Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Coulee Region Chill

The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill have gone five games without a win. The Kenai River Brown Bears have gone 14 games without a win.

The two meet for a three-game series at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, with 7:30 p.m. games tonight and Saturday, and a 3 p.m. puck drop Sunday.

“Something’s gotta give, right?” Kenai River head coach Geoff Beauparlant said. “Something’s gotta give.”

Last season, the Chill and the Bears were in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot out of the North American Hockey League Midwest Division.

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

Coulee Region ended up losing its last seven games as the Bears made the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

However, the Chill didn’t let that disappointment carry over into this season.

They were lingering with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Minnesota Wilderness at the top of the Midwest Division standings before this current skid.

But even as it stands, they are in great position to make the playoffs. The Wilderness lead the division with 56 points, while Fairbanks has 53 points and the Chill (20-11-6) have 46.

Kenai River (11-25-2) with 24 points and the Minnesota Magicians with 28 points are battling for the final spot out of the division.

In Wisconsin in early December, Coulee swept the Brown Bears by scores of 6-2, 6-4 and 5-2.

“They’re deep and their goaltending is solid,” Beauparlant said. “They play a simple hockey game, but they compete and they work hard.”

Beauparlant said his team is coming around.

“I had a really good conversation with a friend of mine who watched all four games we played against Fairbanks,” Beauparlant said. “He’s nobody that’s associated with our organization, but he’s somebody I trust.

“He said that every game we were better and competing harder. He felt the team was getting closer to the way I want them to play and to the way the staff wants them to play.”

In particular, Beauparlant is happy with how the team is playing during five-on-five hockey. The big disparity in losing the last four games to Fairbanks was on special teams. Fairbanks was 9 for 19 on the power play, while the Bears were 0 for 17.

“Our special teams have to be better than they were against Fairbanks,” Beauparlant said.

The Bears will get forward Adam Kresl back for the Coulee series. Kresl had been out since mid-November.

That means Kenai River either has to cut somebody, or put somebody on injured reserve. Beauparlant said the team would decide late Thursday or today on the move, depending on whether Colton Fletcher has to be put on injured reserve with an ankle he injured against Fairbanks.

Notes: The Coulee series will be Central Peninsula Hospital cancer awareness weekend. Jerseys will be auctioned off Friday and Saturday.

Sunday’s 3 p.m. start will be half price for all fans — $7 for adults and $5 for kids.

More in Sports

Daniel Steffensen bats against the Post 35 Road Warriors on Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park as part of the 100th anniversary of American Legion Baseball in Alaska. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
100 years of Legion baseball in Alaska celebrated Saturday

Twins defeated the Post 35 Road Warriors

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

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