Kenai River Brown Bears forward Theo Thrun brings the puck up the ice on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, against the Minnesota Magicians at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Theo Thrun brings the puck up the ice on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, against the Minnesota Magicians at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears snap 7-game losing streak

The Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the host Minnesota Magicians 5-2 on Saturday in North American Hockey League play.

The Bears had lost all six of their games to the Magicians before Saturday.

Minnesota (13-4-0-0) and the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets are tied atop the Midwest Division with 26 points, while the Bears (11-12-1-0) are in third with 23 and Fairbanks is in fourth with 22 points.

Eagle River’s Brandon Lajoie scored for the Bears just 1:28 into the game, but Minnesota had things square by the end of the first period.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The Bears then took control with four unanswered goals. Theo Thrun and Peter Morgan scored in the second period, while Morgan Winters and Anchorage’s Max Helgeson scored in the third. Minnesota had the final goal of the game.

Friday, the Brown Bears lost a seventh straight game but did snap a pointless streak at six by losing in overtime 3-2.

Helgeson put the Bears up 1-0 after the first period.

Minnesota came back to lead 2-1 after the second period on a power-play goal by Luke Kron and late tally by Luc Laylin.

With 14:48 left in the game, Jake Veri got his first goal for the Brown Bears and sent the game to overtime.

The Bears were whistled for a penalty 3:12 into overtime and Minnesota’s Hunter Longhi capitalized with the game-winner 41 seconds later.

The Bears continue a busy stretch with a game today against the Minnesota Wilderness at 4:15 p.m. AKST. Kenai River also plays Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday

Magicians 3, Brown Bears 2, OT

Minnesota 0 2 0 1 —3

Kenai River 1 0 1 0 —2

First period — 1. Kenai River, Helgeson (Morgan, Poellinger), 4:43. Penalties — Minnesota 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 2. Minnesota, Kron (Novak, Longhi), pp, 8:43; 3. Minnesota, Laylin (Kukkonen, Cronin), 19:18. Penalties — Minnesota 1 for 2:00; Kenai River 3 for 6:00.

Third period — 4. Kenai River, Veri (McCormack, Szubert), 5:12. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 5:00.

Overtime — 5. Minnesota, Longhi (un.), pp, 3:53. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.

Saturday

Brown Bears 5, Magicians 2

Minnesota 1 0 1 —2

Kenai River 1 2 2 —5

First period — 1. Kenai River, Lajoie (Thrun, Szubert), 1:28; 2. Minnesota, Laylin (Cronin, Falk), 6:43. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 3. Kenai River, Thrun (Shasby), 17:23; 4. Kenai River, Morgan (Dodge, Winters), 17:35. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 5. Kenai River, Winters (Morgan, Shasby), 0:35; 6. Kenai River, Helgeson (Morgan, Szubert), pp, 3:44; 7. Minnesota, Kron (Christy, Seitz), 7:26. Penalties — Minnesota 2 for 4:00; Kenai River 2 for 4:00.

More in Sports

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

Sharon Tyone, Dan Aaronson and Jessica Small make the "real life slot machine" work at the Oilers All-Star Family Field Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers return to field for All-Star Family Field Day

It was only for a day, but the Peninsula Oilers were able… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

tease
Thursday: Twins finish strong road trip by sweeping South

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins picked up 10-0 and 18-5… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Fair weather expected for 4th of July weekend

Keep a heads-up approach when in traffic during the holiday — you don’t know who you’ll run into.

tease
Post 20 Twins enact mercy rule on Eagle River

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins defeated Eagle River 11-0 in… Continue reading

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in