Palmer hockey completes big weekend by upending Kenai

The Palmer hockey team defeated Kenai Central 4-1 on Saturday in Northern Lights Conference action at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai.

The Moose complete a weekend sweep of Division II contenders after also defeating Soldotna 7-1 on Friday.

Palmer will not return to the Kenai Peninsula until the Division II state hockey tournament from Feb. 6 to 8 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

“We feel good where we’re at,” said Palmer head coach Rusty Belanger after winning a seventh straight game to move to 10-3 overall and 4-0 in the league. “There’s the caveat of, don’t get there too quick.

“Don’t peak before the magic moment, right?”

Kenai, now 7-5 and 2-1, had not played since Nov. 23, but the Kards came out flying around. The Moose were still able to win the shot count 40-14 in improving to 2-0 against the Kards this season.

“They’re tough,” Kenai head coach Steve Hallam said. “Looking at where everyone’s sitting in the state right now, they’re one of the top teams.”

Palmer defenseman Zidane Dietz got started on a three-point night by scoring the lone goal of the first period.

Not only did Dietz get two goals and an assist, but he also was mostly responsible for tracking Kenai scoring threat Logan Mese around the ice.

“It’s fun to see those guys compete against each other, just kind of showcase Alaska hockey a little bit,” Hallam said.

Mese, assisted by Avery Martin, was able to draw the Kardinals even on the power play just 2:14 into the second period.

With 7:44 left in the second, Palmer answered with a power-play strike from Kinan Greco.

The Moose would score two more in the next 2:30 of the game — on strikes by Dietz and Jacob Logan — to put all the goals they would need on the board.

“Hats off to Kenai,” Belanger said. “I love them. They’re a gritty, gritty team, but you wear them down.

“We emphasize conditioning throughout the entire practice. We don’t do our drills slow or anything like that, which I’m not saying they do. But we have an entire team conditioned to outlast some of those down periods and get through it.”

Hallam said Palmer’s depth demands no letdowns.

“I think they have 16 or 17 on the roster,” he said. “Every single one of those guys is going to be good. They kind of showed it today.”

Hallam did like the way his team recovered.

“The third period, I thought we played great,” he said. “They came out and didn’t give up.

“They got back to some of the things that make Kenai hockey, Kenai hockey.”

Belanger said his squad’s execution was not where he’d like it for the second half of the third period. Still, it’s hard to complain with giving up two combined goals to SoHi and Kenai, and no goals on even strength.

Mily Christman saved 13 for the Moose.

“We have a good group of goaltenders,” Belanger said. “You’ve got to get a team to believe in their goaltenders. I think we’re there.”

Evyn Witt stopped 36 for the Kards.

“He’s stepping up huge midseason,” Hallam said of Witt. “He’s becoming a leader in the locker room. He’s keeping his composure and making amazing saves.”

In addition to the attacking duo of Mese and Martin, Hallam said defensemen Sawyer Vann and Cole Langham provided a physical presence all day.

“They have a lot of momentum right now,” Hallam said of the Moose. “We just have to get back to work.

“We know where they’re at. There’s things we can tweak and work on.”

Saturday

Moose 4, Kardinals 1

Pal 1 3 0 —4

Ken 0 1 0 —1

First period — 1. Palmer, Dietz (Neumann, Logan), 6:16. Penalties — Kenai 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 2. Kenai, Mese (Martin), pp, 2:14. 3. Palmer, Greco (Dietz, E. Von Gunten), pp, 7:16. 4. Palmer, Dietz (McQuillin), 10:26. 5. Palmer, Logan (K. Von Gunten), 10:44. Penalties — Palmer 2 for 4:00; Kenai 2 for 4:00.

Third period — none. Penalties — Palmer 2 for 4:00.

Shots on goal — Palmer 15-19-6—40; Kenai 4-4-6—14.

Goalies — Palmer, Christman (14 shots, 13 saves); Kenai, Witt (40 shots, 36 saves).

Power plays — Palmer 1 for 3; Kenai 1 for 4.