Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina uses his long reach to try and secure the puck Friday against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Wilderness ruin debut of new Brown Bears coach Worlton

The Minnesota Wilderness spoiled the debut of Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Jeff Worlton with a sweep Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina uses his long reach to try and secure the puck Friday against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

After tumultuous week, Brown Bears face defending Robertson Cup champions

Things have been extremely eventful since the Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a string of 30 North American Hockey League games without a win Saturday… Continue reading

Brown Bears remove Beauparlant as head coach, install Worlton

Nate Kiel, president and general manager of the Brown Bears, announced Monday night that Geoff Beauparlant has been replaced as head coach of the North… Continue reading

Seldovia’s Turner pours in 32 as Sea Otters topple CIA

Seldovia senior guard Olivia Turner had never beaten Cook Inlet Academy in her high school career, and neither had the Sea Otters.Friday at CIA in… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Seldovia's Aidan Philpot works his way around Kotlik's Juwan Akaran during their game at the 2015 March Madness Small Schools championships on Saturday March 14, 2015 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Peninsula Conference basketball season preview: In Class 1A, difference between state title and not fielding a team is small

At the Class 2A, 3A and 4A levels — or those schools 61 students and above — even the best basketball programs will have rebuilding… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Seldovia's Aidan Philpot works his way around Kotlik's Juwan Akaran during their game at the 2015 March Madness Small Schools championships on Saturday March 14, 2015 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Alumni hockey game set for Wednesday

Enthusiasm and talent are on the rise at the 20th Annual Kenai Central and Soldotna High Schools Alumni Hockey Game, which will be held Wednesday… Continue reading

SoHi hockey blasts Kenai

Tuesday’s 10-1 victory by Soldotna over rival Kenai in North Star Conference action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex was similar to the first time… Continue reading

Scary injury overshadows Ice Dogs’ victory ove Brown Bears

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs’ 6-2 North American Hockey League victory over the Kenai River Brown Bears in front of 193 on Sunday at the Soldotna… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears' Charles Spetz looks for an opening during a game against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday Dec. 4, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Ice Dogs beat the Brown Bears 4-1.

Ice Dogs take 2 from Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears are streaking in the wrong direction. Facing one of their toughest foes, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, the Brown Bears fell… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears' Charles Spetz looks for an opening during a game against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday Dec. 4, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Ice Dogs beat the Brown Bears 4-1.

Comeback comes up short as local Pop Warner squad loses exciting game in California

Head coach Sarge Truesdell isn’t entirely sure what his Kenai Peninsula Pop Warner Junior Midget team lost Saturday in Murrieta, California, but he is entirely… Continue reading

Friday: Ice Dogs start fast in defeating Brown Bears

Sometimes, life isn’t fair. The Kenai River Brown Bears wouldn’t have even been in Friday’s 4-1 North American Hockey League loss to the Fairbanks Ice… Continue reading

Photo provided by Fighting Saints Former Brown Bears head coach Oliver David prepares to take the bench as an associate head coach for the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League earlier this season.

Former Bears coach David uses his Kenai River experience to help him ascend coaching ranks

Amidst the quickening pregame hubbub, Oliver David reclines in a bright red seat above center ice at the Resch Center, the sparkling, 2002-built, 9,000-seat venue… Continue reading

Photo provided by Fighting Saints Former Brown Bears head coach Oliver David prepares to take the bench as an associate head coach for the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League earlier this season.

David’s influence still felt as Bears get set to take on Ice Dogs

Coming off having the North American Hockey League’s worst record last season and with the league’s record this season, the effects of the turnaround orchestrated… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Pop Warner squad scores big win at regions

The Kenai Peninsula Pop Warner Junior Midget team defeated the Spokane North Falcons 49-13 on Saturday in the Division III Northern Region Championships at Doc… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion In this Jan. 16, 2015 file photo Adam Anderson and Cameron Cook of Fairbanks play against Sam Carlson and Evan Butcher of Kenai at a hockey game at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Evan Butcher recovers from getting cut from JV team as freshman to make Brown Bears

As the younger brother of 2013-14 North American Hockey League Most Valuable Player Alec Butcher, it’d be tempting to think Evan Butcher’s spot on the… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion In this Jan. 16, 2015 file photo Adam Anderson and Cameron Cook of Fairbanks play against Sam Carlson and Evan Butcher of Kenai at a hockey game at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets

The Kenai River Brown Bears scored their lone win of the season against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets, but the Jets have served notice that a… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Brown Bear Joey Sardina (left) challenges Brady Ferner of the Coulee River Chill for the puck at a game at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Friday, Nov. 13.

Chill sweep Brown Bears

The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill swept the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Brown Bear Joey Sardina (left) challenges Brady Ferner of the Coulee River Chill for the puck at a game at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Friday, Nov. 13.

Friday: Chill use 3 goals in less than minute to topple Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears yielded three goals in 46 seconds to the Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill on Friday in a 5-2 loss in front… Continue reading

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Chill

It’s the growing, and not the pains, on which Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Geoff Beauparlant is focused as the Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill… Continue reading

Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Brown Bears goalis Nicholas Nast keeps an eye on the puck during an Oct. 23, 2015 game against the Johnstown Pennsylvania Tomahawks in Soldotna, Alaska.

Routine keeps Bears goalie Nast in the groove

During every game, when Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Nick Nast puts on his mask, he takes his place alongside Patrick Roy and many of… Continue reading

Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Brown Bears goalis Nicholas Nast keeps an eye on the puck during an Oct. 23, 2015 game against the Johnstown Pennsylvania Tomahawks in Soldotna, Alaska.