Thunderbirds drop Kenai at Challenge

East High of Anchorage used a strong finish to defeat Kenai Central 4-1 Friday in the second round of the Peninsula Ice Challenge.

The game left both the Kardinals and the Thunderbirds with a 1-1 record in the tournament heading into Saturday's action.

The Thunderbirds grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period before Kenai senior Mike Brown, on an assist from Hunter Sirois, tied the game with 13:14 left in the second period.

East then scored three goals in the last four minutes of the game to take the victory.

Steven Campanella picked up 32 saves for Kenai.

THUNDERBIRDS 4, KARDINALS 1

East 1 0 3 --4

Kenai 0 1 0 --1

First period -- 1. East, J. Smith (Rider), 10:21. Penalties -- East 1 for 2:00; Kenai 1 for 2:00.

Second period -- 2. Kenai, Brown (Sirois), 1:46. Penalties -- East 2 for 4:00; Kenai 2 for 4:00.

Third period -- 3. East, Walsky (C. Smith), 11:49; 4. East, Cotton (S. Van Ness, M. Van Ness), 13:22; 5. East, C. Smith (Sedlacek, J. Smith), 14:00. Penalties -- East 3 for 6:00; Kenai 3 for 6:00.

Shots on goal -- East 11-10-15--36; Kenai 5-7-9--21.

Goalies -- East, Roset (21 shots, 20 saves); Kenai, Campanella (36 shots, 32 saves).

SOLDOTNA 6, NORTH POLE 0

The Soldotna Stars shut out North Pole Friday, scoring three goals in the third period. Stars players Peter Kim and Billy Smith both scored two goals. Dan Jensen had two assists, both to Kim.

The Stars improved their record to 2-0 in the Peninsula Ice Challenge, while North Pole fell to 0-2.

SOLDOTNA 6, NORTH POLE 0

Soldotna 1 2 3 -6

North Pole 0 0 0 -0

First period -- 1. Soldotna , Murray (Mills) 4:27. Penalties -- Soldotna 1 for 2:00.

Second period -- 1. Soldotna, Jensen (Smith), 10:59; Soldotna, Kim (Newby, Jensen) 5:35. Penalties -- Soldotna 2 for 4:00; North Pole 2 for 4:00.

Third period -- 1. Soldotna, Kim (Jensen, Laurion), 13:15; 2. Soldotna, Smith (Murray, McIntosh), 2:56; 3. Soldotna, Smith (Patton, Tikka) :43. Penalties -- North Pole 2 for 4:00; Soldotna 2 for 12:00.

Shots on goal -- Skyview 13-14-9- 36; North Pole 2-6-4- 12.

Goalies -- Skyview, Bishop (12 shots-12 saves); North Pole, Graham (27 shots, 24 saves), Stenroos (9 shots-6 saves).