Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna outside hitter Ella Stenga bats the ball towards the Seward side Tuesday night at the Soldotna Prep gym.

Soldotna volleyball sweeps Seward

It was fitting that Tuesday’s volleyball match between Soldotna and Seward was at Soldotna Prep, because both teams wanted to use the nonconference affair to… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna outside hitter Ella Stenga bats the ball towards the Seward side Tuesday night at the Soldotna Prep gym.

Kenai tops Nikiski in Killing Cancer on the Kenai match

The Kenai Central volleyball program punctuated a successful Killing Cancer on the Kenai Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser on Monday night by defeating visiting Nikiski 25-17,… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Samantha Kompkoff and Emily Koziczkowski combine for a stuff block against Wasilla in front of a charged-up student body Friday night at Kenai Central.

Weekend volleyball roundup: Kenai earns weekend split

The upset-minded Kenai Central volleyball team had won the first set 25-15 and the Kardinals student body was at full throat. Wasilla coach Josie Cannon… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Samantha Kompkoff and Emily Koziczkowski combine for a stuff block against Wasilla in front of a charged-up student body Friday night at Kenai Central.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion A Kenai Central athlete practices roller-skiing Sunday morning near the Hope Highway junction just off the Seward Highway.

A little technique goes a long way: Liebner returns to give athletes skiing’s secrets

Andy Liebner, a 2001 graduate of Soldotna High School, has spent a sizable portion of his life scouring this continent and Europe to try and… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion A Kenai Central athlete practices roller-skiing Sunday morning near the Hope Highway junction just off the Seward Highway.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River forward Evan Butcher skates the puck up the ice against Johnstown (Pennsylvania) defenseman Adam Pilewicz on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Tomahawks pull off weekend sweep of Brown Bears

In the 2012-13 season, Nick Shackford was an assistant for the Kenai River Brown Bears and fans got a taste for Shackford’s nose for talent… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River forward Evan Butcher skates the puck up the ice against Johnstown (Pennsylvania) defenseman Adam Pilewicz on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River defenseman Jordan Holmes (12) deflects the puck away from Johnstown forward Tiernan Seningen Wednesday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears drop midweek contest to Tomahawks

From the 2005-06 to the 2011-12 seasons, the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks organization was located in the Matanuska-Susitna valleys.The Tomahawks are making themselves feel right at… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River defenseman Jordan Holmes (12) deflects the puck away from Johnstown forward Tiernan Seningen Wednesday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Tomahawks

Kenai River Brown Bears fans have seen both sides of going young.In the 2012-13 season, head coach Oliver David put his trust in developing young… Continue reading

Oilers hire ABL, SDSU legend Dietz as new head coach

Imagine you were applying to be a chef at a restaurant and found out they chose Emeril Lagasse. Or were applying to be a programmer… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion New Jersey Titans goaltender Brandon Bussi protects the net from Kenai River forward Chad Lopez on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Titans sweep Brown Bears on home-opening weekend

The Kenai River Brown Bears were swept by the New Jersey Titans in the Brown Bears’ North American Hockey League home-opening series Friday and Saturday… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion New Jersey Titans goaltender Brandon Bussi protects the net from Kenai River forward Chad Lopez on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai quarterback Chase Gillies scrambles under pressure from Soldotna's Jeremiah Lefao on Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna.

Soldotna football defeats Kenai

After his first game as a head coach against Soldotna — a 54-27 loss Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna — Kenai Central head… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai quarterback Chase Gillies scrambles under pressure from Soldotna's Jeremiah Lefao on Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central junior Braden Olsen finishes seventh Saturday at the Region III meet at Tsalteshi Trails to qualify for Saturday's state meet.

Kenai Peninsula runners chase titles at state

Kenai Peninsula runners will be a major part of the title chase in three of the four races Saturday at the state cross-country meet at… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central junior Braden Olsen finishes seventh Saturday at the Region III meet at Tsalteshi Trails to qualify for Saturday's state meet.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Connor Poczos makes a save in front of defenseman Sam Sterne during a drill in practice Wednesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex ahead of the team's home opener tonight.

