Jeff Helminiak

CIA, Ninilchik fall on 1st day of Borealis volleyball

CIA, Ninilchik fall on 1st day of Borealis volleyball

Host Cook Inlet Academy and Ninilchik both lost on the first day of the Borealis Conference volleyball tournament Thursday. The Eagles, the No. 7 seed,… Continue reading

CIA, Ninilchik fall on 1st day of Borealis volleyball
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Cody Moline carries the puck behind the net against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Ice Dogs to provide big test for red-hot Brown Bears

Dare long-suffering Brown Bears fans believe? The Kenai River club has raised hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Cody Moline carries the puck behind the net against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears’ Morgan nabs Midwest Division Star of Week

Peter Morgan of the Kenai River Brown Bears was named the North American Hockey League Bauer Midwest Division Star of the Week on Monday. Morgan,… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward’s Lafleur wins Catalina Half Marathon

Seward’s Lafleur wins Catalina Half Marathon

Seward’s Hannah Lafleur was the top woman in the Catalina Half Marathon in California and placed fourth overall Saturday. The course is 13.1 miles long… Continue reading

Seward’s Lafleur wins Catalina Half Marathon
Nikiski grad Carstens gets college hoops career off to fast start

Nikiski grad Carstens gets college hoops career off to fast start

Bethany Carstens, a 2019 graduate of Nikiski High School, has gotten her basketball career at Division I Chicago State University off to a fast start.… Continue reading

Nikiski grad Carstens gets college hoops career off to fast start
Ninilchik’s Vanderford moves to 9-0 in pro MMA

Ninilchik’s Vanderford moves to 9-0 in pro MMA

Austin Vanderford, a 2008 graduate of Ninilchik School, improved to 9-0 in his professional mixed martial arts career with a victory over Grachik Bozinyan at… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s Vanderford moves to 9-0 in pro MMA
Blake, Vigil, Wylie capture Lancer Smith Girls titles

Blake, Vigil, Wylie capture Lancer Smith Girls titles

The Homer Mariners finished third at the Lancer Smith Memorial Girls Tournament on Saturday in Palmer. With nearly all the top wrestlers present from both… Continue reading

Blake, Vigil, Wylie capture Lancer Smith Girls titles
Brown Bears finish 3-game sweep of Jr. Blues

Brown Bears finish 3-game sweep of Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues 8-4 on Friday night and 5-2 on Saturday night in North American Hockey League… Continue reading

Brown Bears finish 3-game sweep of Jr. Blues
SoHi wrestlers take 5th at Lancer Smith

SoHi wrestlers take 5th at Lancer Smith

The Colony wrestling team won the Lance Smith Memorial on Saturday in Palmer. The tournament combines the big and small schools and is considered the… Continue reading

SoHi wrestlers take 5th at Lancer Smith
The Homer hockey team celebrates winning the End of the Road Shootout Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at Kevin Bell Arena in Homer, Alaska. The Mariners won all three of their games against East Anchorage, Soldotna and Houston to take the tournament title. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer wins End of Road Shootout; SoHi 2nd

The Homer hockey team defeated Soldotna 4-3 in overtime Friday in the de facto championship game of the End of the Road shootout in Homer.… Continue reading

The Homer hockey team celebrates winning the End of the Road Shootout Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at Kevin Bell Arena in Homer, Alaska. The Mariners won all three of their games against East Anchorage, Soldotna and Houston to take the tournament title. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Saari named director of Mount Marathon Race

Saari named director of Mount Marathon Race

Staff report The Mount Marathon Race announced Thursday it had hired Matias Saari to be its race director. According to a press release issued by… Continue reading

Saari named director of Mount Marathon Race
Bears top Blues for 5th straight win

Bears top Blues for 5th straight win

The Kenai River Brown Bears won their fifth straight game, topping the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues 4-1 on Thursday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

Bears top Blues for 5th straight win
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears carry 4-game winning streak into slate of 6 home games in 10 days

Whether the Kenai River Brown Bears are winning or losing, the message from head coach Kevin Murdock is consistent. Consistency. That’s why Murdock is not… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuttle keeps scoring for Whatcom men’s soccer

Tuttle keeps scoring for Whatcom men’s soccer

Kenai Central graduate Zack Tuttle now has four goals and two assists for the Whatcom Community College men’s soccer team in Bellingham, Washington. Tuttle scored… Continue reading

Tuttle keeps scoring for Whatcom men’s soccer
Nikiski netters earn at-large berth to state tournament

Nikiski netters earn at-large berth to state tournament

The Nikiski volleyball team will get a chance to defend their Class 3A state championship. The Alaska School Activities Association announced Sunday that the Bulldogs… Continue reading

Nikiski netters earn at-large berth to state tournament
Brown Bears sweep Steel

Brown Bears sweep Steel

The Kenai River Brown Bears swept the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports… Continue reading

Brown Bears sweep Steel
Prep hockey roundup: SoHi, Homer win; Kenai loses

Prep hockey roundup: SoHi, Homer win; Kenai loses

The Soldotna Stars opened the Alaska Army National Guard Stars and Stripes Hockey Showdown with a seven-goal effort and a victory. Soldotna skated past West… Continue reading

Prep hockey roundup: SoHi, Homer win; Kenai loses
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Preston Weeks moves the puck up the ice against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Chippewa Steel

Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Kevin Murdock is not as concerned with revenge as he is with consistency. The Brown Bears face the Chippewa… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Preston Weeks moves the puck up the ice against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Rookie Thrun leads Bears in goals, points

Rookie Thrun leads Bears in goals, points

Kevin Murdock hit the ground running as the new head coach of the Kenai River Brown Bears and so far it’s paying big dividends for… Continue reading

Rookie Thrun leads Bears in goals, points
Out of the office: Best place on the peninsula

Out of the office: Best place on the peninsula

Columnist’s note: I felt compelled to write this column Sunday night, even though it wasn’t due until Thursday afternoon. A short time after I finished,… Continue reading

Out of the office: Best place on the peninsula