It’s becoming increasingly difficult to score on the Soldotna Stars these days.
The SoHi hockey team used a complete effort Thursday night to put away Railbelt Conference rivals Kenai Central 11-0 at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility.
The game was SoHi’s fourth straight shutout, a streak that includes victories over conference opponents Juneau (twice) and Homer. The Stars have outscored the opposition 19-0 over that span.
“I think we’ve put a target on our heads,” said Soldotna coach Indy Walton. “It was just everybody tonight.”
Senior goaltender Mackenzie Powell became the third different SoHi goalie to record a shutout during the streak, joining Josh Tree and Corbin Wirz with a 17-save shutout.
“I would adopt her if I could,” said Walton.
The offense did its part too. Seven different players scored for SoHi, led by four names with two goals each — Galen Brantley III, Braxton Urban, Wyatt Medcoff and David Aley.
Brantley III got the offense going by netting the first goal of the evening almost eight minutes into the contest with a back door wrist shot by Kenai goalie Carson Koppes, then added his second with the 11th Stars goal of the night with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
Kenai was missing three key players to injury, and Brantley III said that made SoHi’s job a little easier.
“They were missing their first line and we got a lot of shots on them,” Brantley said. “We’ve had to play short a guy sometimes and it’s hard.”
The Kards were missing Nate Beiser, Jude Gabriel and Bailey Maxson to injury. To make matters worse, Kenai had trouble staying out of the penalty box, being charged with seven penalties to SoHi’s two, and the Stars were able to convert with five power play goals.
Kenai head coach Jacob Newton said the penalties made for a tough night.
“We have a dinged-up bench, and it killed us,” Newton said. “I don’t agree with all the calls. Some of them were a few dumb mistakes from us, but some others weren’t great calls.”
Kenai goaltender Carson Koppes stopped 17 of 26 shots he faced in the first two periods and Jackson Cross saved two of four shots in the third.
Brantley’s opening goal was quickly followed up by a second one just 10 seconds later as the speedy junior skater collected the puck moments after the mid-ice drop and found Braxton Urban near the slot for a 2-0 lead.
Alex Montague scored SoHi’s first of five power play goals on the night with 2:42 left in the first period, and Aley got his first just 14 seconds later for a 4-0 Stars lead. Aley notched his second of the night just 50 seconds into the second period.
SoHi scored three times with the man advantage in the second period, getting power play goals from Medcoff (twice) and Journey Miller. Sam Skolnick also notched a score.
Thursday
Stars 11, Kardinals 0
Soldotna 4 5 2 —11
Kenai 0 0 0 —0
First period — 1. Soldotna, Brantley (Kline), 7:02; 2. Soldotna, Urban (Brantley), 7:12; 3. Soldotna, Montague (Urban), PP, 12:18; 4. Soldotna, Aley (Skolnick), 12:32. Penalties — Kenai 2 for 4:00; Soldotna 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 5. Soldotna, Aley (Skolnick, Dahlgren), :50; 6. Soldotna, Medcoff (Brantley), PP, 6:28; 7. Soldotna, Medcoff (Kline), PP, 11:21; 8. Soldotna, Skolnick (Medcoff), 12:29; 9. Soldotna, Miller (Haakenson, Brantley), 14:31. Penalties — Kenai 4 for 8:00.
Third period — 10. Soldotna, Urban (Montague, Kline), PP, :36; 11. Soldotna, Brantley (unassisted), 10:50. Penalties — Kenai 1 for 2:00; Soldotna 1 for 2:00.
Goalies — Soldotna, Powell (17 shots, 17 saves); Kenai, Koppes (26 shots, 17 saves), Cross (4 shots, 2 saves).
Shots — Soldotna 13-13-4—30; Kenai 9-4-4—17.
Soldotna’s Josh O’Lena attempts to steal the puck from Kenai Central’s Aidan Milburn (13) Thursday evening at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna junior David Aley is congratulate by teammates Thursday evening after scoring on Kenai Central at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
