Jeff Helminiak

The Kenai Central cheerleaders won the small-squad state title this week in Anchorage. In the back row are coach Brianna Force, Tekaiya Rich, Rylie Fields, Tavia Wilson, Vivian Ceresoli, Arielle Hamar and Karley Harden. In the front row are Valerie Brophy and Zoe Pascal. (Photo courtesy of Misty Hamilton)

Kenai cheerleaders win state title

Kenai Central won the small-squad state cheerleading championship Wednesday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The Kardinals beat out six other schools in the… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleaders won the small-squad state title this week in Anchorage. In the back row are coach Brianna Force, Tekaiya Rich, Rylie Fields, Tavia Wilson, Vivian Ceresoli, Arielle Hamar and Karley Harden. In the front row are Valerie Brophy and Zoe Pascal. (Photo courtesy of Misty Hamilton)

Bears, Ice Dogs make push to expand NAHL in Alaska

Almost exactly one year ago, as the Kenai River Brown Bears entered their final home series of the season, the future of the Bears was… Continue reading

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Ice Dogs

The setting will be different, but the song remains the same. The Kenai River Brown Bears are going to have to be really good this… Continue reading

River City Cheer excels at nationals

The All-Star Cheerleading Team from River City Cheer and Gymnastics on Kalifornsky Beach Road took second place at PacWest Nationals on March 10 and 11… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald and goalie Gavin Enright combine to keep Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues forward Max Brainin from scoring Friday, March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jr. Blues sweep Brown Bears

As much as the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues are enjoying their time in Alaska, they clearly do not want to come back for the playoffs.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald and goalie Gavin Enright combine to keep Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues forward Max Brainin from scoring Friday, March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Gavin Enright gets help from the pipe Thursday, March 15, 2018, against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jr. Blues defeat Brown Bears

The Springfield Jr. Blues scored a short-handed goal with 2 minutes, 32 seconds, left in the game for a 4-3 North American Hockey League victory… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Gavin Enright gets help from the pipe Thursday, March 15, 2018, against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald fires a shot Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex against the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Eagle River’s McDonald puts hockey career on swift rise

At just 5-foot-9, 165 pounds and 17 years of age, Eagle River’s Cam McDonald is leading defensemen in assists in the second best junior hockey… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald fires a shot Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex against the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Springfield Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears close out their 2017-18 North American Hockey League season home slate today, Friday and Saturday against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr.… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Emils Ezitis checks for holes in the Janesville (Wisconsin) defense Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears fall to Jets

The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets notched a sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Emils Ezitis checks for holes in the Janesville (Wisconsin) defense Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Janesville Jets

The Kenai River Brown Bears will not be in the playoffs. That doesn’t mean they still can’t test themselves against championship-level competition. The tough schedule… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Tyler Miknich (right) tries to get a stick on Coulee Region defenseman Marshal Plunkett on Jan. 12 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears’ Miknich happy to be back in Alaska

The story isn’t uncommon. A kid grows up in Alaska and moves away, experiencing people from all over the country and cultures from around the… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Tyler Miknich (right) tries to get a stick on Coulee Region defenseman Marshal Plunkett on Jan. 12 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Prep sports landscape changes for peninsula schools

The statewide prep sports scene has received a shakeup, with the biggest changes coming to soccer, hockey and football. Nikolaevsk boys basketball coach Steve Klaich,… Continue reading

Competition for 4 state berths will be fierce in Peninsula Conference

There will be two Class 1A state tournament boys slots and two state girls slots up for grabs at the Peninsula Conference tournament, which runs… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Danica Schmidt squeezes between Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich and Cassie Dzinich for a shot Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Friday: Juneau girls nip Soldotna

The role players of Juneau-Douglas did their job so Crimson Bears playmaker Caitlin Pusich could do her job. Pusich scored five points in the final… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Danica Schmidt squeezes between Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich and Cassie Dzinich for a shot Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Classic skier Laura Griffin reaches the top of the first hill in the 20-kilometer Tour of Tsalteshi ski race on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 near Soldotna, Alaska.

1st Tour of Tsalteshi: Picture-perfect conditions and a photo finish

Organizers of the first Tour of Tsalteshi got kudos all-around for a well-planned event. But there is no way they could have planned for a… Continue reading

Classic skier Laura Griffin reaches the top of the first hill in the 20-kilometer Tour of Tsalteshi ski race on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 near Soldotna, Alaska.
German Madrazo, of Mexico, holds up his countries flag after finishing last in the men’s 15km freestyle cross-country skiing competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea Feb. 16. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

SoHi grad plays big role in viral Olympic moment

In early January 2017, 2001 Soldotna High School graduate Andy Liebner was thinking about taking on an athlete named German Madrazo and trying to get… Continue reading

German Madrazo, of Mexico, holds up his countries flag after finishing last in the men’s 15km freestyle cross-country skiing competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea Feb. 16. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Brown Bears forward Gil Garcia (far left) celebrates his power-play goal in the first period Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears sweep Tomahawks

To mark his 100th career North American Hockey League game, David Kaplan saved something special for the fans. Kaplan celebrated his century mark of games… Continue reading

Brown Bears forward Gil Garcia (far left) celebrates his power-play goal in the first period Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Kalyn McGillivray passes around Wasilla’s Maclaren Obremski and Azlynn Brandenburg on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Wasilla girls, boys sweep Soldotna

The Wasilla Warriors continued their reign of terror on the peninsula Thursday with a clean sweep of the Soldotna High basketball squads at SoHi, winning… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Kalyn McGillivray passes around Wasilla’s Maclaren Obremski and Azlynn Brandenburg on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Bears vs. Tomahawks

Fresh off snapping a seven-game losing streak, the Kenai River Brown Bears face the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Luke Posner brings the puck up the ice against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Nov. 3, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears forward Posner overcomes rough start to summer

The 2017 Minnesota state hockey tournament should have been a dream come true for 18-year-old Kenai River Brown Bears forward Luke Posner. A senior, Posner… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Luke Posner brings the puck up the ice against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Nov. 3, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)