Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Janesville Jets

The Kenai River Brown Bears will not be in the playoffs. That doesn’t mean they still can’t test themselves against championship-level competition.

The tough schedule of the Brown Bears continues tonight and Saturday, when Kenai River faces the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Including the weekend’s games, the Bears play just five more times at home this season.

Thus far, 22 of the Brown Bears’ 50 games have come against the top two teams in each of the 23-team North American Hockey League’s four divisions. Down the stretch, seven of 10 will be against top-two squads, meaning almost half of the schedule is against the upper crust.

“That’s the story of the Brown Bears life,” Kenai River head coach Josh Petrich said. “You have to play the best to be the best.”

At 15-32-1-2, the Bears have fallen out of the playoff hunt in the Midwest Division and have the lowest point total in the league.

Janesville, at 32-10-4-2, is in second in the Midwest, has clinched a playoff spot and has accumulated the fourth most points in the league.

The Jets are 3-0 against the Bears this season, beating them 2-1 on Sept. 20, 4-1 on Dec. 8 and 6-2 on Feb. 2.

Janesville boasts some of the top players in the league.

Jakov Novak leads the league with 60 points, coming on 27 goals and 33 assists. He is committed to Division I Bentley University.

Kip Hoffman is tied for second in the league with 52 points, coming on 20 goals and 32 assists. Hoffman is committed to Division I Robert Morris University.

Goalie Garrett Nieto is seventh in the league with a 2.13 goals-against average.

The Jets have 11 Division I college commitments listed on the NAHL website, and only one is an alumni.

So Petrich said the Bears, with no commitments listed on the site, have plenty to prove this weekend.

“If you can’t make the playoffs, you still want to finish the best you can and show colleges you know how to win and the quality of Brown Bears players,” Petrich said. “Team success is still important.”

Petrich said the team also wants to continue to build momentum at home in front of what he always calls “the best fans in the North American Hockey League” for the way the small community supports the team.

The Bears have won five of their last eight at home.

“We want to finish this season strong and let fans know what they have to look forward to next season,” Petrich said.

Against the Jets, Petrich said that will require a full 60 minutes of hockey. In the 6-2 loss on Feb. 2, the Bears led 2-0 before giving up four goals in about six minutes of the end of the first period and beginning of the second.

Bears notes: GCI will be the presenting sponsor Friday, while Sportsman’s Warehouse will be the presenting sponsor Saturday.

More in Sports

tease
Twins open season by stopping Dimond

The American Legion Twins opened their season by topping Dimond 16-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Oilers, Twins open seasons this week

The American Legion Twins and Peninsula Oilers open their 2023 seasons this… Continue reading

The Kenai River Brown Bears mob Ryan Finch after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Browns Bears announce commitments for Holt, Finch

The Kenai River Brown Bears recently announced college commitments for Ryan Finch… Continue reading

Morgan Aldridge leads riders down a hill at the start of Week 3 of the Soldotna Cycle Series on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling’s Aldridge wins Eagle River Duathlon

Sterling’s Morgan Aldridge won the women’s overall at the Eagle River Duathlon… Continue reading

Soldotna's Trenton Ohnemus delivers to Kenai Central in the Division II state championship game Saturday, June 4, 2023, at Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi tops Kenai to repeat as Division II state baseball champs

The Soldotna baseball team retained the Division II state title with a… Continue reading

tease
Kenai, Soldotna baseball to face off for state title

The Kenai Central and Soldotna baseball teams will play for the Division… Continue reading

tease
Kenai Central ends run at state softball tournament

The Kenai Central softball team ended its season with two losses Friday… Continue reading

Jacoby shines on Mare Nostrum Tour

Lydia Jacoby, a 2022 graduate of Seward High School, recently picked up… Continue reading

Soldotna's Trenton Ohnemus fires a pitch against the Palmer Moose during the Division II state quarterfinal game Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Wasilla High School. (Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)
Kenai, SoHi baseball move to state semifinals

The Kenai Central and Soldotna baseball teams won Thursday to advance to… Continue reading

Most Read