Brown Bears announce staff for upcoming season

  • By Staff Report
  • Sunday, June 11, 2017 1:03am
  • Sports

After hiring Josh Petrich as head coach last month, the Kenai River Brown Bears announced the filling of a number of staff positions with a press release Saturday night.

Joining Petrich on the bench will be Nick Sova of Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Sova recently graduated from Hamline University, where he played forward. He also played in the North American Hockey League and played junior hockey in Canada.

Jed McGlasson will also be an assistant for the team and continue as director of business operations. McGlasson was a standout player for Kenai Central and the Brown Bears. He went on to play hockey at St. Mary’s University.

Chris Hedlund will be director of hockey operations. Hedlund served as a regional scout for the team last season. Hedlund has coached AAA hockey and scouted for Granite City Lumberjacks, an NA3HL team in St. Cloud, Minnesota, that has won the Silver Cup Championship three times. Having served as a regional sales manager for Versatex Building Products, Hedlund also adds business experience.

Steve Stuber will join the Bears as director of marketing and community liaison. When the Bears declared dormancy for the upcoming season in late February, Stuber stepped forward and spearheaded an effort to raise $300,000. The team was reactivated in mid-April.

Stuber did all that as a passionate fan, but now will be a member of the staff charged with promoting events in the community and game-day efforts.

The new billet coordinator will be April Weber, taking over for longtime coordinator Gwen Johnson. The press release said Johnson helped build the billet program into one of the best in junior hockey, and that Weber has previous experience in this role.

Another member of the community stepping forward in an official capacity is Vince Redford, a longtime hockey coach in the community. Redford will focus on developing Alaska talent.

“With Vince’s dedication, the Bears will once again become Alaska’s team, helping to identify and develop top talent within the state,” said Nate Kiel, general manager of the Brown Bears, in a released statement.

Redford also has been a leading force in the recent creation of the Brown Bear Booster Club.

Lisa Zulkanycz, who also has done a lot of volunteering for the Bears over the years, will serve as administrative manager.

“Lisa has been invaluable to the organization,” Kiel said. “Her knowledge of the program and community is essential as we transition with a new staff.”

Kiel added that he is encouraged by fans and supporters that have stepped up to volunteer for the current season. Those wishing to volunteer can call 907-262-7825 or volunteer@krbbears.com.

More in Sports

Homer's Ruby Hill and Kenai Central's Tait Cooper battle for the ball Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Thursday: Kenai girls top Homer; boys play to scoreless tie

The Kenai Central girls defeated Homer 3-0, while the Kardinals and Mariners… Continue reading

tease
Thursday baseball: Homer wins, Kenai loses

The visiting Kenai Central baseball team lost its season opener to Kodiak… Continue reading

Kristen Faulkner, who won two gold medals for cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympics, speaks to Andrew Elam during a meet and greet hosted by the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at the Cannery Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer’s Faulkner, Snaric win Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Directors’ Awards

Homer’s Kristen Faulkner and Jackson Snaric were among the seven to win… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy senior Ian McGarry brings the ball down the floor for the 1A/2A Boys Gold team during the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Games on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Grace Christian School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Bruce Eggleston/matsusports.net)
McGarry, Lowney represent peninsula at senior all-star games

Cook Inlet Academy’s Ian McGarry and Homer’s Channing Lowney represented the Kenai… Continue reading

Soldotna goalie Ryan Queen notches a save in front of Kenai Central's Christine Goering on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuesday: Kenai girls soccer tops SoHi in season openers for both squads

The Kenai Central girls soccer team defeated Soldotna 1-0 on Tuesday in… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Chase Laker leads Soldotna's Ollie Dahl and Michael Davidson in the 1,600-meter run at the Soldotna Mini Meet on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna, Kenai track and field compete in Soldotna Mini Meet

The Soldotna and Kenai Central track and field teams got together for… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Homer baseball tops Petersburg, Ketchikan

The Homer baseball team finished up play at the Ketchikan Round Robin… Continue reading

tease
Bears end season with sweep at the hands of Ice Dogs

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs swept a Friday and Saturday series from the… Continue reading

Morgan Aldridge leads riders down a hill at the start of Week 3 of the Soldotna Cycle Series on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling’s Aldridge wins duathlon at Lavaman Triathlon

Sterling’s Morgan Aldridge, 43, won the individual duathlon at Lavaman Triathlon 2025… Continue reading

Most Read