Jeff Helminiak

Brown Bears take series from Chill

Winter’s back, and so are the Kenai River Brown Bears.The only place chill didn’t hold considerable sway this weekend was in the Soldotna Regional Sports… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears Austin Chavez slams Coulee Region Chill's Richard Zehnal into the glass, causing a beer to spill, during their game on Friday Jan. 23, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Bears defeat Chill on Friday to snap 14-game skid

The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill have to start being more wary of rookie defensemen looking for their first career North American Hockey League goal in… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai River Brown Bears Austin Chavez slams Coulee Region Chill's Richard Zehnal into the glass, causing a beer to spill, during their game on Friday Jan. 23, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Nickels strikes with 9.9 seconds left to snap Bears’ 14-game skid

The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill have to start being more wary of rookie defensemen looking for their first career North American Hockey League goal in… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  In this Sept. 11, 2014 file photo Brown Bears' Ben Campbell practices before the team's season at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Ironies work out for Brown Bears’ Campbell in the end

The career of Brown Bears defenseman Ben Campbell has been marked by two ironies that worked out in the end.Both can be tied to his… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  In this Sept. 11, 2014 file photo Brown Bears' Ben Campbell practices before the team's season at the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Coulee Region Chill

The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill have gone five games without a win. The Kenai River Brown Bears have gone 14 games without a win.The two… Continue reading

Weekend wrap of Bears-Dogs series

Weekend wrap of Bears-Dogs series

While the Brown Bears were away losing 12 of 13 games on a road trip, fans heard of a team playing pretty good hockey for,… Continue reading

Weekend wrap of Bears-Dogs series

Ice Dogs use power play to topple Brown Bears

While the Brown Bears were away losing 12 of 13 games on a road trip, fans heard of a team playing pretty good hockey for,… Continue reading

Kenai Central grad Zulkanycz returns to Brown Bears from USHL

It was not a Christmas Eve of tidings and good cheer for Zack Zulkanycz.That was the day Zulkanycz received a call from Dubuque Fighting Saints… Continue reading

Lynch grants interview to Clarion sports editor, in the sports editor’s dreams

Growing up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, just one hour south of Green Bay, I often dreamt of being a sportswriter covering the Packers.Those dreams continue to… Continue reading

Brown Bears-Ice Dogs preview: Bears hope home ice cures ills

Nearly everything has failed to snap the Brown Bears from a funk. One of the last resorts for the team is home ice.The Bears are… Continue reading

Brown Bears look to finish road trip on high note in Fairbanks

The Kenai River Brown Bears aren’t done with their road trip yet, but at least they’re back practicing on home ice.Head coach Geoff Beauparlant said… Continue reading

Peninsula Conference preview: Boys berths will once again be up for grabs, but what about the girls?

For the past three years, there has not been a boys team in the Peninsula Conference that has been to state twice. On the girls… Continue reading

Soldotna, Homer hockey play to scoreless draw

It may be the holiday season, but both the Soldotna and Homer hockey teams were not in a giving mood Friday in Northstar Conference action… Continue reading

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.