Knights power past Stars, extend streak

WASILLA — Last year, the Colony Knights endured a slow start at the beginning of the season.

A half-dozen games in, Colony was playing .500 hockey. But before they knew it, the Knights were riding a seven-game winning streak heading into the holiday break.

Colony head coach Jamie Smith sees something similar in this year’s club. Entering the weekend, the Knights were 3-6-1. But with a big win over Soldotna Saturday, Colony is now on a four-game win streak.

Powered by three special teams goals, the Knights earned a 4-1 North Star Conference win over the Soldotna Stars Saturday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.

“I thought we played good today. It was a huge step in the right direction,” Smiths said. “I felt good about it. At the end of the day, we’ve got a lot more confidence.”

The victory over Soldotna marked Colony’s fourth straight. And with it, the Knights swept a weekend full of North Star Conference games against Peninsula opponents. Thursday, Colony rocked Kenai Central 9-1. Friday, the Knights netted a 6-1 win over Homer.

Saturday, Cooper Smith and Foster Riekena each scored power-play goals to help Colony improve to 3-1-0 in NSC play. Smith said the success with the advantage is product of a few changes and a lot of work during practice.

“We worked all week on the power play,” Smith said. “We figured it out and are comfortable with it.”

Arguably the biggest goal of the game came late in the second period with the Knights skating shorthanded. With the game tied at 1, Jake Kirsch fed a pass ahead to Jake Hessinger, who buried the puck and supplied the eventual game-winning goal.

“It kind of propelled us,” Smith said of the play.

Riekena and Kirsch provided insurance for the Knights late in the third. Riekena posted his power-play tally with 3:10 remaining in the game. Less than a minute late, Kirsch scored to give the Knights the three-goal lead.

Friday, a night after scoring nine against Kenai Central, Colony found the net a half-dozen times during a 6-1 win over Homer.

Kirsch enjoyed a four-point night. The forward recorded two goals and two assists. Te’sean Evans, Dayne Cole, Cade Havel and Hessinger also scored for the Knights.

Dimitry Kuzmin supplied the only goal for Homer.

Thursday, Defenseman Kolten Ketchum was among a trio of Knights to finish with a pair of goals during the 9-1 victory over Kenai. Smith and Tristan Avoletta also scored twice each. Hessinger, Kirsch and Wyatt Vrana also scored for the Knights.

Bailey Maxson notched the lone score for the Kards.

Colony outshot Kenai 55-9. Ryan Williams made 46 saves in the Kenai net.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony 4, Soldotna 1

Saturday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Smith (Avoletta) pp 11:27; 2. Soldotna- Nuenzet (Lockwood) 10:08.

Second period — 3. Colony- Hessinger (Kirsch, Crosta) sh 1:37.

Third period — 4. Colony- Riekena (Avoletta, Monaco) pp 3:10; 5. Colony- Kirsch (Hessinger, Crosta) 2:12.

Shots on goal: Soldotna 5-6-2—13, Colony 9-8-9—26, Saves: Soldotna- Yoder 8-7-7—22, Colony- Diltz 4-6-2—12.

Colony 6, Homer 1

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Evans (Hessinger, Kirsch) 11:51; 2. Colony- Kirsch (Hessinger, Crosta) 4:22; 3. Colony- Cole (Kirsch) 0:40.

Second period — 4. Homer- Kuzimin (Blakely) 14:16; 5. Colony- Havel (Riekena, Smith) 8:26.

Third period — 6. Hessinger (Evans) 8:07; 7. Colony- Kirsch (Evans, Hessinger) 7:55.

Shots on goal: Homer 4-3-4—11, Colony 13-13-17—43, Saves: Homer- Warren 10-12-15—37, Colony- Diltz 4-2-4—10.

Colony 9, Kenai Central 1

Thursday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Colony- Avoletta (Ketchum, Smith) 10:39; 2. Colony- Hessinger (unassisted) 4:03; 3 .Colony- Vrana (Havel, Monaco) 2:39.

Second period — 4. Colony- Smith (Riekena) 14:32; 5. Colony- Kirsch (Evans) 7:05 6. Colony- Ketchum (Kirsch, Evans) 3:14;.

Third period — 7. Kenai- Maxson (Hagel, O’Brien) 13:17; 8. Colony- Ketchum (Kirsch) 9:33; 9. Colony- Avoletta (Ketchum) 7:26; 10. Colony- Smith (Riekena, Avoletta) 0:43.

Shots on goal: Kenai 2-2-5—9, Colony 20-16-19—55; Saves: Kenai- Williams 17-13-16—46, Colony- Doss 2-2-4—8.