The Kenai River Brown Bears swept the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets in a three-game North American Hockey League series at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
The Brown Bears won 3-2 in overtime Friday, 2-1 in a shootout Saturday and 3-2 Sunday.
“It’s important to learn how to win in overtime, learn how to win a shootout, and how to grind out a game when we’re not at our best,” Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said. “Learn that now instead of having to figure it out in January and February when we’re down to the wire.”
The Bears improved to 7-2-1-0 and are in first place in the Midwest Division, one point ahead of the Wisconsin Windigo. The Jets are in last at 2-5-1-2.
“I felt like we were all in it as a team,” said Kenai River defenseman Luke Lizak, who had the game-winning goal Sunday. “We all bought in and wanted to fight for one another.
“We really want to prove this year what kind of team we have.”
Sunday, the Bears led 2-0 after the first period on goals by Brady Engelkes, assisted by Michael Fiedorczuk and Andy Larson, and James Lyver, assisted by Gavin Jensen and Greye Rampton.
“I know we were up 2-0 after the first period, but I thought they were outplaying us even through the second period,” Shaw said.
A big reason the Bears had the lead was goalie Leif Ekblad, who made 33 saves for his first NAHL victory. William Hjalm stopped 26 for the Jets.
“He played out of his mind,” Lizak said of Ekblad. “He bailed us out a few times when we needed it.”
Janesville came back to tie it at 2 on a goal by Trevor Aberwald midway through the second period and a strike by Hans Hedlund just one minute into the third period.
With 7:37 left in the game, Thomas Gunderson fired off a shot and Lizak tapped in the rebound.
“Janesville was all over us,” Lizak said. “We fought it off, bought in and played with some grit in the last period. We just found it.”
With 3:30 left in the game, the Bears were whistled for a penalty. They killed that off, with Janesville going to an extra skater with 1:50 left in the game. The Jets finished 0 for 5 on the power play.
“I thought the kill was good all weekend,” Shaw said. “We gave up a few looks, but the goalies made the saves throughout the weekend.”
Saturday, Oliver Langland got his first NAHL goal for the Bears and Rylan Brady scored for the Jets as both teams ended the first period tied at 1.
In the shootout, Kenai River’s Mitchell Mccusker stopped all three shooters, while Rampton was the only one to score for Kenai River. Mccusker had 33 saves, while Mattew Alberti stopped 38 for the Jets.
Friday, Janesville led 2-1 after the first period on goals from Nick Messina and James Taylor. Dario Lass scored for the Bears. Engelkes tied it up in the third period, while Carter McCormick won it in overtime for the Bears.
Mccusker stopped 23, while Alberti had 25 saves.
The Bears will now help make a little Alaska hockey history Friday, when they travel to play the Anchorage Wolverines in the Sullivan Arena.
The Sullivan Arena was repurposed during the pandemic to be a homeless shelter. It was the home of the Alaska Aces until 2017 and the University of Alaska Anchorage until 2019.
The Wolverines, now in their fourth year, always intended to make the arena their home and it will finally happen Friday at 7 p.m. The teams then drive to Soldotna for a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday at the sports complex.
“We’re excited to be back there,” Shaw said. “By the sounds of it, we’re going to have a huge Brown Bear contingent at the Sully next Friday night, so it should be good.”
Friday
Bears 3, Jets 2, OT
Jan 2 0 0 0 —2
Ken 1 0 1 1 —3
First period — 1. Janesville, Messina (Taylor, Barrett), 8:37. 2. Kenai River, Lass (Lizak, Lyver), 9:24. 3. Janesville, Taylor (Kodsi), 15:53. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Janesville 5 for 21:00, Kenai River 4 for 19:00.
Third period — 4. Kenai River, Engelkes (Clarke, Rampton), 6:18. Penalties — Janesville 3 for 6:00, Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Overtime — 5. Kenai River, McCormick (Mullen, Rampton), 1:38. Penalties — none.
Shots on goal — Janesville 13-9-3-0—25; Kenai River 7-12-7-2—28.
Goalies — Janesville, Alberti (28 shots, 25 saves); Kenai River, Mccusker (25 shots, 23 saves).
Saturday
Brown Bears 2, Jets 1, SO
Jan 1 0 0 0 0 —1
Ken 1 0 0 0 1 —2
First period — 1. Kenai River, Langland (McCormick, Lyver), 12:16. 2. Janesville, Brady (Gibbs, Venticinque), 12:16. Penalties — Janesville 1 for 2:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Janesville 1 for 2:00; Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Third period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Overtime — none. Penalties — Janesville 1 for 2:00.
Shootout — Janesville 0 (Gibbs NG, Magner NG, Miller NG); Kenai River 1 (Engelkes NG, Lass NG, Rampton G).
Shots on goal — Janesville 13-7-12-2—34; Kenai River 16-11-10-2—39.
Goalies — Janesville, Alberti (39 shots, 38 saves); Kenai River, Mccusker (34 shots, 33 saves).
Sunday
Brown Bears 3, Jets 2
Jan 0 1 1 —2
Ken 2 0 1 —3
First period — 1. Kenai River, Engelkes (Fiedorczuk, Larson), 13:24. 2. Kenai River, Lyver (Jensen, Rampton), 14:26. Penalties — Janesville 1 for 2:00; Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 3. Janesville, Aberwald (Hedlund, Luedke), 9:08. Penalties — Janesville 3 for 6:00; Kenai River 4 for 8:00.
Third period — 4. Janesville, Hedlund (un.), 1:00. 5. Kenai River, Lizak (Gunderson, Engelkes), 12:23. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00.
Shots on goal — Janesville 14-10-11—35; Kenai River 12-10-7—29.
Goalies — Janesville, Hjalm (29 shots, 26 saves); Kenai River, Ekblad (35 shots, 33 saves).
