SoHi hockey tops Kenai to grab 3rd region seed

SoHi hockey tops Kenai to grab 3rd region seed

The Soldotna hockey team capped the North Star Conference regular season with a tight 5-2 victory over Kenai Central, Saturday night at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility.

The win left SoHi squarely in the third spot in the six-team conference with a final record of 5-4-1, matching the Stars up with the 1-9-0 Homer Mariners on the first day of next weekend’s NSC tournament.

Kenai finished fifth in the standings at 2-8-0, leaving the Kards with a matchup with fourth-seeded Palmer (3-6-1) at the tournament.

Wasilla led the way with a pristine NSC campaign of 10-0-0, while Colony took second at 8-2-0. Both teams will receive first-day byes for the region tournament.

Saturday in Kenai, the two hard-nosed rivals battled in a close matchup. SoHi finished the game with a slim shots advantage of 36-35. The Stars took command early with a pair of goals from Corey Hanson and Parker Lockwood, but Kenai cut the lead in half with a goal by Levi Mese late in the first period, which ended 2-1 SoHi.

After Alex Montague scored the lone goal of the second period to put the Stars up 4-2, Kenai answered early in the third period with another strike from Mese, but the Kards would fail to find a way past SoHi goalie Billy Yoder the rest of the way. Montague and Braxton Urban slotted in insurance goals in the final 73 seconds of the game.

Yoder ultimately ended up with 33 saves on 35 shots to earn the win, while Kenai tender Ryan Williams made 31 saves in the losing effort.

Stars 5, Kardinals 2

Soldotna 2 1 2 — 5

Kenai 1 0 1 — 2

First period — 1. Soldotna, Hanson (Montague, Lockwood), 3:47; 2. Soldotna, Lockwood (B. Urban, Wackler), 11:10; 3. Kenai, Mese (Hagel), 11:54. Penalties — Soldotna 2 for 4:00; Kenai 3 for 6:00.

Second period — 4. Soldotna, Montague (Lockwood), 11:20. Penalties — Soldotna 2 for 12:00; Kenai 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 5. Kenai, Mese (unassisted), 1:10; 6. Soldotna, Montague (Lockwood), 13:47; 7. Soldotna, B. Urban (Montague), EN, 14:50. Penalties — Soldotna 2 for 4:00; Kenai 3 for 6:00.

Shots on goal — Soldotna 14-11-11—36; Kenai 13-12-10—35.

Goalies — Soldotna, Yoder (35 shots, 33 saves); Kenai, Williams (36 shots, 31 saves).

SoHi hockey tops Kenai to grab 3rd region seed
SoHi hockey tops Kenai to grab 3rd region seed
Kenai Central skater Levi Mese (5) carries the puck by Soldotna’s Cody Nye, Saturday at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central skater Levi Mese (5) carries the puck by Soldotna’s Cody Nye, Saturday at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna skater Alois Neunzert gets checked by Kenai Central’s Jakeb O’Brien (18) Saturday night at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna skater Alois Neunzert gets checked by Kenai Central’s Jakeb O’Brien (18) Saturday night at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna skater Alois Neunzert keeps his balance along the boards against Kenai Central on Saturday night at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna skater Alois Neunzert keeps his balance along the boards against Kenai Central on Saturday night at the Kenai Multipurpose Facility. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

Clyde Clemens of the Post 20 Twins swings through a hit pitch Friday, June 20, 2025, in the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Wood Bat tourney carries on legacy of Coz

From 1975 until his death in 2020, former Twins manager and head… Continue reading

tease
Results posted for Celebrate Life! 5K

ABC Life Choices held the Celebrate Life! 5-kilometer run Saturday, June 14,… Continue reading

The 10-mile race begins at the Run for the River on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Run for the River draws 197 finishers

The Run for the River drew 197 finishers on Saturday in Soldotna.… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Old-timers cast their lines

The grizzled gentlemen have been coming down to Homer for over 35 years to ambush flats from their modest skiff in “secret holes” east of the Spit.

Benny Loyer of Palmer soars through the air racing 65 intermediate at the Alaska State Motocross Series Race 4 on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
State motocross puts sport’s strong family ties on display

The strong family ties that bind motocross racing were on display at… Continue reading

tease
Sunday: Twins sweep Dimond

Post 20’s Harper throws shutout in league game

Post 20's Jayden Stuyvesant flies out to left field against West on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Friday: Twins lose league game, win nonleague game vs. West

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split a doubleheader against West Post… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Twins split with Service

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split with Service on Thursday at… Continue reading

Most Read