Rebels take 2 from Brown Bears

The host Aston (Pennsylvania) Rebels swept the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League action, winning by scores of 3-0 each night.

Aston moves to 29-5-1-0 and has the second-most points in the league. The Bears fall to 8-25-2-0 and remain in last in the Midwest Division.Aston follows Kenai River home for Friday and Saturday games at 7:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Kenai River finishes a road trip that started all the way back on Dec. 2 with a 4-9 record.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Kenai River head coach Jeff Worlton said of coming home. “It’s been a long trip, but we’re ready to get home and play in front of the best fans in the North American Hockey League.”

The Bears are having trouble finding the back of the net, scoring more than one goal in just one of the past six games.

Friday, Gvido Jansons had a hat trick for the Rebels, while Mareks Mitens had a 20-save shutout.

Special teams were pivotal in the game as two of Jansons’ goals came on the power play, while the Bears finished 0 for 4 with the man advantage. Jansons scored twice in the second period and once in the third.

Worlton wasn’t happy with the penalty kill in Friday’s game, but said the Bears made the necessary adjustments Saturday. Not so with the power play.

“Our power play is not good,” Worlton said. “The guys that we need to put the puck in the net aren’t doing it.

“You’ve also got to give credit to Aston. They’re a good team and they play good team defense, but we have to find a way to be better.”

Worlton said getting back to the basics on the power play will be emphasized before this weekend’s series. Robbie Goor had 30 saves for the Bears.

Saturday, it was Jack Leavy stepping up with the 17-save shutout. Aston, behind Kolby Vegara, struck first in the second, then Drew Blackmun made it 2-0 in the third. An empty-netter by Andrew Bellant clinched it. Goor had 33 saves for the Bears.

Worlton said the bright side has been defensive zone coverage in five-on-five. Giving up the one goal Friday and two goals Saturday is usually enough for a good result.

“With our defensive zone coverage backed up by the goaltending, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” Worlton said. “We just have to find a way to generate offense.”

Friday

Rebels 3, Brown Bears 0

Kenai River 0 0 0 — 0

Aston 0 2 1 — 3

First period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 4 for 40:00; Aston 5 for 21:00.

Second period — 1. Aston, Jansons (Blackmun, Garcia), 11:47; 2. Aston, Jansons (Kapcheck, Garcia), pp, 17:27. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.

Third period — 3. Aston, Jansons(Patrick, Kapcheck), pp, 6:30. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 12:00; Aston 1 for 2:00.

Shots on goal — Kenai River 7-4-9—20; Aston 8-12-13—33.

Goalies — Kenai River, Goor (33 shots, 30 saves); Aston, Mitens (20 shots, 20 saves).

Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 4; Aston 2 for 3.

Saturday

Rebels 3, Brown Bears 0

Kenai River 0 0 0 — 0

Aston 0 1 2 — 3

First period — none. Penalties — Aston 1 for 2:00.

Second period — 1. Aston, Vegara (Patrick, Zerban), 18:56. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Aston 2 for 12:00.

Third period — 2. Aston, Blackmun (Kapcheck, Bellant), 8:30; 3. Aston, Bellant (Blackmun, Garcia), en, 19:48. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Aston 1 for 2:00.

Shots on goal — Kenai River 7-8-2—17; Aston 9-11-16—36.

Goalies — Kenai River, Goor (35 shots, 33 saves); Aston, Leavy (17 shots, 17 saves).

Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 3, Aston 0 for 3.

More in Sports

The Kenai Central volleyball team celebrates Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, against Soldotna at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brackets released for conference volleyball tournaments

Kenai Peninsula volleyball teams will seek state berths Thursday, Friday and Saturday… Continue reading

Soldotna's Wyatt Faircloth celebrates a tackle in the Division II semifinal Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Justin Maile Field at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi’s Faircloth gets MVP of Al Aska Shrine Classic

Soldotna’s Wyatt Faircloth was named the Most Valuable Player at the Al… Continue reading

tease
Wrestling roundup: Results from Mountain City, Monster Mash Duals

Bethel won the Mountain City Wrestling Invitational on Friday and Saturday in… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Ra'ah Roady, Abigail Price, Sierra Hershberger and Isla Crouse qualified for state in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays at the Region III Swim and Dive Championships at Kodiak High School on Nov. 1 and 2, 2024. (Photo provided)
Kenai Central’s Abigail Price breaks 2 school records, wins 1 event at region meet

Kenai Central junior Abigail Price led the Kenai Peninsula at the Region… Continue reading

Eagle River quarterback Nolan Beaty is sacked by Soldotna linebacker Wyatt Faircloth on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Justin Maile Field at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Railbelt, Division II postseason honors announced

The Railbelt All-Conference and Division II All-State teams were released Saturday, Nov.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Leif Ekblad moves to cover the puck while teammates Brady Engelkes and Luke Hause try to keep Avery Anderson of the Minnesota Wilderness from scoring Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Wilderness notch sweep of Brown Bears

The Minnesota Wilderness pulled off a North American Hockey League sweep over… Continue reading

Soldotna's Cassidy Kruse hits Soldotna head coach Luke Baumer with a pie as part of the Killing Cancer on the Kenai event on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Weekend volleyball: Kenai stops SoHi, Homer; Nikiski defeats Homer; Seward wins Barrow tourney

The host Kenai Central volleyball team defeated Soldotna in five sets Friday… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Logan Mese scores on Palmer's Mily Christman during the Peninsula Ice Challenge on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna captures Peninsula Ice Challenge

The Soldotna hockey team won the Peninsula Ice Challenge with a 4-0… Continue reading

tease
Zombie Run results posted

The Tsalteshi Trails Association put on the 2024 Zombie Run on Sunday,… Continue reading

Most Read