Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Magicians sweeps Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears were swept by the host Minnesota Magicians on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play.

“They’ve got a good team,” Kenai River head coach Kevin Murdock said of the Magicians. “Collectively, (Friday), we had our worst game of the season. (Saturday), we played well and had a ton of chances, but we couldn’t get any bounces.”

The Bears, who had a four-game winning streak going in to the series, lost 5-2 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday. The Magicians and Brown Bears are now tied for second in the Midwest Division, Minnesota at 7-1-0-0 and Kenai River at 7-5-0-0.

Friday, Wasilla’s Porter Schachle had a pair of goals, but it was not enough to hold off the Magicians.

Schachle started the scoring 11:59 into the game, but less than two minutes later the Magicians already had a 2-1 lead.

“I thought we started out pretty slow and we were fortunate Porter got that goal,” Murdock said. “They got two quick ones, and that put us on our heels a bit.”

Minnesota would then score two goals in the second period and another in the third before Schachle lit the lamp again with 3:51 left in the game for the 5-2 final score.

Andy Beran stopped 38 for the victory, while Luke Pavicich made 42 saves in the loss.

Saturday, the Bears again scored first, but Minnesota again claimed victory.

Just 59 seconds into the game, Peter Morgan gave the Bears a 1-0 lead. Minnesota goalie Marino Ramirez would keep the Bears off the board the rest of the way, while Minnesota scored a goal in the first period, two in the second and a capper in the third.

“I thought we played much better, but I don’t think we played either game this weekend to the caliber we’ve shown we can play at,” Murdock said.

Ramirez stopped 42,while Andrew Rose saved 33 for the Bears.

The Bears picked up Rose when his league in Canada went on pause. Before practicing with the Bears on Monday, he hadn’t been on the ice in five weeks.

The Bears face the Minnesota Wilderness today at 4:15 p.m. AKST.

Friday

Magicians 5, Brown Bears 2

Kenai River 1 0 1 —2

Minnesota 2 2 1 —5

First period — 1. Kenai River, Schachle (Morgan, Reid), 11:59; 2. Minnesota, Longhi (Falk, Oravitz), 12:30; 3. Minnesota, Oberle (Christy, Kron), 13:25. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 4. Minnesota, Christy (Weiss, Kron), 4:35; 5. Minnesota, Roed (Oravitz, Stein), 14:05. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Minnesota 2 for 4:00.

Third period — 6. Minnesota, Light (Cronin, Kukkonen), 10:12; 7. Kenai River, Schachle (Morgan, Dodge), 16:09. Penalties — Minnesota 1 for 2:00.

Shots on goal — Kenai River 12-11-17—40; Minnesota 19-18-10—47.

Goalies — Kenai River, Pavicich (47 shots, 42 saves); Minnesota, Beran (40 shots, 38 saves).

Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 2; Minnesota 0 for 3.

Saturday

Magicians 4, Brown Bears 1

Kenai River 1 0 0 —1

Minnesota 1 2 1 —4

First period — 1. Kenai River, Morgan (Helgeson, Hadfield), 0:59; 2. Minnesota, Longhi (Kron, Cronin), 17:58. Penalties — none.

Second period — 3. Minnesota, Christy (Seitz, Oravitz), 15:45; 4. Minnesota, McCabe (Roed, Stein), 19:01. Penalties — Minnesota 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 5. Minnesota, Longhi (Falk, Tussey), pp, 5:29. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Minnesota 2 for 6:00.

Shots on goal — Kenai River 11-17-15—43; Minnesota 15-12-10—37.

Goalies — Kenai River, Rose (37 shots, 33 saves); Minnesota, Ramirez (43 shots, 42 saves).

Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 3, Minnesota 1 for 2.

More in Sports

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

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Fair weather expected for 4th of July weekend

Keep a heads-up approach when in traffic during the holiday — you don’t know who you’ll run into.

Most Read