The Kenai Central hockey team got head coach Scott Shelden a victory in his first game as a varsity head coach, defeating Delta Junction 8-0 on Thursday at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in the opening round of the Peninsula Ice Challenge.
Jordan Knudsen had a pair of goals for the Kardinals and also had an assist, while Jacob Begich also lit the lamp twice. Zachary Burnett, Tucker Vann, Blake Bucho and Nate Beiser also scored.
Thomas Baker stopped 23 for the shutout, while Greg Hanson made 48 saves for Delta.
Soldotna 5, Dimond JV 2
Galen Brantley III scored four goals and assisted on another as the Stars won at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Wyatt Medcoff also scored for Soldotna. Corbin Wirz had 31 saves for the Stars, while Beau Brown stopped 26 for the Lynx.
Today, Kenai plays Dimond JV at Kenai at 7:30 p.m., and SoHi faces Delta at the sports complex at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Kenai, Delta and Dimond JV play at 2 p.m., while Kenai and SoHi play at 4:30 p.m.
Kardinals 8, Huskies 0
Delta 0 0 0 — 0
Kenai 2 4 2 — 8
First period — 1. Kenai, Knudsen (Milburn), 2:59; 2. Kenai, Knudsen (Beiser, Langham), 3:54. Penalties — Kenai 4 for 8:00.
Second period — 3. Kenai, Burnett (Knudsen), 0:49; 4. Kenai, Vann (Erwin), 10:17; 5. Kenai, Begich (Vann, Erwin), 13:00; 6. Kenai, Begich (un.), 13:07. Penalties — Delta 2 for 8:00; Kenai 3 for 17:00.
Third period — 7. Kenai, Bucho (Cialek, Langham), 11:40; 8. Kenai, Beiser (Vann), 13:23. Penalties — Kenai 2 for 4:00.
Shots on goal — Delta 10-8-5—23; Kenai 12-28-16—56.
Goalies — Delta, Hanson (56 shots, 48 saves); Kenai, Baker (23 shots, 23 saves).
Stars 5, Lynx JV 2
Dimond JV 0 1 1 — 2
Soldotna 1 2 2 — 5
First period — 1. Soldotna, Brantley III (O’Lena, Shane), 5:48. Penalties — none.
Second period — 2. Soldotna, Medcoff (Brantley III), 0:54; 3. Dimond, Brumbaugh (Horschel), 8:37; 4. Soldotna, Brantley III (Walton), 9:55. Penalties — Dimond 2 for 4:00; Soldotna 3 for 6:00.
Third period — 5. Dimond, Toombs (Ellis, Bernsten), 5:03; 6. Soldotna, Brantley III (un.), pp, 7:22; 7. Soldotna, Brantley III (Walton, Medcoff), 14:39. Penalties — Delta 3 for 6:00; Soldotna 2 for 4:00.
Shots on goal — Dimond 14-7-10—31; Soldotna 14-11-9—34.
Goalies — Dimond, Brown (31 shots, 26 saves); Soldotna, Wirz (33 shots, 31 saves).
