Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Springfield Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears close out their 2017-18 North American Hockey League season home slate today, Friday and Saturday against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

With puck drops at 7 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the Bears will be trying to go out on a high note on a busy weekend that includes Harley-Davidson jerseys and honoring both parents and billet parents.

Kenai River head coach Josh Petrich said getting swept by the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets last weekend was tough, but that the biggest bright spot was the fans.

“(Janesville coach) Gary Shuchuk played in the NHL and has coached at the college level and he said it was one of the best atmospheres of this season,” Petrich said. “The boys realize how great the fans were.

“In these last few games, we want something big for the fans.”

The Jr. Blues proved last weekend in Fairbanks they will not make it easy. Friday, the Jr. Blues defeated the Ice Dogs 5-3, the first home loss for Fairbanks since falling to the Brown Bears 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 2.

Springfield, at 25-21-5-1, sits in third in the Midwest Division, but is just one point ahead of the Minnesota Magicians. The Coulee Region (Wisconsin) Chill are 13 points behind the Jr. Blues and not out of the playoff picture.

The Bears are 15-34-1-2 and are last in the division and out of the playoffs, but Kenai River does have a 2-1 advantage in the season series with the Jr. Blues.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how they adjust to our big rink,” Petrich said. “They play in one of the smallest rinks in the league, it’s scary how tiny their rink is.”

But Petrich is more interested to see how his team responds to the 6-2 and 5-1 losses to the Jets last weekend. After having the worst record in the league two seasons ago and the second-worst record last season, the Bears are at the bottom of the league this season.

Petrich said a big part of the process is getting players angry about, and not accustomed to, to losing. He got that response last weekend.

“We talked about the maturing process with the guys,” he said. “Walking into the locker room, the overall response last weekend was frustration and being unhappy with the way we played.

“Once we get to that point, organization and team success are right around the corner.”

Although Eagle River forward Sutton McDonald is battling an illness and is a game-time decision, Petrich said all 23 players are ready to go. He looks forward to a normal lineup after illness and suspensions have forced constant shuffling during the six-game skid.

“We haven’t played with a full lineup since we were on our winning streak,” Petrich said.

Having parents and billet parents in attendance also will increase the energy.

“For me, the billet program is the bedrock of any junior hockey program,” Petrich said. “Without them, it can’t happen.”

More in Sports

Martin Flores skis into the finish to win the 40-kilometer Double Tour while carrying an Alaska flag during the Tour of Tsalteshi at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tour of Tsalteshi race canceled

There will still be a ski event at the Tsalteshi’s trailhead on Kalifornsky Beach Road.

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Ostrander records fastest Alaska half marathon

Anchorage’s Chris Clark had the previous record with her time of 1:15:27 in 2000.

tease
Wednesday hoops: Unalaska girls, Ninilchik boys pick up conference wins

The Unalaska girls and Ninilchik boys picked up Southern Conference victories Wednesday… Continue reading

Nikiski's Lynn Deveer drives on Homer's Henry Wedvik and Einar Pederson on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuesday: Nikiski girls, Homer boys notch conference wins

The Nikiski girls and Homer boys basketball teams picked up Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Colony’s girls, boys sweep Region III ski meet

SoHi’s Boonstra wins 3rd straight Skimeister

tease
Saturday: Seward girls, Ninilchik boys win Homer Winter Carnival; CIA boys win NIT

The Seward girls and Ninilchik boys basketball teams won the Homer Winter… Continue reading

tease
Brown Bears trade overtime victories with Ice Dogs

The Kenai River Brown Bears split a North American Hockey League Series… Continue reading

Most Read