Friday: Brown Bears open season by topping Steel

Published 10:30 pm Thursday, September 11, 2025

The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel 7-5 on Friday in the North American Hockey League opener for both teams.

Massimiliano Monson scored unassisted to break a 5-all tie with 1 minute, 37 seconds, left in the game, giving Brown Bears head coach Darren Banks a victory in his debut with the team. Dario Lass sealed the victory with his second goal of the night — an empty-net goal with 54 seconds to play.

“Honestly, I’m just happy for the guys,” Banks said. “The guys have been working really hard over the past couple weeks here through training camp and our first week of practice back in Anoka.”

Banks said Monson was able to capitalize on a turnover to get the game-winner. That also was Monson’s first goal in the NAHL.

Kenai River had jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period on a goals by David Greene, assisted by Koen Burkholder, and Braden Hansberger. Both Greene and Hansberger scored an NAHL goal for the first time.

“I thought our energy and pace was really good in the first,” Banks said. “They were excited to play. I thought our leaders did a good job of having the guys ready to go, and I think it showed.”

The Steel stormed back to take a 3-2 lead on special teams goals by Kevin Lysohir, Lukas Bellinger and Mason Johnson.

Banks said the coaching staff will look at the video and be better on special teams. The game had 23 total penalties.

“There was a quite a bit of special teams and even four-on-four play tonight,” Banks said. “I thought the guys did a good job managing the bench.”

Greene scored on a power play to tie the game, then Thomas Gunderson scored on an assist from Lass with 12 seconds left in the second period for a 4-3 lead.

“The guys kept battling, and we felt like we were doing a lot of things well,” Banks said. “The game plan didn’t really change. Our execution got better as that period wore on, and they were rewarded.”

In the third period, Anthony Preskar tied it for Chippewa, but the Bears got the lead with 8:12 left on a goal by Gavin Jensen.

Anthony Nolan tied it for the Steel with 5:21 to play to set up the heroics of Monson.

Andrew McLouth made 17 saves for the Bears, while Noel Friedman stopped 31 for the Steel. Banks said the defensemen also competed hard as a group.

“I think for his first junior game, stepping in, he battled really hard,” Banks said of McLouth. “You could see the guys rally around him.”

The Steel and Bears play again Saturday, Sept. 13, at 4 p.m. AKDT.

Friday

Brown Bears 7, Steel 5

Ken 2 2 3 —7

Chi 0 3 2 —5

First period — 1. Kenai River, Greene (Burkholder), 7:02. 2. Kenai River, Hansberger (un.), 7:13. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Chippewa 2 for 4:00.

Second period — 3. Chippewa, Lysohir (Jalbert), pp, 5:11. 4. Chippewa, Bellinger (un.), sh, 9:04. 5. Chippewa, Johnson (Boyce), pp, 14:37. 6. Kenai River, Greene (un.), pp, 15:52. 7. Kenai River, Gunderson (Lass), 19:48. Penalties — Kenai River 5 for 10:00; Chippewa 6 for 12:00.

Third period — 8. Chippewa, Preskar (Cooney), 7:47. 9. Kenai River, Jensen, 8:12. 10. Chippewa, Nolan (Schulte), 14:39. 11. Kenai River, Monson (un.), 18:23. 12. Kenai River, Lass (un.), pp, 19:06. Penalties — Kenai River 4 for 8:00; Chippewa 4 for 8:00.

Shots on goal — Kenai River 12-15-12—39; Chippewa 7-7-8—22.

Goalies — Kenai River, McClouth (22 shots, 17 saves); Chippewa, Friedman (38 shots, 31 saves).

Power plays — Kenai River 2 for 8; Chippewa 3 for 8.