Jeff Helminiak

Kenai Central’s Brenna Eubank controls the ball in front of Nikiski’s Tika Zimmerman on Monday, April 23, 2018, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai soccer sweeps Nikiski

The host Kenai Central soccer teams swept Nikiski on Monday in Peninsula Conference action, with the girls winning 3-0 and the boys notching a 7-0… Continue reading

Kenai Central’s Brenna Eubank controls the ball in front of Nikiski’s Tika Zimmerman on Monday, April 23, 2018, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai boys soccer takes down Juneau

The visiting Kenai Central boys soccer team won a battle of Division II powerhouses, taking down Juneau-Douglas 1-0 on Thursday to improve to 4-1. The… Continue reading

Houston’s Nico Wilkenson and Soldotna’s Cody Quelland battle for the ball Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna boys soccer bounces back against Houston

The host Soldotna boys soccer team rebounded from a last-minute loss to Kenai Central the day before by trouncing Houston 9-0 on Wednesday in nonconference… Continue reading

Houston’s Nico Wilkenson and Soldotna’s Cody Quelland battle for the ball Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Kianna Holland works to keep the ball from Kenai Central’s Olivia Brewer Tuesday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi girls, Kenai boys earn victories

It had to be Leif Lofquist. That’s what Soldotna boys soccer assistant coach Erik Dolphin thought Tuesday when the ball crashed into the back of… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Kianna Holland works to keep the ball from Kenai Central’s Olivia Brewer Tuesday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Jen Showalter of Kenai navigates her fatbike through a deep icy puddle on the Wolverine Trail during the 2018 Choose Your Weapon race at Tsalteshi Trails on Sunday, April 15, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Racers completed two 5-kilometer laps around the lower trails by running, biking or skiing, with the option of switching between laps for extra points. Most of the trails had some snow with patches of wet mud sprinkled throughout as spring temperatures begin to dominate the central Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Choose Your Weapon returns to Tsalteshi Trails

On Earth Day, April 20, 2013, Mike Crawford had a vision. Sunday, almost a full five years later, that vision finally became reality. The vision… Continue reading

Jen Showalter of Kenai navigates her fatbike through a deep icy puddle on the Wolverine Trail during the 2018 Choose Your Weapon race at Tsalteshi Trails on Sunday, April 15, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Racers completed two 5-kilometer laps around the lower trails by running, biking or skiing, with the option of switching between laps for extra points. Most of the trails had some snow with patches of wet mud sprinkled throughout as spring temperatures begin to dominate the central Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Patty Moran leaps from one side of a trail to the other during the Choose Your Weapon race on the Tsalteshi Trails in April 2015. (Clarion file photo)

Winter ends, summer begins: What’s a skier, biker to do?

Winter is quickly ending. Summer is coming on fast. At that crossroads sits not only Choose Your Weapon — a race involving bikes, skis and… Continue reading

Patty Moran leaps from one side of a trail to the other during the Choose Your Weapon race on the Tsalteshi Trails in April 2015. (Clarion file photo)
Soldotna’ Gavin Goggia and Homer’s Daniel Reutov battle for the ball April 11, 2017, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

2018 boys soccer preview: Kenai, SoHi, Homer loaded with seniors

A boys soccer season marking a huge change is beginning with frustrating, incremental change. The huge change is the splitting of soccer into two divisions… Continue reading

Soldotna’ Gavin Goggia and Homer’s Daniel Reutov battle for the ball April 11, 2017, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Preston Weeks, of Soldotna, clears the puck from near the goal March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in a game against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears year in review: Coach says team poised for success

Because the Kenai River Brown Bears have finished with the worst or second-worst record in the North American Hockey League the past four seasons, fans… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Preston Weeks, of Soldotna, clears the puck from near the goal March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in a game against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
To everyone who made a great winter of recreation possible, thanks

To everyone who made a great winter of recreation possible, thanks

A hike I did on the Carter Lake trail in mid-January is a perfect example of how we rely on others when we recreate outdoors… Continue reading

To everyone who made a great winter of recreation possible, thanks

Area athletes help Alaska invasion of Hawaii triathlon

The Lavaman Triathlon, held Sunday at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii, would seem to make a lot of sense for… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleaders won the small-squad state title this week in Anchorage. In the back row are coach Brianna Force, Tekaiya Rich, Rylie Fields, Tavia Wilson, Vivian Ceresoli, Arielle Hamar and Karley Harden. In the front row are Valerie Brophy and Zoe Pascal. (Photo courtesy of Misty Hamilton)

Kenai cheerleaders win state title

Kenai Central won the small-squad state cheerleading championship Wednesday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The Kardinals beat out six other schools in the… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleaders won the small-squad state title this week in Anchorage. In the back row are coach Brianna Force, Tekaiya Rich, Rylie Fields, Tavia Wilson, Vivian Ceresoli, Arielle Hamar and Karley Harden. In the front row are Valerie Brophy and Zoe Pascal. (Photo courtesy of Misty Hamilton)

Bears, Ice Dogs make push to expand NAHL in Alaska

Almost exactly one year ago, as the Kenai River Brown Bears entered their final home series of the season, the future of the Bears was… Continue reading

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Ice Dogs

The setting will be different, but the song remains the same. The Kenai River Brown Bears are going to have to be really good this… Continue reading

River City Cheer excels at nationals

The All-Star Cheerleading Team from River City Cheer and Gymnastics on Kalifornsky Beach Road took second place at PacWest Nationals on March 10 and 11… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald and goalie Gavin Enright combine to keep Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues forward Max Brainin from scoring Friday, March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jr. Blues sweep Brown Bears

As much as the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues are enjoying their time in Alaska, they clearly do not want to come back for the playoffs.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald and goalie Gavin Enright combine to keep Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues forward Max Brainin from scoring Friday, March 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Gavin Enright gets help from the pipe Thursday, March 15, 2018, against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jr. Blues defeat Brown Bears

The Springfield Jr. Blues scored a short-handed goal with 2 minutes, 32 seconds, left in the game for a 4-3 North American Hockey League victory… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Gavin Enright gets help from the pipe Thursday, March 15, 2018, against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald fires a shot Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex against the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Eagle River’s McDonald puts hockey career on swift rise

At just 5-foot-9, 165 pounds and 17 years of age, Eagle River’s Cam McDonald is leading defensemen in assists in the second best junior hockey… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Cam McDonald fires a shot Feb. 16, 2018, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex against the Johnstown (Pennsylvania) Tomahawks. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Springfield Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears close out their 2017-18 North American Hockey League season home slate today, Friday and Saturday against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr.… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Emils Ezitis checks for holes in the Janesville (Wisconsin) defense Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears fall to Jets

The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets notched a sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the… Continue reading

Kenai River forward Emils Ezitis checks for holes in the Janesville (Wisconsin) defense Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Janesville Jets

The Kenai River Brown Bears will not be in the playoffs. That doesn’t mean they still can’t test themselves against championship-level competition. The tough schedule… Continue reading