Sports

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan controls the puck early in the third period as 1,113 fans watch Friday, March 24, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears to return after council loosens sports center mitigation

The resolution increases the number of spectators allowed at events to 750

 

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to consider Brown Bears’ future Wednesday

The Kenai River Brown Bears want to resume games in Soldotna in March

 

Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tour of Tsalteshi sees record turnout

In its fourth year at the trail system just outside of Soldotna, the Tour had record turnout of 136 finishers.

 

Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)

Back in the running

Niksiki’s LaVigueur wins Little Su 50K in return to ultramarathons

Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears back in action Saturday

Team will release new season schedule any day now

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Time to be a beginner again’

Holt steps away from Tsalteshi after over 25 years of driving the expansion and refinement of trails

Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Fletcher Stevens, of Kenai, skis the Porcupine Loop on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ski gear flies off shelves of local retailers

Pandemic prompts surge in outdoor activity

Fletcher Stevens, of Kenai, skis the Porcupine Loop on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

From Cape Cod to Alaska, college leagues eye MLB changes

Collegiate summer leagues like the ABL were hit by another potential obstacle recently.

The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Victor Rodriguez is awarded the Alaska Fighting Championship bantamweight title on Feb. 26, 2020, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Maria Bundy)

Hitting the big time

Soldotna’s Rodriguez signs 4-fight deal with UFC

Victor Rodriguez is awarded the Alaska Fighting Championship bantamweight title on Feb. 26, 2020, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Maria Bundy)
Kenai's Eric Thomason competes in the Moab 240 Endurance Run from Oct. 9 to 13, 2020, near Moab, Utah. (Photo by Eric Thomason)

Going long

Kenai’s Thomason finishes Moab 240 Endurance Run

Kenai's Eric Thomason competes in the Moab 240 Endurance Run from Oct. 9 to 13, 2020, near Moab, Utah. (Photo by Eric Thomason)
Football jamboree marks return of prep sports

Football jamboree marks return of prep sports

“We watch each day with our fingers crossed hoping there won’t be an explosion of cases.”

Football jamboree marks return of prep sports
Brown Bears prep for October launch

Brown Bears prep for October launch

General manager says team has many issues to address

Brown Bears prep for October launch
Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Back to school? COVID cases to decide

“We are on a tightwire between a rock and a hard place.”

Soldotna assistant football coach Eric Pomerleau checks the temperature of sophomore Joseph Whittom before summer workouts Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News A youth rider takes a turn riding a bull calf during the 60th annual Ninilchik Rodeo on Saturday, July 4 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. The rodeo lasted throughout the July Fourth holiday and celebrated a return to the event’s roots.

Riding high in Ninilchik

Ninilchik Rodeo celebrates 60 years with events new and old.

photos by Megan Pacer / Homer News A youth rider takes a turn riding a bull calf during the 60th annual Ninilchik Rodeo on Saturday, July 4 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. The rodeo lasted throughout the July Fourth holiday and celebrated a return to the event’s roots.
Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same

Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same

Mountain bikes, Salmon Run Series get new formats

Tsalteshi summer racing won’t be the same
The three collegiate-size wrestling mats at the All American Training Center just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, take up about 7,000 square feet. Wrestlers from the Future of Champions camp use the facility Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The kids deserve it’

Wrestling devotee opens massive new training center

The three collegiate-size wrestling mats at the All American Training Center just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, take up about 7,000 square feet. Wrestlers from the Future of Champions camp use the facility Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Boys of summer return

Boys of summer return

Alaska 20 players glad to return to sports

Boys of summer return
Lost Lake, Soggy Bottom 100 canceled

Lost Lake, Soggy Bottom 100 canceled

The U.S. Forest Service will not be allowing any recreational permits for the remainder of 2020.

Lost Lake, Soggy Bottom 100 canceled
The women’s field takes to the course Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska. Eventual winner Allie Ostrander is to the right of Christy Marvin (1). (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mount Marathon Race canceled for 2020

The 93rd running of the race up and down the 3,022-foot mountain is rescheduled for July 4, 2021.

The women’s field takes to the course Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska. Eventual winner Allie Ostrander is to the right of Christy Marvin (1). (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Grayson Bruton (left) and Stephanie Meilleur check the health of one of Mitch Seavey’s dogs Friday afternoon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, in advance of the Tustumena 200 sled dog race. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

T200 race hits the snow running

Twenty mushing teams took off Saturday with hopes of taking home the win in the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race. The Tustumena 200 is a… Continue reading

Grayson Bruton (left) and Stephanie Meilleur check the health of one of Mitch Seavey’s dogs Friday afternoon at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, in advance of the Tustumena 200 sled dog race. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)