Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Dennis Westergard makes a save against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Dennis Westergard makes a save against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Springfield Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears and Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues will be looking to snap out of recent funks when they meet Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in North American Hockey League play.

The Bears, who start a seven-game homestand, are 8-7-0-1, good for fourth place with 17 points in a tight Midwest Division. Fairbanks is third with 18 points, Janesville (Wisconsin) is second with 19 points and the Minnesota Magicians are in first with 24 points. Springfield is in fifth with 13 points.

The Brown Bears had been in first place in the Midwest before hitting a 1-4-0-1 rough patch. Last weekend, Kenai River lost 3-1 and 5-2 to the Corpus Christi (Texas) IceRays in what head coach Josh Petrich called the team’s worst performance of the season.

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

“Last weekend was the first time I looked out there and said, ‘Wow. We’re not playing well,’” Petrich said. “Through success comes contentment. Elite teams don’t do that. They don’t take the weekend off.”

The big question now is how the team responds, especially returning to home ice.

“Last week we got punched in the face,” Petrich said. “We’re going to find out who really wants it and who doesn’t.”

Springfield is on a four-game losing streak. In late September, the Bears played at the Blues and won 3-2 in overtime before losing 3-2.

Petrich said Jr. Blues forward Brandon Puricelli leads the team with 10 goals and presents problems when he is on the ice. The coach added fellow forward Nikita Kozyrev finds the big sheet at the sports complex to his liking.

Forward Zach Krajnik of Eagle River leads the Bears with 15 points, but after that three of the next four leading scorers for the team are defensemen. Markuss Komuls and JJ Boucher each have 13 points, while Connor Scahill has nine. Forward Michael Spethmann has 12 and leads the team with seven goals.

“It’s great for those three, but it’s a concerning piece for our forwards,” Petrich said. “It shows the defensemen are doing a good job getting pucks to the net, but obviously the forwards aren’t getting to the net and scoring.”

Petrich said special teams also will be a key to the series. The Bears are second in the league on the power play, while the Jr. Blues are 17th. On the penalty kill, Springfield is 10th and Kenai River is 22nd.

“Special teams is such a big part of our game right now,” Petrich said.

Bears notes: Metalizing Inc. is the VIP on Friday, while Saturday will have fans judging pumpkins carved by the Bears and a Skate with the Bears after the game.

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.

tease
Post 20 Twins enact mercy rule on Eagle River

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins defeated Eagle River 11-0 in… Continue reading

tease
Tri Nikiski draws 79 participants

The ninth annual Tri Nikiski was held Saturday starting from the Nikiski… Continue reading

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