JDHS hockey team peppers puck past Soldotna
- Klas Stolpe
- Dec 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Crimson Bears skate over the Stars to sweep road series
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team followed up Wednesday’s 1-0 road win over Northern Lights Conference foe Soldotna with a 4-0 series sweep of the Stars on Thursday at the Soldotna Sports Complex.
“Honestly, the only thing different tonight was Sohi played very undisciplined and we spent a lot of time on the power play,” JDHS coach Matt Boline said. “The first, second and third period keys were exactly the same as last night’s. Since it worked last night, we didn’t want to change anything.”
In Wednesday’s win the Crimson Bears were aggressive on offense with 31 shots, and they matched that again Thursday. JDHS also limited Soldotna puck possession, and Crimson Bears junior goalie Jed Davis stopped 20 Stars’ shots to earn his second clean sheet in as many nights. Davis stopped 28 on Wednesday.
JDHS senior captain Elliot Welch “lit the lamp” with 7:58 left in the first period unassisted.
"The team is playing great," Welch said. "We are getting better every week and these games show that. The team is starting to figure out what is working and it showed in these games but we have got to continue through our next two games. The energy on the ice and the bench is awesome and it keeps us positive and hyped up."
Neither side scored in the second period despite playing to man advantages.
“The second period we killed off two minutes of five-on-three penalty and a five-minute major penalty,” Boline said. “Basically we spent too much time in the penalty box during the second period and we killed them all off.”
The Crimson Bears were whistled for five penalties — two in the first period, two in the second and one in the third. The Stars had six penalties with one in the first stanza, three in the second and two in the third.
The Crimson Bears took control of the game in the third period with JDHS senior Paxton Mertl scoring at 14:06, assisted by Welch and sophomore Summit Bos.
“The third period SoHi got frustrated and played undisciplined, and we were able to capitalize,” Boline said.
With 7:41 remaining, senior Nolan Cruz scored, assisted by junior Bryden Roberts, and with 4:45 remaining sophomore Ryker Nelson scored, assisted by Roberts and senior Isaac Phelps.
The Crimson Bears play Friday and Saturday against the Kenai Kardinals at the Kenai Ice Arena.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
