’s hockey booster clubs.

Kenai goalie Dan Silver (KCHS ‘05) blocked 46 of the 53 shots — 86.8% — that Kenai players sent his way, a performance for which he was named the game’s Most Valued Player. That designation was bestowed for the first time as the “Dan Gensel Award,” in honor of the hall-of-famer Soldotna High School coach, who died earlier this year.

Soldotna goalie Corbin Wirz (SoHi ‘20) boasted a similarly high save rate, blocking 38 of KCHS’ 46 goal attempts — about 82.6%.

Of the seven goals the SoHi/Skyview team scored, four were made during the game’s third period. The team scored twice in the second period and once in the first period. Four of the Kenai/Nikiski team’s goals were made during the second period. The team scored three times in the first period and once in the third period.

Stats

Kenai/Nikiski: 3, 4, 1 — 8 points

Soldotna-/Skyview: 1, 2, 4 — 7 points

First period: 1. Soldotna/Skyview, Liberty Miller (Silas Larsen), 17:53; 2. Kenai/Nikiski, Brad Fusaro (John McGlasson, Jed McGlasson), 16:10; 3. Kenai/Nikiski, Jed McGlasson (John McGlasson, Trevor Baldwin), 12:00; 4. Kenai/Nikiski, Aidan Milburn (Jake Eubank, Trevor Wagoner), 10:26. Penalties: None.

Second period: 5. Soldotna/Skyview, Dagen Walton (Aiden Burcham), 18:02; 6. Soldotna/Skyview, Aiden Burcham (Mario Gomez, Brayden VanMeter), 17:45; 7. Aidan Milburn (Riley Graves, Jake Eubank), 15:45; 8. Dalton Dosko (Jacob Begich), 4:50; 9. John McGlasson (Jed McGlasson), 3:45; 10. Dalton Dosko (Aidan Milburn), 1:14. Penalties: Kenai/Nikiski, one for 2:00.

Third period: 11. Lee Green (Journey Miller), 19:15; 12. Dagen Walton (Kevin Stone), 18:43; 13. Mario Gomez (Clayton Glick), 13:08; 14. Brayden VanMeter (Clayton Glick), 8:47; 15. Brad Fusaro (John McGlasson), 4:17. Penalties: Kenai/Nikiski: three for 6:00, Soldotna/Skyview: one for 2:00.

Roster

Kenai/Nikiski: Jed McGlasson (#3, F, KCHS ‘07), John McGlasson (#21, F, KCHS ‘05), Brad Fusaro (#8, F, KCHS ‘07), Jake Eubank (#14, F, KCHS ‘07), Trevor Wagoner (#19, F, KCHS ‘14), Jacob Begich (#7, F, KCHS ‘22), Riley Graves (#11, F, KCHS ‘21), Josiah Petty (#10, F, KCHS ‘23), Dalton Dosko (#16, F, KCHS ‘16), Trevor Baldwin (#15, D, KCHS ‘05), Aidan Milburn (#12, D, KCHS ‘21), Gavin Langham (#18, D, KCHS ‘23), Devon Every (#9, D, KCHS ‘19), Reagan Graves (#17, D, KCHS ‘23), Matt Thompson (#23, D, Nikiski ‘09), Dan Silver (#31, G, KCHS ‘05).

Soldotna/Skyview: Dagen Walton (#91, F, SoHi ‘12), Dylan Walton (#29, F, SoHi ‘21), Clayton Glick (#21, F, SoHi ‘08), Brayden VanMeter (#17, F, SoHi ‘20), Journey Miller (#22, F, SoHi ‘20), Liberty Miller (#6, F, SoHi ‘22), Ty Fenton (#5, F, SoHi ‘15), Silas Larsen (#13, F, SoHi ‘23), Mario Gomez (#15, F, SoHi ‘08), Lee Green (#10, D, SoHi ‘00), Aiden Burcham (#14, D, SoHi ‘12), Justice Miller (#8, D, SoHi ‘16), Dylan Dahlgren (#27, D, SoHi ‘23), Lucas Kline (#28, D, SoHi ‘23), Kevin Stone (#20, D, SoHi ‘20), Corbin Wirz (#1, G, SoHi ‘20).

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.