Jeff Helminiak

Push is on to save Kenai River Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears still have a chance at survival. After the North American Hockey League Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 26, Brown… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s White nabs Gatorade Player of Year

With eight state championships and nine state players of the year in 18 seasons under seven-time state coach of the year Dan Leman, it would… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners forward Kyle Klatt battle for the puck Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Topeka takes series from Brown Bears

The Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-1 on Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in the rubber match of the… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners forward Kyle Klatt battle for the puck Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. RoadRunners

The news that the Kenai River Brown Bears will take up inactive status at the end of their 10th season has rocked everyone associated with… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s DeeAnn White (left) looks for space against Nikolaevsk’s Elizabeth Fefelov in the second half of the Peninsula Conference girls championship game at Homer High School on March 3, 2017. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys ready to defend Class 1A state title

Ninilchik boys coach Nick Finley is not worried about his team as the Wolverines get set to defend their Class 1A state basketball title at… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s DeeAnn White (left) looks for space against Nikolaevsk’s Elizabeth Fefelov in the second half of the Peninsula Conference girls championship game at Homer High School on March 3, 2017. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central to be reclassified as Class 3A starting in 2018-19 school year

According to athletic director Chris Hanson, Kenai Central will be reclassified as a Class 3A school beginning in the 2018-19 school year. Hanson said the… Continue reading

Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and goalie Robbie Goor work to keep the puck out of the net Friday, March 10, 2017, against the Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Chill take 2 from Brown Bears

With the team having announced inactive status at the end of this season, the players and coaching staff of the Kenai River Brown Bears have… Continue reading

Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and goalie Robbie Goor work to keep the puck out of the net Friday, March 10, 2017, against the Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Sam Sterne moves the puck on Nov. 11, 2016, against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Defenseman Sterne does dirty work for Brown Bears

Since the age of 15, Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Sam Sterne has worked in his family’s concrete business, spending up to nine hours a… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Sam Sterne moves the puck on Nov. 11, 2016, against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Coulee Region Chill

In extremely tough times, Kenai River head coach Jeff Worlton is pleased that his team has kept working hard with the Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill… Continue reading

Kenai River defenseman Alex Dingeldein and Minnesota forward Dmytro Kobylyanskyi battle for the puck behind the net Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Weekend roundup: Magicians top Brown Bears

The Minnesota Magicians swept the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The Magicians won 6-3 on Friday… Continue reading

Kenai River defenseman Alex Dingeldein and Minnesota forward Dmytro Kobylyanskyi battle for the puck behind the net Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Jake Friedman takes a break during practice on Feb. 14, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Bears’ Friedman shows players from hot climates can warm to Kenai

With the growth of the NHL into warmer-climate markets in the 1990s came the growth of talented youth players coming from those climates. But that… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Jake Friedman takes a break during practice on Feb. 14, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Magicians

The Kenai River Brown Bears will begin what could very well be their final homestand tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when they take on… Continue reading

Fate of Brown Bears to be announced after Sunday’s NAHL Board of Governors meeting

Nervous times have gotten even tenser for Southcentral Alaska hockey fans. Already hit with the news last week that the Alaska Aces of the ECHL… Continue reading

Ninilchik girls, boys pull off sweep at Nikolaevsk

The Ninilchik girls and boys basketball teams pulled off a Peninsula Conference sweep Monday in Nikolaevsk. Last season, the Wolverines girls defeated the Warriors in… Continue reading

Rykker Riddall, then a Kenai sophomore, sets the record in the Freshmen/Sophomore Clean in March 2016 in the Speed and Strength Training competition. At left, yelling encouragement, is Riddall’s father, Ted Riddall. Ted Riddall will take over as Kenai Central’s football coach next season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Riddall takes the Kenai Central football reins from Lowery

A coach and a football program, both with track records of success, have joined forces. Ted Riddall, who won small-schools state championships at Nikiski in… Continue reading

Rykker Riddall, then a Kenai sophomore, sets the record in the Freshmen/Sophomore Clean in March 2016 in the Speed and Strength Training competition. At left, yelling encouragement, is Riddall’s father, Ted Riddall. Ted Riddall will take over as Kenai Central’s football coach next season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Josh Jackman lays in a shot over Kodiak defender Roberto Giron, Friday night at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai boys cagers come back to claim split with Kodiak

The Kodiak and Kenai Central boys basketball teams piled up points at a rate rarely seen in the history of Alaska basketball Friday at Cliff… Continue reading

Kenai Central’s Josh Jackman lays in a shot over Kodiak defender Roberto Giron, Friday night at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears trade for more offense as they prep for Fairbanks

The Kenai River Brown Bears will look to shake a scoring slump when they travel to play the rival Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday and… Continue reading

From left to right, Amanda Taylor, Kate Harris, Jane Adkins, Madison McDonald and Dana McDonald ski as yard gnomes in the Ski For Women Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ski For Women returns to snow

Last-minute ingenuity, quick thinking and rapid execution can make for clever costumes. But those qualities aren’t nearly as desired when it comes to organizing the… Continue reading

From left to right, Amanda Taylor, Kate Harris, Jane Adkins, Madison McDonald and Dana McDonald ski as yard gnomes in the Ski For Women Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna boys, Homer girls win Homer Invitational ski meet

The Soldotna boys, Homer girls, Homer’s Jacob Davis and Seward’s Ruby Lindquist notched wins at the Homer Invitational, a ski meet held Friday and Saturday… Continue reading

Fairbanks goaltender Josh Benson wards off a shot by Kenai River forward Evan Butcher (9) Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Weekend wrap: Ice Dogs sweep Brown Bears

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs continued to use defense to climb back into the North American Hockey League playoff hunt, taking a 2-1 victory over the… Continue reading

Fairbanks goaltender Josh Benson wards off a shot by Kenai River forward Evan Butcher (9) Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)