Kenai’s Ross Hanson signs tender with Brown Bears

Ross Hanson is now one step closer to coming home.

Hanson, a sophomore in high school, signed a tender with the Kenai River Brown Bears on Wednesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

As a freshman, Hanson played with Kenai Central, but this season he is playing with the Pikes Peak Miners 16U National AAA team in Colorado.

Hanson, the son of Chris and Michael Hanson of Kenai, leads his squad with five goals and nine points, and is tied for the team lead with four assists.

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

“I would rather be playing around here, but this is what’s best for me,” said Hanson, who is home for Thanksgiving break.

A tender does not guarantee Hanson will be pulling on a Brown Bears sweater next season. It gives the Bears exclusive North American Hockey League rights to Hanson, meaning nobody else can draft him.

“I still have to work harder to develop my game,” Hanson said. “I have to get bigger if I am going to play with the older guys.

“I think I should be able to hold my own.”

Kenai River head coach Geoff Beauparlant said Hanson has been on the team’s radar due to being a local player, and due to his performance at main camp before this season.

“What we really like about him is he skates extremely well,” Beauparlant said. “The big rink suits his style of game. He also thinks the game very well.”

Part of the reason for having junior hockey on the Peninsula is that local players don’t have to leave the state at an early age to pursue a Division I scholarship. Beauparlant said being a local player is an advantage, but it guarantees nothing.

“He’s going to have to work to improve strength and continue to develop as an all-around player,” the coach said. “He also has to develop more of a scoring touch.”

Should Hanson make the team with a 1998 birthdate, he would be young but not terribly so. This season, the Bears have three on the roster with 1997 birthdates — Tanner Schachle and Colton Fletcher of Wasilla and Jack Nickels of Carol Stream, Illinois.

“We always like to have a good mix,” Beauparlant said. “We typically expect about 50 percent roster turnover. We’ll definitely have room for a ’98 or two.”

The Bears also tendered goaltender Nick Nast, a 1997 birthdate from California, this week. Nast also was at the Bears’ main camp.

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

Most Read

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