Knights blank Soldotna

WASILLA — In the competitive North Star Conference, seeding in the upcoming tournament may come down to tiebreakers. And that might make Colony’s 3-0 win over Soldotna Thursday that much bigger. Freshman Josh Boyer bagged a pair of goals and an assist to lead Colony to the win, and help the Knights sweep the two-game regular-season series against the Stars.

“It’s big, gigantic,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said. “I don’t think Colony has done that in about 10 years.”

Colony edged SoHi 2-1 in Soldotna earlier this season.

Thursday, Boyer netted three points and Colony netminder Colton Beebe made 21 saves to earn the shutout.

“Beebe was really good tonight,” Smith said of his goalie, who made 14 saves in the second period.

Colony scored a pair of third-period goals to help cement the win. Early in the third, Boyer scored right off a face-off in the SoHi defensive zone to give the Knights the 2-0 lead. Boyer won the draw and pushed the puck back to defenseman Logan Sanders. At the point, Sanders blasted a shot that was deflected into the net by Boyer.

“We got a big game out of Boyer,” Smith said.

Less than five minutes later, Boyer set up Colony’s third goal. Skating between the circles, Boyer took a shot. SoHi goalie Cody Harvey made the save, but left the puck at the bottom of the left wing circle. Isaac Vincent, sitting all alone, was able to hammer the puck into the net.

Smith said Boyer’s third-period goal was really big. But getting the third goal was huge for a team that had scored two of its three prior NSC wins by only one score.

“Even with a two-goal lead, you’re always weary about what could happen,” Smith said.

Boyer opened the scoring with a power-play goal late in the first period. Gunner Stadem and Curtis Foster picked up assists on that goal.

Soldotna had its best opportunities in a wide-open second period, in which the Stars outshot Colony 14-10. Harvey made 21 saves in the SoHi loss.

Colony 3, Soldotna 0

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Boyer (Stadem, Foster) pp 2:54.

Second period — no scoring.

Third period — 2. Colony- Boyer (Sanders) 13:15; 3. Colony- Vincent (Boyer, Bloemer) 8:22.

Shots on goal: Soldotna 4-14-3—21, Colony 4-10-6—20; Saves: Soldotna- Harvey 3-10-4—17, Colony- Beebe 4-14-3—17.