Kenai River Brown Bears forward Kotaro Tsutsumi protects the puck from Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel forward Peyton Platter on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Wallstrom, Tsutsumi give Bears good news

The Brown Bears are on break for the holidays, but that hasn’t stopped good news from rolling in for goalie Nils Wallstrom and forward Kotaro Tsutsumi.

Wallstrom, 19, was named the Bauer Midwest Division Star of the Week on Monday. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound goalie from Skelleftea, Sweden, was in net as the Bears swept the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Thursday and Friday to go into the holiday break tied for second place with a record of 18-12-1-0.

Wallstrom now is 11-6-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. He earned Midwest Division Star of the Week honors for the third time.

“Nils showed his big game ability all weekend backstopping our group to a road sweep heading into the holiday break,” Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said in a released statement. “We are excited to watch Nils have continued success as we head into the back half of the season.”

Tsutsumi, a 5-8, 150-pound forward from Tokyo, helped Japan to gold in the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I Group B in Bytom, Poland. Japan beat Ukraine 7-4 on the final day to lock up a spot in next season’s Division IA competition. Tsutsumi had an assist in five games for Japan. He has five goals and seven assists in 22 games for Kenai River this season. He missed the last six games for the Bears to play in the tourney.

More in Sports

tease
Bears top Dogs, move into 4th place

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 4-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls take 4th, Kenai boys take 6th at state

The Kenai Central girls basketball team took fourth place and the Kardinals… Continue reading

Chad Anderson of Kasilof and Allie Ostrander guide Everett Anderson, 3, to the finish line Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Salmon Run Series at Tsalteshi Trails. Getting the free ride on Chad’s shoulders is Ben Anderson, 2. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ostrander, Gemmell make Alaska High School Hall of Fame

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central High School, and Joshua… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School esports players participate in a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Esports Week 6: Nikiski is 1st local team to earn playoff spot

Each of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s esports teams had a… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls, boys move to 4th-place games

The Kenai girls and boys basketball teams both notched victories Friday at… Continue reading

tease
Bears host Ice Dogs, renew fight for playoff spot

The Kenai River Brown Bears begin a two-game series with the Fairbanks… Continue reading

The sun shines over Kachemak Bay on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Out of the Office: Homer holiday

On one of the first sunny days this month, I decided to… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls, boys lose state openers

The Kenai girls and boys basketball teams lost their opening games at… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls, boys basketball ready for state

The Kenai Central girls and boys basketball teams open play this morning… Continue reading

Most Read