Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie controls the puck against the Springfield (Illionis) Jr. Blues on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Comlex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie controls the puck against the Springfield (Illionis) Jr. Blues on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Comlex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears forward named to World Cup team

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie has been named to the 24-man roster for Team North American Hockey League at the 2019 Sirius Junior Club World Cup from Aug. 23 to 31 in Sochi, Russia.

The tournament brings together world-class junior hockey clubs from various countries.

Lajoie, 17, from Eagle River, joined the Bears for 29 games last season and had two goals and four assists. The roster has one player from each of the 24 NAHL teams that competed last season. Each team can only have five players with 1999 birth years.

The team will be led by Scott Langer, head coach of the Aberdeen (South Dakota) Wings. The assistant coach will be Rocky Russo, who is the head coach of the Amarillo (Texas) Bulls.

Team NAHL will play in Pool B against Oulun Karpat of Finland, Red Bull Salzburg of Austria and HC Ocelari Trinec of the Czech Republic.

The NAHL also has announced the schedule for the upcoming season.

The Brown Bears will begin their season with four games at the NAHL Showcase from Sept. 18 to 21. The event attracts more than 330 professional, college and junior scouts. It’s one reason the NAHL set a new high with 334 NCAA commitments duing the 2018-19 season, with 70 percent of those being Division I. Six players who had played in the NAHL also were taken in the most recent NHL Draft.

The home opener for Kenai River will be Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

More in Sports

tease
Friday: Big inning pushes Miners past Oilers

The Peninsula Oilers dropped a 5-2 decision to the Mat-Su Miners in… Continue reading

tease
Bucs rally in 8th to saddle Oilers with 1st loss

The Peninsula Oilers fell to the Anchorage Bucs 6-2 on Thursday in… Continue reading

A wild hare stops for a rest in May 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Out of the Office: No work, all play

With the last of the snow patches finally melted away, it’s time… Continue reading

tease
Oilers topple Glacier Pilots in opener

The Peninsula Oilers opened their season by defeating the Anchorage Glacier Pilots… Continue reading

tease
Twins swept by Service

The American Legion Twins were swept in Anchorage by Service on Wednesday,… Continue reading

tease
Twins open season by stopping Dimond

The American Legion Twins opened their season by topping Dimond 16-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Oilers, Twins open seasons this week

The American Legion Twins and Peninsula Oilers open their 2023 seasons this… Continue reading

The Kenai River Brown Bears mob Ryan Finch after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Browns Bears announce commitments for Holt, Finch

The Kenai River Brown Bears recently announced college commitments for Ryan Finch… 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 Eagle River Duathlon

Sterling’s Morgan Aldridge won the women’s overall at the Eagle River Duathlon… Continue reading

Most Read