Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Zack Tuttle (23) heads the ball amid a pack of players Wednesday against Homer at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. The Kardinals defeated the Mariners 4-0.

Boys soccer preview: What a difference the turf makes

The difference artificial turf makes in the soccer season is clear on the central Kenai Peninsula — Soldotna and Kenai Central have been practicing outside… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Zack Tuttle (23) heads the ball amid a pack of players Wednesday against Homer at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. The Kardinals defeated the Mariners 4-0.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Sophomore Rykker Riddall sets the record in the Freshmen/Sophomore Clean on Wednesday in the Speed and Strength Training competition. At left, yelling encouragement, is Riddall's father, Ted Riddall.

SST competition continues to gain strength

With music pumping through the air, the bleachers strewn with enthusiastic spectators and a couple of world-champion discoveries to its credit, it was hard to… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Sophomore Rykker Riddall sets the record in the Freshmen/Sophomore Clean on Wednesday in the Speed and Strength Training competition. At left, yelling encouragement, is Riddall's father, Ted Riddall.
Area athletes help Alaska win ulu count, Hodgson Trophy at Arctic Winter Games

Area athletes help Alaska win ulu count, Hodgson Trophy at Arctic Winter Games

Kenai Peninsula athletes helped Team Alaska take the most ulus and take the Hodgson Trophy at the Arctic Winter Games, held from March 6 to… Continue reading

Area athletes help Alaska win ulu count, Hodgson Trophy at Arctic Winter Games
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Jake Hartje (4) and goalie Nick Nast successfully keep the puck from going in the net Friday, March 25, 2016, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Knights pull off sweep of Brown Bears

The happy homecoming continues for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pennsylvania) coach Tom Kowal. Kowal, who was born and raised in Anchorage, pulled three points out of Fairbanks last… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Jake Hartje (4) and goalie Nick Nast successfully keep the puck from going in the net Friday, March 25, 2016, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Jake Hartje controls the puck March 18 against the New Jersey Titans at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears’ Hartje gets ice time, Alaska time

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Jake Hartje came here for hockey experience. He ended up getting a bit of the Alaska experience as well.Hartje, 19,… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Jake Hartje controls the puck March 18 against the New Jersey Titans at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Knights

The Kenai River Brown Bears haven’t had a week of practice like this all season.More specifically, the Brown Bears haven’t had a week of practice… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina scores a third-period, power-play goal on New Jersey Titans goalie Spencer Wright on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears snap 17-game skid

The Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime victory against the New Jersey Titans on Saturday in front of… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina scores a third-period, power-play goal on New Jersey Titans goalie Spencer Wright on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

While finishing out rough season, Brown Bears put building blocks in place for future

With just seven games left in the season and any hope of the playoffs long since evaporated, Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Jeff Worlton… Continue reading

Nikiski boys earn WPI berth for first state appearance since 2002; Other peninsula qualifers learn opponents

Head coach Reid Kornstad and the Nikiski boys basketball program had waited since 2002 for a state berth, so what difference did a few extra… Continue reading

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

The path to the Class 4A state basketball tournament for the Kenai Central and Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams at the Northern Lights Conference… Continue reading

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

Peninsula Conference bringing tons of depth to small schools level

When the Peninsula Conference Tournament wraps up early Saturday evening at Homer High School, one of the top three Class 1A boys teams in the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina attacks behind the janesville (Wisconsin) Jets' net against defenseman Pat Gazzillo on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Jets extend Bears’ winless streak to 12 games

The Kenai River Brown Bears saw their winless streak stretch to 12 games with Friday and Saturday losses to the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina attacks behind the janesville (Wisconsin) Jets' net against defenseman Pat Gazzillo on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Tuesday hoops: Seward boys hold off Kenai

The visiting Seward boys basketball team made Kenai Central play the Seahawks’ game Tuesday in nonconference action on Cliff Massie Court. Then the Kardinals almost… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Klishko drives the net on Springfield Jr. Blues defenseman Kyle Meeh on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears break 8-game pointless streak, drop games to Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears broke an eight-game pointless streak with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday at the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Klishko drives the net on Springfield Jr. Blues defenseman Kyle Meeh on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series Preview: Brown Bears vs. Jr. Blues

Those showing up to watch the Kenai River Brown Bears take on the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues will see a Brown Bears club in the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Riana Boonstra (12) tags off to senior teammate Michaela Salzetti (13) at the Kenai Klassic relay races Jan. 22 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.

Area skiers set for region meet in Valdez

Coaches never want to send their athletes into competition knowing they will face something for which they are not totally prepared.Soldotna High School cross-country ski… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Riana Boonstra (12) tags off to senior teammate Michaela Salzetti (13) at the Kenai Klassic relay races Jan. 22 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Eli Sheridan drives on Kodiak's Billy Alcaide on Friday at Soldotna High School.

SoHi girls, boys notch weekend sweep of Kodiak

The Soldotna boys basketball team swept a pair of Northern Lights Conference games from Kodiak on Friday and Saturday in Soldotna.Friday, the Stars (7-10 overall,… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Eli Sheridan drives on Kodiak's Billy Alcaide on Friday at Soldotna High School.

4 former NFL players to visit Kenai in summer 2016

One is an area high school football coach who wanted this area’s kids to have an experience easily available in the Lower 48. Another is… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Trevor Witthus (21) and Corey Hanson (20) help teammates mob goalie Billy Yoder after the Soldotna hockey team defeated Palmer 3-1 on Friday at the North Star Conference  hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to earn a state berth.

Soldotna hockey upsets Palmer in NSC semis for state berth

Goalie Billy Yoder and the Soldotna hockey team are dancing to the state hockey tournament.Yoder, bobbing and shuffling to the songs he liked between faceoffs… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Trevor Witthus (21) and Corey Hanson (20) help teammates mob goalie Billy Yoder after the Soldotna hockey team defeated Palmer 3-1 on Friday at the North Star Conference  hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to earn a state berth.
With a basic pair of snowshoes, just about any hike on the Kenai Peninsula is accessible in the winter. (Clarion file photo)

Peninsula has plenty of places for snowshoes – or ice spikes

Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club member Julie Williams, of Kenai, will tell you some of her favorite trails for snowshoeing on the Kenai Peninsula, with one… Continue reading

With a basic pair of snowshoes, just about any hike on the Kenai Peninsula is accessible in the winter. (Clarion file photo)