Jeff Helminiak

tease

Homer snow shuffles sports schedule

The Mariners were supposed to host Kenai Central in Thursday

tease
Head coach Taylor Shaw (center) talks to the Kenai River Brown Bears during a timeout at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Season review: Brown Bears hope to build on solid finish to season

It’s not easy to finish a season in last place in a division, yet have plenty of reasons for optimism for the next season

Head coach Taylor Shaw (center) talks to the Kenai River Brown Bears during a timeout at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
tease

Peninsula Piranhas win South Central Area Championships

The Peninsula Piranhas won the South Central Area Championships in Homer on Friday and Saturday. The Piranhas finished with 880 points, while Kachemak Swim Club… Continue reading

tease
Lily Langham of Kenai Central High School and Brooklyn Larsen, Rylie Thompson and Ava Fabian of Soldotna High School, stand for a photo with their medals after competing in the USA Hockey National Championships as part of the Alaska All Stars 19U Division 2A hockey team. (photo provided)

Local skaters help Alaska All Stars to semis of national tourney

Four central Kenai Peninsula skaters were on the Alaska All Stars 19U girls team that made it all the way to the semifinals of the… Continue reading

Lily Langham of Kenai Central High School and Brooklyn Larsen, Rylie Thompson and Ava Fabian of Soldotna High School, stand for a photo with their medals after competing in the USA Hockey National Championships as part of the Alaska All Stars 19U Division 2A hockey team. (photo provided)
tease

SoHi girls win distance medley relay at Big C Relays

A number of Kenai Peninsula athletes nabbed top-eight finishes at the Russ Edwards Big C Relays at The Dome in Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.… Continue reading

tease
tease

Saturday: Brown Bears finish season with comeback victory in Fairbanks

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished their season with a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in… Continue reading

tease
tease

Friday: Ice Dogs hold off Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears dropped a 2-1 decision to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks on Friday in… Continue reading

tease
Jim Beeson coaches Kenai Central football on August 11, 1999. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Beeson, Romans part of Alaska High School Hall of Fame 2024 class

Legendary Kenai Peninsula coaches Jim Beeson and Ward Romans were named to the Alaska High School Hall of Fame 2024 class on Tuesday by the… Continue reading

Jim Beeson coaches Kenai Central football on August 11, 1999. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Hunter Beck, Dan Beck, Emma Beck and Tracie Beck sit at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, as Emma signs a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hunter is Emma's brother, Dan is Emma's father and Tracie is Emma's mother and the head volleyball coach. (Photo provided)

Beck signs to play with UAA volleyball

Kenai Central senior Emma Beck signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage on Wednesday in the Kenai… Continue reading

Hunter Beck, Dan Beck, Emma Beck and Tracie Beck sit at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, as Emma signs a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hunter is Emma's brother, Dan is Emma's father and Tracie is Emma's mother and the head volleyball coach. (Photo provided)
John Bryan and Candace Nakagawa, Co-Directors of Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, clean up the kitchen after preparing a meal for the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The right thing to do’

On mostly volunteer basis, couple overhauls nutrition, strength and conditioning program for Bears

John Bryan and Candace Nakagawa, Co-Directors of Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, clean up the kitchen after preparing a meal for the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Carter McCormick of the Kenai River Brown Bears can't stuff a goal past Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets goalie Jan Kasal on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Sunday: Jets snap Bears’ winning streak at 4

The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 7-2 on Sunday in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

Carter McCormick of the Kenai River Brown Bears can't stuff a goal past Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets goalie Jan Kasal on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
tease

Saturday: Bears notch 5th straight victory

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets 8-7 in overtime Saturday in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports… Continue reading

tease
Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Ostrander nabs 30th at world cross country

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central, took 30th place at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday. Ostrander finished… Continue reading

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
tease

Friday: Bears score 10 goals, win 4th straight

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets 10-5 on Friday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

tease
The Kenai Central cheerleading team. Top row, left to right: assistant coach Keelin McGraw, Bella Croom, MacKenzie Fann, Kimber Moore, Sylvia McGraw, Taya Swick, coach Cassi Holmes. Bottom row, left to right: Cara Graves, Ellee Pancoast, Kayani Whicker, Sarah Baisden, Ella Romero, Makenzie Harden. (Photo provided)

Kenai Central cheerleaders win 4th straight state title

The Kenai Central cheerleading team won its fourth straight Division II state cheerleading competition March 29 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. Kenai also… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleading team. Top row, left to right: assistant coach Keelin McGraw, Bella Croom, MacKenzie Fann, Kimber Moore, Sylvia McGraw, Taya Swick, coach Cassi Holmes. Bottom row, left to right: Cara Graves, Ellee Pancoast, Kayani Whicker, Sarah Baisden, Ella Romero, Makenzie Harden. (Photo provided)
tease

Friday: Seward boys fall to Barrow in 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team lost the fourth-place game 66-42 to Barrow on Friday in the Class 3A state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center… Continue reading

tease
Roope Tuomioksa of the Kenai River Brown Bears attacks Payton Nelson and goalie Nick Erickson of the Minnesota Wilderness on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Saturday: Brown Bears finish sweep of Wilderness

The Kenai River Brown Bears completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Wilderness with a 5-2 victory in North American Hockey League play at the… Continue reading

Roope Tuomioksa of the Kenai River Brown Bears attacks Payton Nelson and goalie Nick Erickson of the Minnesota Wilderness on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik's Kade McCorison moves to shoot over attempted blocks by Aniak's William and Troy Morgan during a basketball game at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik’s Kade McCorison, CIA’s Ian McGarry make all-state first teams

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches sent out its all-state basketball teams Monday. The teams are selected by coaches. The Kenai Peninsula landed a pair… Continue reading

Ninilchik's Kade McCorison moves to shoot over attempted blocks by Aniak's William and Troy Morgan during a basketball game at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
tease

Friday: Brown Bears win 2nd straight

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Minnesota Wilderness 4-1 on Friday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Kenai… Continue reading

tease
tease

Thursday: Seward boys hold off Houston to make 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team defeated Houston 51-43 on Thursday to advance to the fourth-place game of the Class 3A state tournament at the Alaska… Continue reading

tease