Brown Bears lose season opener in shootout

Brown Bears lose season opener in shootout

Opening night for the 2019 North American Hockey League season didn’t go the Kenai River Brown Bear’s way Wednesday as the peninsula team lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pennsylvania) Knights.

Playing at the NAHL Showcase event in Blaine, Minnesota, the Brown Bears scored twice in the third period to take a 2-1 lead, but gave it up on a power play goal by the Knights, who tied it with 8 minutes, 58 seconds, left in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime period, the shootout came down to Johnny Kaljian’s stick, as the Knights forward was the only player to score after seven other players failed to find the back of the net.

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

Kenai River sent up Zach Krajnik, Theo Thrun, Kyle Valiquette and Trey LaBarge in the shootout, but all four players were denied by Knights goalie Zach Stejskal.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton sent Lincoln Hatten, Tyrone Bronte and Shane Murphy to score, but none were able to crack Bears goalie Landon Pavlisin until Kaljian took his shot.

In the first period, the Knights took a 1-0 lead on a Lincoln Hatten goal, a lead that held until the third period. Thrun tied it for Kenai River just 59 seconds into the third with help from Krajnik, and Valiquette gave the Bears the lead at the 7:56 mark.

An interference penalty by Krajnik put the Knights on the power play, and the Bears nearly had it killed until Hatten tied it with just two seconds left on the man advantage.

The Bears continue with three more games this weekend at the NAHL Showcase, starting Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. (AKDT) clash with the Lone Star Brahmas. The Bears will face the Jamestown Rebels and the Austin Bruins on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The Bears’ home opener is Oct. 11 against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets.

Wednesday

Knights 3, Brown Bears 2, SO

Kenai River 0 0 2 0 —2

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 0 1 0 —3

1st period — 1. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hatten (Wood, Bronte), 6:33. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 for 2:00.

2nd period — no scoring. Penalties — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 for 6:00.

3rd period — 2. Kenai River, Thrun (Krajnik), 0:59; 3. Kenai River, Valiquette (unassisted), 7:56; 4. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hatten (Bronte, Bertrand), PP, 11:02. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 for 6:00.

OT — no scoring. Penalties — none.

Shootout — Kenai River (Krajnik NG, Thurn NG, Valiquette NG, LaBarge NG); Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Hatten NG, Bronte NG, Murphy NG, Kaljian G).

Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 6; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 for 4.

More in Sports

Zac Cowan putts a golf ball into a hole during the Alaska Sign Source Pro Am at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Azzara, Moore win Birch Ridge Pro Am

The top four pros were rounded out by Zac Cowan with 78 and Bill Engberg at 84.

tease
1st Soldotna Cycle Series of the year draws 49

The first Soldotna Cycle Series race took place Thursday, July 10, at… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Can things get even better?

The silvers are starting to get their finny freak on at our famous Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

Runners line up at the start for the Seldovia Salmon Shuffle 5K race on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Seldovia, Alaska. Photo courtesy Ecola Collier
255 do the Salmon Shuffle

The 5K race is held annually as part of Seldovia’s 4th of July celebrations.

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

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

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