Offensive flurry pushes Palmer

WASILLA — Palmer’s partying like it’s 1996.

Palmer scored five unanswered goals to earn an 8-3 win over the Kenai Central Kardinals during the semifinal round of the North Star Conference hockey tournament at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Friday. With the win, Palmer moves into the conference title game and earns its first state tournament berth in 13 years.

Senior captain Zach Richards posted the hat trick to help the Moose earn a trip to their first state tourney since 1996.

Senior Michael Hanson and sophomore Ivan Good scored twice in the win. Sophomore Nick Reeves also found the back of the net for PHS.

Kenai did all of its damage on the power play during the first period, scoring three times with the man advantage to force the 3-3 tie.

Brady Perkins put Kenai on the scoreboard at the 9:20 mark of the first to give the Kards the 1-0 lead. Reeves promptly tied the game for the Moose, scoring just more than a minute later.

With another power play chance midway through the first, Kenai senior Cameron Borchgrevink knocked a shot past Palmer junior netminder Jonas Naegele to give Kenai the 2-1 advantage.

But once again, Kenai’s lead didn’t last long.

Good and Richards each scored with a 27-second stretch late in the first to allow the Moose to go ahead 3-2.

Ryan Fusaro used a power play goal to tie the game with 1:36 left in the first.

Palmer scored five times during the final 30 minutes and outshot Kenai 45-16 in the win.

Michael Hanson scored both of his goals in the second period.

The Moose did suffer a loss in the win. Junior defenseman Dylan Danielowski left the ice with a signiciant shoulder injury after he was crushed against the boards late in the second period.

Danielowski will be unable to play against Soldotna in the confernece title game.

Palmer 8, Kenai 3

North Star Conference semifinals

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Kenai- Perkins (Fusaro, Myles) pp 9:20, 2. Palmer- Reeves (M. Hanson, J. Hanson) 8:10, 3. Kenai- Borchgrevink (Perkins) pp 7:22, 4. Palmer- Good (J. Hanson) 3:31, 5. Palmer- Richards (Isaacs) 3:04, 6. Kenai- Fusaro (Eubank, Palchikoff) pp 1:36.

Second period — 7. Palmer- M. Hanson (J. Hanson) 11:27, 8. Palmer- Richards (Danielowsi) 5:54, 9. Palmer- M. Hanson (J. Hanson) 0:33.

Third period — 10. Palmer- Richards (Isaacs, J. Hanson) 13:01, 11. Palmer- Good (J. Hanson, Monarch) 11:01.

Shots on goal: Kenai 16, Palmer 45.