Soldotna’s JD Schmelzenbach battles with Wasilla’s McKinley Larson and Langston Bouma for the puck Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s JD Schmelzenbach battles with Wasilla’s McKinley Larson and Langston Bouma for the puck Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Wasilla skaters top SoHi

The Soldotna hockey team lost to Wasilla 6-2 on Friday and Colony 7-2 on Saturday in North Star Conference hockey action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

The Stars are now 1-8-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the league, but head coach Indy Walton remains satisfied with the progress of the young team, which had five freshmen and no seniors in the lineup Friday.

“We’ve been making progress since the beginning of the season, not just in hockey but in other things as well,” Walton said. “Our team chemistry is coming together.”

Friday, Porter Schachle had two goals and an assist and Slayte Wohlers added two goals to lift Wasilla.

Walton gave the Warriors, who also received scores from Zachary Roush and Langston Bouma, credit. He said Wasilla is fast team that makes skilled passes. The Warriors led 3-0 en route to the victory.

Walton said a chunk of the goals came from what he calls the 10-foot rule. He said when the Stars get the puck 10 feet from leaving the defensive zone, that puck must clear the zone or odd-man rushes occur. Similar danger lurks when SoHi has the puck 10 feet from entering an opponent’s zone and doesn’t get the puck deep.

“There were a couple of times we didn’t follow that rule and that created scoring opportunities they capitalized on,” Walton said. “It could have been a close game.”

Thanks to a second-period goal by freshman Jose Montague, Soldotna entered the third period down 5-1.

But Walton and assistant Galen Brantley Jr. stressed to the young team to not let down in the third period. The coaches were encouraged the Stars were winning the period on a power-play goal by Wyatt Medcoff until a power-play strike by Schachle with just 39 seconds left.

Walton said Medcoff was rewarded for his second effort all night. Defensemen Lucas Kline, Levi Benner and JD Schmelzenbach had to play every other shift, as did center Galen Brantley III and Braxton Urban.

The SoHi coach added McKenzie Powell did a great job in net, amassing 25 saves. Sean Carney made 14 for the Warriors.

Saturday, Walton said his team not only had to play for a third time in three days, but had to face a Colony squad with 22 juniors and seniors on the roster.

“Colony is one of the best teams in the state,” Walton wrote in a text message.

The coach got everybody playing time and the team remained disciplined, not committing any penalties.

Jack Holman had a hat trick in the first period to lead the Knights. Cooper Smith added a pair of goals, while Zach Monaco and Jake Hessinger also scored.

For Soldotna, Galen Brantley III lit the lamp twice. Walton again credited Medcoff for his hard work, this time back-checking.

Corbin Wirz had six saves on nine shots for SoHi, while Powell had 13 saves on 17 shots. For Colony, Cole Doss had eight saves on 10 shots.

Friday

Warriors 6, Stars 2

Wasilla 2 3 1 — 6

Soldotna 0 1 1 — 2

First period — 1. Wasilla, Roush (un.), 6:59; 2. Wasilla, Wohlers (Masterson), 8:07. Penalties — Wasilla 1 for 2:00; Soldotna 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 3. Wasilla, P. Schachle (un.), 3:18; 4. Soldotna, J. Montague (Kline), 5:07; 5. Wasilla, Bouma (P. Schachle), 13:16; 6. Wasilla, Wohlers (Bouma, Holler), 13:53. Penalties — Wasilla 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 7. Soldotna, Medcoff (A. Montague), 11:10; 8. Wasilla, P. Schachle (Wiltfong), 14:21. Penalties — Wasilla 2 for 4:00; Soldotna 2 for 4:00.

Shots on goal — Wasilla 8-11-12—31; Soldotna 5-7-4—16.

Goalies — Wasilla, Carney (16 shots, 14 saves); Soldotna, Powell (31 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Wasilla 1 for 3; Soldotna 1 for 4.

Saturday

Knights 7, Stars 2

Colony 4 1 2 — 7

Soldotna 1 1 0 — 2

First period — 1. Colony, Holman (Korynta, Monaco), 0:27; 2. Colony, Smith (Diltz), 6:44; 3. Soldotna, Brantley III (A. Montague, J. Montague), 10:08; 4. Colony, Holman (Korynta, Fike), 10:38; 5. Colony, Holman (Korynta, Fike), 11:30. Penalties — Colony 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 6. Colony, Monaco (Hessinger), 8:33; 7. Soldotna, Brantley III (Medcoff, Skolnick), 10:45. Penalties — Colony 2 for 4:00.

Third period — 8. Colony, Smith (Diltz), 7:55; 9. Colony, Hessinger (Diltz), 12:02. Penalties — Colony 2 for 4:00.

Shots on goal — Colony 12-6-8—26; Soldotna 3-3-4—10.

Goalies — Colony, Doss (10 shots, 8 saves); Soldotna, Wirz (9 shots, 6 saves), Powell (17 shots, 13 saves).

Soldotna’s McKenzie Powell makes a save Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s McKenzie Powell makes a save Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Seth Payment gets checked off the puck by Wasilla on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Seth Payment gets checked off the puck by Wasilla on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna goalie McKenzie Powell recovers in time to keep Wasilla from scoring Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna goalie McKenzie Powell recovers in time to keep Wasilla from scoring Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Wyatt Medcoff attacks Wasilla’s Wyatt Moore while Soldotna’s Alex Montague supports the puck Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Wyatt Medcoff attacks Wasilla’s Wyatt Moore while Soldotna’s Alex Montague supports the puck Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Sports

tease
Friday prep hockey: Soldotna, Kenai notch wins

The visiting Soldotna hockey team defeated Kodiak 7-0 on Friday in Northern… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Joe Manning celebrates his goal with Marko Giourof and Gavin Duckworth on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Bears sweep weekend series from Wolverines

The Kenai River Brown Bears swept a weekend series from the Anchorage… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Seanna Swanson and Sawyer Vann look to block a shot Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central hockey team tops Homer

The Kenai Central hockey team defeated Homer 7-0 on Thursday in Northern… Continue reading

Young samplings are better than a muffin to this moose on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Colin Canterbury/USFWS)
Refuge Notebook: We stand on the shoulders of giant moose

This story starts 2,500 miles southeast as the raven flies from Kenai… Continue reading

tease
Homer wrestling hosts Nikiski, Soldotna for senior night

The Homer wrestling team hosted Nikiski and Soldotna on Tuesday for senior… Continue reading

tease
College football updates on Brantley III, Metcalf, Dahlgren

Soldotna High School graduate Galen Brantley III earned First Team All-North Star… Continue reading

Kenai Centra's Jack Laker leads skiers at the start of the Turkey Skate on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi’s Boonstra, Kenai’s Chase Laker win Turkey Skate to start ski season

Kenai Central’s Chase Laker and Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra won the Turkey Skate… Continue reading

tease
Ice Dogs sweep Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears were swept by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs… Continue reading

Nikiski's Destiny Langston and Soldotna' Meg Roberts battle at 235 pounds Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Roberts won 7-4. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna wrestling celebrates senior night with 2 dual victories

The Soldotna wrestling team celebrated senior night by capturing a pair of… Continue reading

Most Read