Brown Bears to face off against Titans in home opener

Instead of arriving on the central Kenai Peninsula in late summer, as is the norm, the Kenai River Brown Bears did not touch down in… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Connor Poczos makes a save in front of defenseman Sam Sterne during a drill in practice Wednesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex ahead of the team's home opener tonight.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Palmer's Ruby Woodings, Colony's Jill Bowker and Kenai Central's Riana Boonstra and Jaycie Calvert make up the lead pack a little over a kilometer from the finish in the Class 4A girls race at the Region III meet at Tsalteshi Trails. Woodings won the race, and Boonstra and Calvert led the Kardinals to the team title.

Kenai girls, Kodiak boys, Homer girls and boys defend Region III crowns

The Region III meet at autumn-splashed Tsalteshi Trails saw team repeat champions in the Kodiak boys, Kenai Central girls, and Homer girls and boys.The meet… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Palmer's Ruby Woodings, Colony's Jill Bowker and Kenai Central's Riana Boonstra and Jaycie Calvert make up the lead pack a little over a kilometer from the finish in the Class 4A girls race at the Region III meet at Tsalteshi Trails. Woodings won the race, and Boonstra and Calvert led the Kardinals to the team title.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward's Maggie Adkins and Nikiski's Emma Wik, Maddy Williams, Dessy Napoka and Melanie Sexton stare down the ball Friday at Nikiski High School.

Nikiski volleyball stops Seward in 5 games

Nikiski senior middle blocker Ayla Pitt had 20 kills, eight aces and two blocks in leading the Bulldogs to a 3-2 Southcentral Conference volleyball victory… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward's Maggie Adkins and Nikiski's Emma Wik, Maddy Williams, Dessy Napoka and Melanie Sexton stare down the ball Friday at Nikiski High School.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Jaycie Calvert (480) leads Seward's Ruby Lindquist, Homer's Megan PItzman, Homer's Audrey Rosencrans, Kenai Central's Riana Boonstra and Homer's Autumn Daigle at the Kenai Peninsula Borough meet earlier this month at Seward High School.

Region runners will battle the elements at Tsalteshi Trails

There is rain in the forecast for Saturday, and the Kenai Central girls cross-country team is loving it.“The Kenai girls like to run in the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Jaycie Calvert (480) leads Seward's Ruby Lindquist, Homer's Megan PItzman, Homer's Audrey Rosencrans, Kenai Central's Riana Boonstra and Homer's Autumn Daigle at the Kenai Peninsula Borough meet earlier this month at Seward High School.

Brown Bears set to open season at NAHL Showcase

After finishing with the worst record in the North American Hockey League the past two seasons, the Kenai River Brown Bears are trying a major… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central defensive back Rykker Riddall attempts to wrap up a tackle on Chugiak running back Kenny Sison Saturday afternoon at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.

Chugiak starts fast in defeating Kenai

Chugiak wasted little time in taking control in a 48-3 nonconference victory Saturday at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.The Kardinals received the opening kickoff and… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central defensive back Rykker Riddall attempts to wrap up a tackle on Chugiak running back Kenny Sison Saturday afternoon at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward junior Ruby Lindquist (526) leads a large lead pack early in the varsity girls race Tuesday at the Kenai Peninsula Borough race in Seward.

Kenai girls, Homer boys take XC borough titles

The location and the weather changed, but the winners stayed mostly the same Tuesday at the Kenai Peninsula Borough cross-country meet in Seward.The sunny, mountainous… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward junior Ruby Lindquist (526) leads a large lead pack early in the varsity girls race Tuesday at the Kenai Peninsula Borough race in Seward.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Eric Thomason corners through the Mosquite singletrack Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails during Psychocross.

Kincaid, Brennan repeat as Psychocross winners

There was a collapsing, cramping competitor at the finish line brought back to his feet by a frosty beverage, a finisher who had to jump… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Eric Thomason corners through the Mosquite singletrack Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails during Psychocross.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Eagle River's Grant Burningham is brought down on a kickoff return by Kenai Central's James Siamani and Tristan Landry on Friday at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.

Kenai Central football tops Eagle River

After a pass-happy attack in Week 2 against Service and a ground-heavy approach in Week 3 against Thunder Mountain, the Kenai Central coaching staff was… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Eagle River's Grant Burningham is brought down on a kickoff return by Kenai Central's James Siamani and Tristan Landry on Friday at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai.