The Kenai Central hockey team defeated Soldotna 7-6 on Thursday in the opening round of the End of the Road Shootout at Kevin Bell Ice Arena in Homer.

The game was a scoring fest, but the Kardinals never trailed as Logan Mese tallied four goals and an assist.

Kenai jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game on goals by Avery Martin, Everett Chamberlain and Mese.

By the time 7:39 remained in the first period, the Stars had tied it. Noah Crabtree and Daniel Heath had power-play goals, then Heath scored again with the sides at full strength.

Martin would score again for Kenai and Nathan Hawkins would strike for the Stars before the first period was out.

The second period saw a penalty shot goal for Mese and another tally for Hawkins.

In the third period, the Kards led 7-5 by the time 6:38 showed on the clock. Mese scored twice, the second short-handed.

Crabtree pumped up the drama with a goal with 2:48 remaining, but Evyn Witt, who had 20 saves, held the fort the rest of the way. Brycen Clyde stopped 24 for the Stars.

Tri-Valley 8, Soldotna JV 3

The Viking Warriors came back from an early 1-0 deficit to topple the Stars.

Tri-Valley led 3-2 after the first period and 5-2 after the second period.

Owen Jusczak had a hat trick for the Viking Warrors, while Quincy Hjorth, Cordell Randall, Mike Renshaw, Hiram Stone and Reid Williams added goals.

Christopher Bohanan stopped 16 for the Viking Warriors, while the Stars allowed 36 shots on goal.

Bartlett 7, Homer 4

Dylan Beals had a hat trick as the Golden Bears topped the Mariners.

Bartlett went out 2-0 after the first period on strikes from Phillip Deguzman and Beals.

Homer started quick in the second period, as River Henry and Clyde Clemens each scored unassisted to knot the game just 1:30 into the frame.

A five-minute major would stall Homer’s momentum as Bartlett scored three goals after that penalty was whistled with 5:12 left in the second.

Wyatt Rust, Nick Cunitz and Beals had those tallies, then Beals added another goal before the end of the period for a 6-2 lead.

Deguzman stretched the lead to 7-2 early in the third before Zane Barth and Seatmus Hatton scored for Homer.

Reace Brothers stopped 18 for the Mariners, while Jaxson Gentry had 14 saves for the Golden Bears.

The tournament continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23.

Friday, Kenai plays SoHi JV at 2:30 p.m., SoHi plays Bartlett at 5 p.m. and Tri-Valley and Homer face off at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Tri-Valley and SoHi play at 9 a.m., Bartlett and Kenai play at 11:30 a.m. and SoHi JV and Homer play at 2 p.m.

Thursday

Kardinals 7, Stars 6

Sol 4 1 1 —6

Ken 4 1 2 —7

First period — 1. Kenai, Martin (Hallam), 0:36. 2. Kenai, Chamberlain (Smith), 1:53. 3. Kenai, Mese (un.), 2:26. 4. Soldotna, Crabtree (Settlemyer), pp, 5:32. 5. Soldotna, Heath (Crabtree, Williams), pp, 7:07. 6. Soldotna, Heath (un.), 7:21. 7. Kenai, Martin (Mese), 10:16. 8. Soldotna, Hawkins (Heath), 14:42. Penalties — Soldotna 1 for 2:00; Kenai 3 for 6:00.

Second period — 9. Kenai, Mese (penalty shot), 3:25. 10. Soldotna, Hawkins (Heath), 13:33. Penalties — Kenai 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 11. Kenai, Mese (Smith), 6:33. 12. Kenai, Mese (Martin), sh, 8:22. 13. Soldotna, Crabtree (un.), 12:12. Penalties — Soldotna 1 for 2:00; Kenai 3 for 6:00.

Shots on goal — Soldotna 11-7-8—26; Kenai 10-12-9—31.

Goalies — Soldotna, Clyde (31 shots, 24 saves); Kenai, Witt (26 shots, 20 saves).

Thursday

Golden Bears 7, Mariners 4

Bar 2 4 1 —7

Hom 0 2 2 —4

First period — 1. Bartlett, Deguzman (A. Rust), pp, 0:19. 2. Bartlett, Beals (W. Rust, Deguzman), 13:47. Penalties — Bartlett 1 for 5:00; Homer 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 3. Homer, Henry (un.), 1:06. 4. Homer, Clemens (un.), 1:30. 5. Bartlett, W. Rust (A. Rust), pp, 10:03. 6. Bartlett, Cunitz (A. Rust), pp, 12:39. 7. Bartlett, Beals (un.), pp, 13:58. 8. Barlett, Beals (W. Rust), 14:53. Penalties — Homer 2 for 7:00.

Third period — 9. Bartlett, Deguzman (Morton), 0:52. 10. Homer, Barth (Pearson), 3:03. 11. Homer, Hatton (un.), 5:55. Penalties — Bartlett 5 for 10:00; Homer 4 for 8:00.

Shots on goal — Bartlett 6-11-8—26; Homer 7-3-8—18.

Goalies — Bartlett, Gentry (18 shots, 14 saves); Homer, Brothers (26 shots, 18 saves).