Jeff Helminiak

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Saturday: Kenai girls close season with loss to Monroe Catholic

The Kenai girls basketball team closed their season with a 45-18 loss to Monroe Catholic in the third-fifth place game Saturday at the Class 3A… Continue reading

 

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Mitchell Mccusker has the puck trapped under his body as Carter McCormick and Colten Nestler of the Brown Bears and Zachary Cline of the Wisconsin Windigo battle Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Saturday: Windigo topple Brown Bears

The Wisconsin Windigo defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 5-2 on Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The… Continue reading

 

Kenai's Eli Smith charges into Valdez's Romen Weber during the Kardinals 71-49 loss to the Buccaneers on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the 4th/6th place game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Friday: Valdez boys defeat Kenai for 4th place in Class 3A state tourney

The Valdez boys defeated Kenai Central 71-49 on Friday for fourth place in the Class 3A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in… Continue reading

 

Kenai freshman Bryleigh Williams (22), junior Willow Graham (32) and Ellsi Miller (33) celebrate as they leave the court in the Kardinals' 43-39 win over Valdez on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wednesday: Kenai girls advance to state semis; Kenai, Homer boys lose to set up clash in consolation semis

In the opening round of the Class 3A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Wednesday, the Kenai Central girls won… Continue reading

Kenai freshman Bryleigh Williams (22), junior Willow Graham (32) and Ellsi Miller (33) celebrate as they leave the court in the Kardinals' 43-39 win over Valdez on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kenai's Miles Metteer, Homer's Einar Pederson (4) and Henry Wedvik (22) and Kenai's Mason Tunseth (33) battle for a rebound on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in their consolation bracket semifinal during the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday: Kenai girls lose in 3A semifinals; Kenai boys top Homer to move to 4th place game

The Kenai Central girls basketball team lost to Grace Christian in the Class 3A state semifinals on Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage,… Continue reading

Kenai's Miles Metteer, Homer's Einar Pederson (4) and Henry Wedvik (22) and Kenai's Mason Tunseth (33) battle for a rebound on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in their consolation bracket semifinal during the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Seward girls celebrate at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward girls cruise past Glennallen for 2nd hoops state title in school history

The Seward girls basketball team defeated Glennallen 51-29 for the Class 2A state title Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. After losing their… Continue reading

The Seward girls celebrate at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet Academy head coach Ben McGarry, the team and fans cheer at the Class 1A boys state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Saturday: Shaktoolik topples CIA for Class 1A state title

The Shaktoolik boys defeated Cook Inlet Academy 76-55 for the Class 1A state basketball championship Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The top-seeded… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy head coach Ben McGarry, the team and fans cheer at the Class 1A boys state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Saturday: Seward boys come back for 3rd at 2A state

The No. 4-seeded Seward boys defeated No. 2 Metlakatla 52-49 on Saturday to earn third place at the Class 3A boys state tournament at the… Continue reading

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Saturday: Brown Bears bounce back to defeat Wolverines

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Anchorage Wolverines 3-2 in a shootout Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the Sullivan Arena in… Continue reading

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Saturday: Cannava, Boonstra, Laker help Team Alaska to 2nd at Junior Nationals

Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava, Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Kenai Central junior Chase Laker helped Team Alaska to a second-place finish at 2025 Junior Nationals… Continue reading

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Drew Nelson of the Anchorage Wolverines holds the puck in front of Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Luke Hause and goale Owen Zenone on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Friday: Wolverines shut out Brown Bears

The Anchorage Wolverines defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-0 Friday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The Wolverines… Continue reading

Drew Nelson of the Anchorage Wolverines holds the puck in front of Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Luke Hause and goale Owen Zenone on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward's Natalie Sieminski (15) and Unalakleet's Lizabeth Ivanoff (2) go for a loose ball during the Seahawks' 32-29 semifinal win Friday, March 14, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Friday Class 1A/2A state: Seward girls, CIA boys advance to finals; Seward boys lose in semis

The Seward girls and Cook Inlet Academy boys won Friday to advance to the finals at the Class 1A/2A state basketball tournament at the Alaska… Continue reading

Seward's Natalie Sieminski (15) and Unalakleet's Lizabeth Ivanoff (2) go for a loose ball during the Seahawks' 32-29 semifinal win Friday, March 14, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
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Cannava, Boonstra score points for Team Alaska at Junior Nationals

Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava scored points for Team Alaska on Friday at the 2025 Junior Nationals at Soldier Hollow Nordic… Continue reading

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Seward's Van Shank protects the ball from Wrangell's Kyan Stead (20), Daniel Harrison and Lucas Schneider (15) during the Seahawks' 57-30 win over the Wolves in opening day action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday 2A state: Seward girls, boys advance to semis

The Seward girls and boys basketball teams won Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the Class 2A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines… Continue reading

Seward's Van Shank protects the ball from Wrangell's Kyan Stead (20), Daniel Harrison and Lucas Schneider (15) during the Seahawks' 57-30 win over the Wolves in opening day action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Cook Inlet Academy's Ian McGarry (3) scores against Davis-Ramoth on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday 1A state: CIA boys advance to semifinals

The Cook Inlet Academy boys advanced to the semifinals while the CIA girls saw their season end Thursday at the Class 1A state basketball tournament… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy's Ian McGarry (3) scores against Davis-Ramoth on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Cook Inlet Academy junior Clara Warren drives against Fort Yukon sophomore Karli Thomas during their opening game at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wednesday Class 1A state: CIA boys win, CIA girls lose in 1st round

The Cook Inlet Academy boys won, while the CIA girls lost, Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy junior Clara Warren drives against Fort Yukon sophomore Karli Thomas during their opening game at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
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Area skiers compete Wednesday in freestyle sprints at Junior Nationals

Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava, Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Kenai Central junior Chase Laker competed Wednesday in the second day of the 2025 Junior Nationals… Continue reading

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Kenai River Brown Bears forward Owen Hanson and Anchorage Wolverines defenseman Trent Powell battle for the puck Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Pair of Kenai Peninsula hockey players complete NCAA Division I seasons

A pair of hockey players from the Kenai Peninsula have completed seasons at the NCAA Division I level. Anna Shelden, a forward from Kenai, completed… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Owen Hanson and Anchorage Wolverines defenseman Trent Powell battle for the puck Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Boonstra, Cannava, Laker compete at Junior Nationals

Three Kenai Peninsula cross-country skiers competed in the first race of the 2025 Junior Nationals at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Utah on Monday, March… Continue reading

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Peninsula squads get state basketball bracket assignments

The seven basketball teams from the Kenai Peninsula that qualified for state learned their bracket assignments Sunday. The Kenai girls and boys, and Homer boys,… Continue reading

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