The Anchorage Wolverines defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 2-1 in overtime Saturday in North American Hockey League play at Ben Boeke Ice Arena in Anchorage.
The Wolverines clinched the Club 49 Cup on a night when it became official that Kenai River will be the only Alaska team in the NAHL playoffs.
With just two games left between the Wolverines and Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m., Anchorage has 30 points in the Club 49 Cup, while the Ice Dogs have 26 and the Bears have 23.
Kenai River clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 win over Anchorage on Friday. Saturday, the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel clinched the final berth out of the Midwest Division with a 4-1 victory over the Ice Dogs in Fairbanks.
The Ice Dogs, founded in 1997 and NAHL members in 2003, miss the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons. The Wolverines began play in the NAHL last season and made it all the way to the Robertson Cup finals before losing.
The Wisconsin Windigo are locked into the No. 1 seed with 77 points, while the Minnesota Wilderness are No. 2 at 73.
Kenai River (31-23-3-1) and the Chippewa both have 66 points and two games left in the battle for the No. 3 seed.
The Wolverines improved to 27-24-6-1 with the Saturday victory.
Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said it was nice to get affiliate players Carter McCormick, Dante Hunziker and Carter Gillen into the lineup. An affiliate player is a player tendered for next season.
“I thought they all had nice games,” Shaw said.
The Bears had 10 penalties for 20 minutes, while Anchorage had 7 for 14:00.
Anchorage took a 1-0 lead in the first on a power-play goal by Jackson Reineke.
With 2:58 left, Kenai River tied it on the power play when Bryce Monrean scored on assists from Ben Monson and Jacob Zwirecki.
With 1:35 left in overtime, Andy Ramsey won it for Anchorage.
Eino Rissanen stopped 29 for Anchorage, while Bryant Marks stopped 37 for the Bears. Marks was playing in just his second game since Dec. 31 in coming back from injury.
“He made some big-time saves,” Shaw said. “He managed the puck and was pretty calm and collected.
“It’s great for him to get back and have success. We’re all happy for him.”
Saturday
Wolverines 2, Brown Bears 1, OT
Kenai River 0 0 1 0 —1
Anchorage 1 0 0 1 —2
First period — 1. Anchorage, Reineke (Cam. Morris, Haula), pp, 5:27. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Anchorage 3 for 6:00.
Third period — 2. Kenai River, Monrean (Monson, Zwirecki), pp, 17:02. Penalties — Kenai River 4 for 12:00; Anchorage 4 for 8:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 2-12-14-2—30; Anchorage 14-8-15-2—39.
Goalies — Kenai River, Marks (39 shots, 37 saves); Anchorage, Rissanen (30 shots, 29 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 1 for 4; Anchorage 1 for 7.
