Strong third fuels Warrior victory

WASILLA — For the first two periods, Keegan Remsen was a wall. But in the third, the Wasilla Warriors found a way to crack the Kenai Central netminder.

Wasilla scored four times during the third period to post a 4-2 win over the Kardinals at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena on Friday.

“We could tell he was solid up high,” Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said of Remsen, who stopped all 30 shots he saw during the first two periods. “Sometimes its takes a couple periods to realize what you’re doing isn’t working. After the second period, we went in and talked about strategies. We made a conscious effort to get shots low on net and create rebound opportunities.”

Jeremiah Walker, Chancie Hanson, Jesse Gittlein and Michael Johnston scored third-period goals to help the Warriors rebound and grab the win.

“It was a matter of percentages,” Kenai Central head coach Pete Iverson said of the Warriors, who put 16 shots on goal during the third period. “If you keep shooting, you’re going to get one in.”

Walker’s goal, a power-play tally, came just 1:02 into the third period.

“It couldn’t get any better as far as timing,” Sturdevant said.

With the Warriors skating on the power play, Hanson set up with the puck behind the Kardinals net, and slipped a quick pass to Walker, who was perched to the right of Remsen. Walker shoveled a quick shot into the low near side of the net to put the Warriors on the board.

“That fired Wasilla up,” Iverson said. “They’re a strong a deep team. When they get a little momentum going, it’s hard to shut them down.”

Hanson followed four minutes later with a goal of his own to give the Warriors their first lead of the game.

At the 6:44 mark, junior Trent Wohlers sent a centering pass from the left boards to Gittlein, who quickly put the puck past Remsen.

Johnston capped the scoring with a power-play goal with 1:06 left in regulation.

Remsen allowed four goals during the final 15 minutes, but during the first 30, the Warriors didn’t have an answer for the sophomore.

“Keegan had an outstanding game,” Iverson said. “He just did great. He saw the puck, anticipated where he needed to be and he was there. He made a ton of great saves.”

Avery Palchikoff gave the Kards the first lead with a goal midway through the second. Palchikoff skated across the blue line and threw a shot at the Wasilla net. The attempt appeared to catch Wasilla goalie Chris Yaskus by surprise, and the shot sailed over the shoulder of Yaskus and into the upper shelf of the net.

“The goalie misread the puck, but garbage counts,” Iverson said. “We’ll take it any day of the week.”

Zack Zulkanycz scored midway through the third to round out the scoring for Kenai.

Wasilla 4, Kenai 2

Friday, Brett Memorial Ice Arena

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. Kenai- Palchikoff (Hermann, Perkins) 8:37.

Third period — 2. Wasilla- Walker (Hanson) pp 13:58; 3. Wasilla- Hanson (Marshall, Keene) 9:50; 4. Wasilla- Gittlein (Wohlers) 6:44; 5. Kenai- Zulkanycz (Meese) 6:26; 6. Wasilla- M. Johnston (J. Johnston, Walker) pp 1:06.

Shots on goal: Kenai 7-7-8—22, Wasilla 18-12-16—46; Saves: Kenai- Remsen 18-12-12—42, Wasilla- Yaskus 7-6-7—20; Power plays: Kenai 0-for-2, Wasilla 2-for-4.

Warriors skate

past Mariners

WASILLA — Despite trailing twice to Homer, the Wasilla Warriors rebounded to score a 6-4 win over the Mariners at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena on Saturday.

Asa Stage scored early to give the Mariners the 1-0 lead and Kai Simmons gave the Mariners the 3-2 advantage early in the second period.

Walker posted a pair of goals to lead the Warriors to the win. Wohlers recorded a goal and four assists.

Hanson, Eric Marshall and Wendell Harren also scored goals for the Warriors.

Wasilla outshot Homer 63-18 in the win.

Homer goalie Luke Eckert stopped 59 shots in the loss. Eckert also tallied an assist on his team’s final goal.

Adam Spencer recorded 13 saves to get the win over WHS.

Wasilla 6, Homer 4

Saturday, Brett Memorial Ice Arena

First period — 1. Homer- Stage (Rosencrans) 6:25; 2. Wasilla- Walker (Wohlers, Hanson) 5:01; 3. Wasilla- Harren (Marshall, Pevan) 1:55.

Second period — 4. Homer- Simmons (Robin) 13:37; 5. Homer- Duggar (unassisted) 4:20; 6. Wasilla- Wohlers (J. Johnston) 2:38.

Third period — 7. Wasilla- Walker (Wohlers, Hanson) 10:43; 8. Wasilla- Hanson (Wohlers, Edwards) pp 10:01; 9. Homer- Rosencrans (Stage, Eckert) 8:06; 10. Wasilla- Marshall (Wohlers, M. Johnston) pp 6:33.