Soldotna’s Riley Cronin tries to keep the puck aweay from Colony’s Allen Baldwin after falling to the ice during a 4-3 loss to the Knights on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)

Soldotna’s Riley Cronin tries to keep the puck aweay from Colony’s Allen Baldwin after falling to the ice during a 4-3 loss to the Knights on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)

Saturday prep hockey: SoHi, Kenai lose on road

The visiting Soldotna hockey team lost to Colony 4-3 in overtime in nonconference action Saturday.

Colony’s Kaden Lynch, with help from Aiden Finch and Boston Weiland, scored on the power-play with 3:03 left in the extra period to drop the Stars to 6-3 overall. Lynch completed a hat trick with the score.

Colony scored the lone goal of the first period, with Sawyer Kelpe connecting an Eli Belanger pass.

In the second period, the Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Lynch scored on a Finch assist. With 9:51 left in the second, Daniel Heath, with help from Gehret Medcoff, cut the gap to 2-1, but Lynch and Finch hooked up less than a minute later.

SoHi cut it to 3-2 headed to the third when Jace Applehans scored short-handed on a Boone Theiler assist. With 2:31 left in the game, SoHi tied it when Theiler scored with help from Applehans and Aiden Stinnett.

Tanner Clyde had 31 saves for the Stars, while Jamon O’Bryan stopped 27 for the Knights.

Palmer 8, Kenai Central 2

The visiting Kardinals dropped to 5-7-1 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Lights Conference with the loss to the Moose on Saturday.

After falling behind 2-0, Kenai cut the gap to 2-1 at the end of the first period when Logan Mese scored on a Sawyer Vann assist. Palmer would then score the next three goals of the game. With 9:44 left in the game, Vann scored unassisted for a 5-2 game, but Palmer closed with the last three goals.

Dane Joseph and Elijah Von Gunten had two goals to lead a balanced Palmer attack. Peyton Neumann, Kinan Greco, Sawyer Nelius and Clayton Conrad also scored. Kaleb Von Gunten had three assists, while Elijah Von Gunten, Chase Ringler and Kellan Payne each had two. Frank Cooper and Conrad added helpers.

Evyn Witt had 19 saves for Kenai, while Keagon O’Bryan stopped 21 for the Moose.

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