tease

Ice Dogs defeat Brown Bears in overtime

The Kenai River Brown Bears fell 6-5 in overtime to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

The Ice Dogs (24-16-4-0) moved into a tie for second place in the Midwest Division with the win, while the Brown Bears (21-20-2-1) stand alone in sixth place after getting a point for the overtime loss.

“I was pretty happy overall with the group tonight,” Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said. “We didn’t get the extra point we needed.”

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 top four in the division make the playoffs. The Wisconsin Windigo now lead the division with 53 points, while the Minnesota Wilderness and Ice Dogs have 52. The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets have the final playoff slot with 48 points, while the Anchorage Wolverines have 46, the Brown Bears have 45, the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel have 44 and the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues have 41.

The Wolverines continue to lead the Club 49 Cup with 23 points, while the Ice Dogs have 17 and the Bears have eight. Kenai River is 0-3-2-0 against Fairbanks this season.

The same two teams play tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the sports complex. The first 1,000 fans get a free T-shirt, as the Bears are making it a “whiteout” night.

The Ice Dogs jumped to a 3-1 lead after the first period. Jacob Conrad and McCabe Dvorak had Fairbanks up 2-0 just 3:23 into the game.

With 2:12 left in the first, the Bears scored the first of three power-play goals when Ryan Finch lit the lamp with help from Garett Drotts and Ben Monson. Billy Renfrew then scored late in the first period for Fairbanks.

“Our special teams was clicking for us,” Shaw said. “Overall, for the most part, five-on-five was pretty good for us too. Truthfully, I thought we deserved to win the game, but that doesn’t guarantee you are going to.”

The Bears won the shot count 47-35.

“They are a team that when they get an opportunity, they capitalize,” Shaw said. “We don’t want to get into a scoring match with them.”

Heading into Friday, Kenai River had not scored more than three goals in a game since returning from holiday break on Dec. 30 — a stretch of 12 games. The Brown Bears snapped their slump in the second period by scoring four times.

Ashton Christman, assisted by Noah Holt, and Bryce Monrean on the power play, assisted by Luke Anderson and Hunter Newhouse, had the game tied midway through the second period.

After Julian Recine scored on the power play for Fairbanks, Finch got his second power-play goal of the game, this time with help from Kotaro Tsutsumi.

Noah Holt, assisted by Christman and Joe Manning, scored with 1:49 left in the second period to give the Bears a 5-4 lead.

Fairbanks tied it early in the third with a goal by Kole Altergott.

Then, just 57 seconds into overtime, Renfrew continued to celebrate his commitment to Division I Northern Michigan this week by scoring the game-winner.

Nils Wallstrom made 29 saves for the Bears, while Kayden Hargraves stopped 42 for the Ice Dogs.

More in Sports

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

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

tease
Tri Nikiski draws 79 participants

The ninth annual Tri Nikiski was held Saturday starting from the Nikiski… 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