Jeff Helminiak

Oilers name new head coach

The Peninsula Oilers named a new head coach Saturday after a two-week search.Kevin Griffin, currently a pitching coach for Texas A&M International University, will replace… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School's  Dalton Dosko looks for an opening during a game against Anchorage's East High School on Friday Dec. 12, 2014 at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

South, Soldotna tie; East defeats Kenai

Soldotna head coach Derek Urban does not have the hockey program’s first victory over South, but he does have a shining example of what happens… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School's  Dalton Dosko looks for an opening during a game against Anchorage's East High School on Friday Dec. 12, 2014 at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Peninsula Oilers' Adam Sonabend waits for a catch as Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks' Chance Gusbeth heads to first during their game Friday July 5, 2013 in Kenai, Alaska.

Oilers to play ball in 2015

The Peninsula Oilers are going for it. Facing a severe financial shortfall, the Oilers board of directors had considered taking the 2015 season off. But… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Peninsula Oilers' Adam Sonabend waits for a catch as Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks' Chance Gusbeth heads to first during their game Friday July 5, 2013 in Kenai, Alaska.
Contributed photo by Nike  Allie Ostrander, of Kenai, wins the girl's championship title at the 2014 Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.

Kenai Central’s Ostrander wins Nike Cross Nationals

At the end of the first week of her basketball season, and on a day when most of her running mates were competing in their… Continue reading

Contributed photo by Nike  Allie Ostrander, of Kenai, wins the girl's championship title at the 2014 Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.

Nikiski wrestlers seek 5th Kachemak Conference crown in 6 years

There will be no defending champion at the Kachemak Conference wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday at Houston High School, but the Nikiski wrestling team hopes… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Runners cover the Unity Trail during the T200 Turkey Trot 5k and 10k Run, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. Tsalteshi Trails Association teamed up Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race for this year's fourth annual event.

Runners burn off Thanksgiving meals at Turket Trot

Who says becoming a doctor is all work and no play? Scott Hippe, a medical student at the University of Washington, won the 10-kilometer event… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Runners cover the Unity Trail during the T200 Turkey Trot 5k and 10k Run, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. Tsalteshi Trails Association teamed up Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race for this year's fourth annual event.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears' number 15 Maurin Bouvet races after the action during a game against Wenatchee Wild Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.

Brown Bears’ Bouvet to play for France’s U20 national team

Maurin Bouvet’s “Welcome to Alaska” moment came quickly. Bouvet had reported to the Kenai River Brown Bears from France for the 2014-15 season when he… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears' number 15 Maurin Bouvet races after the action during a game against Wenatchee Wild Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.

Kenai’s Ross Hanson signs tender with Brown Bears

Ross Hanson is now one step closer to coming home.Hanson, a sophomore in high school, signed a tender with the Kenai River Brown Bears on… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School Kardinal Keyshawn McEnerney lifts Nikiski High-Middle School Bulldog Will Lynch in the 145-pound weight match during the Luke Spruill Memorial Wrestling Tournament Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai wins 4th straight Luke Spruill Memorial

The Kenai Central wrestling team won six straight matches in the championship round to claim its fourth-straight Luke Spruill Memorial Tournament on Tuesday at Kenai… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School Kardinal Keyshawn McEnerney lifts Nikiski High-Middle School Bulldog Will Lynch in the 145-pound weight match during the Luke Spruill Memorial Wrestling Tournament Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai Central’s Ostrander to be featured in MileSplit video

MileSplit, which bills itself as the premier website for high school cross-country and track and field, will use the story of Kenai Central senior and… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears' number 30, Alec Derks, blocks a shot by Wenatchee Wild's number 20, Shane Bennett, Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Wild sweep Bears

The hot Wenatchee (Washington) Wild notched a sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears' number 30, Alec Derks, blocks a shot by Wenatchee Wild's number 20, Shane Bennett, Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Wild give Bears another freaky Friday

The Friday funk continues for the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The Bears lost 6-1 to the Wenatchee (Washington) Wild… Continue reading

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Wild

Consistency remains a word that consistently comes up when talking to Kenai River Brown Bears coach Geoff Beauparlant.As the Bears get set to host the… Continue reading

Kenai hosts 1st high school state powerlifting event

A small group of organizers and competitors have built the first Alaska High School Powerlifting Championships.Now that they’ve built it, they expect more to come.The… Continue reading

State high school powerlifting meet comes to Kenai Central

During the autumn cross-country season, central Peninsula sports fans had the chance to witness one of the nation’s top runners in Kenai Central senior Allie… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears' Jack Gessert watches a scramble at the opponents goal Friday, October 24, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Brown Bears’ Gessert goes on scoring surge

Quick. What are the top three questions Kenai River Brown Bears coach Geoff Beauparlant is asked by colleges considering his players?Strength? Nope. Speed? Not so… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears' Jack Gessert watches a scramble at the opponents goal Friday, October 24, 2014 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Magicians

The Kenai River Brown Bears will continue their search for consistency when the Minnesota Magicians come to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex for 7:30 p.m.… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School Kardinal Matt Hegel skates to his bench after the Homer High School Mariners score a goal during their game on Friday Nov. 7, 2014 in Sodotna, Alaska.

Eagle River wins Peninsula Ice Challenge

Eagle River wrapped up the Peninsula Ice Challenge crown Saturday with a 4-2 victory over Homer at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.The Wolves finished 3-0… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School Kardinal Matt Hegel skates to his bench after the Homer High School Mariners score a goal during their game on Friday Nov. 7, 2014 in Sodotna, Alaska.

Friday Ice Challenge: Eagle River tops SoHi; Homer nips Kenai in OT

In Friday action at the Peninsula Ice Challenge at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, Peninsula teams continued to show they are evenly matched.Area squads also… Continue reading

Area squads ready for conference volleyball tournaments

A serve that trickles off the net chord and falls on the opponent’s side of the court. An attempted attack that is shanked, yet still… Continue reading