Jeff Helminiak

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

The path to the Class 4A state basketball tournament for the Kenai Central and Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams at the Northern Lights Conference… Continue reading

Northern Lights hoops preview: Kenai, SoHi squads meet again

Peninsula Conference bringing tons of depth to small schools level

When the Peninsula Conference Tournament wraps up early Saturday evening at Homer High School, one of the top three Class 1A boys teams in the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina attacks behind the janesville (Wisconsin) Jets' net against defenseman Pat Gazzillo on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Jets extend Bears’ winless streak to 12 games

The Kenai River Brown Bears saw their winless streak stretch to 12 games with Friday and Saturday losses to the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets at the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina attacks behind the janesville (Wisconsin) Jets' net against defenseman Pat Gazzillo on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Tuesday hoops: Seward boys hold off Kenai

The visiting Seward boys basketball team made Kenai Central play the Seahawks’ game Tuesday in nonconference action on Cliff Massie Court. Then the Kardinals almost… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Klishko drives the net on Springfield Jr. Blues defenseman Kyle Meeh on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears break 8-game pointless streak, drop games to Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears broke an eight-game pointless streak with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday at the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Klishko drives the net on Springfield Jr. Blues defenseman Kyle Meeh on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series Preview: Brown Bears vs. Jr. Blues

Those showing up to watch the Kenai River Brown Bears take on the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues will see a Brown Bears club in the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Riana Boonstra (12) tags off to senior teammate Michaela Salzetti (13) at the Kenai Klassic relay races Jan. 22 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.

Area skiers set for region meet in Valdez

Coaches never want to send their athletes into competition knowing they will face something for which they are not totally prepared.Soldotna High School cross-country ski… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Riana Boonstra (12) tags off to senior teammate Michaela Salzetti (13) at the Kenai Klassic relay races Jan. 22 at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Eli Sheridan drives on Kodiak's Billy Alcaide on Friday at Soldotna High School.

SoHi girls, boys notch weekend sweep of Kodiak

The Soldotna boys basketball team swept a pair of Northern Lights Conference games from Kodiak on Friday and Saturday in Soldotna.Friday, the Stars (7-10 overall,… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Eli Sheridan drives on Kodiak's Billy Alcaide on Friday at Soldotna High School.

4 former NFL players to visit Kenai in summer 2016

One is an area high school football coach who wanted this area’s kids to have an experience easily available in the Lower 48. Another is… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Trevor Witthus (21) and Corey Hanson (20) help teammates mob goalie Billy Yoder after the Soldotna hockey team defeated Palmer 3-1 on Friday at the North Star Conference  hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to earn a state berth.

Soldotna hockey upsets Palmer in NSC semis for state berth

Goalie Billy Yoder and the Soldotna hockey team are dancing to the state hockey tournament.Yoder, bobbing and shuffling to the songs he liked between faceoffs… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Trevor Witthus (21) and Corey Hanson (20) help teammates mob goalie Billy Yoder after the Soldotna hockey team defeated Palmer 3-1 on Friday at the North Star Conference  hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to earn a state berth.
With a basic pair of snowshoes, just about any hike on the Kenai Peninsula is accessible in the winter. (Clarion file photo)

Peninsula has plenty of places for snowshoes – or ice spikes

Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club member Julie Williams, of Kenai, will tell you some of her favorite trails for snowshoeing on the Kenai Peninsula, with one… Continue reading

With a basic pair of snowshoes, just about any hike on the Kenai Peninsula is accessible in the winter. (Clarion file photo)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Ice Rays

The Kenai River Brown Bears enter a three-game series tonight with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs looking for a fresh start in the rivalry and wanting… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Austin Junger, Evan Butcher, Croix Evingson and Joey Sardina celebrate the Kenai River Brown Bears' 3-2  victory over the Springfield Jr. Blues on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears split with Jr. Blues

The Kenai River Brown Bears’ 3-2 victory over the Springfield Jr. Blues on Friday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex was the first in 19… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Austin Junger, Evan Butcher, Croix Evingson and Joey Sardina celebrate the Kenai River Brown Bears' 3-2  victory over the Springfield Jr. Blues on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears captain Adam Kresl battles for the puck Jan. 15 against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Brown Bears captain Kresl feeling right at home in Kenai

Kenai River Brown Bears captain Adam Kresl is from a small town of 1,300 with long and cold winters, short and mild summers, and hockey… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears captain Adam Kresl battles for the puck Jan. 15 against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Springfield Jr. Blues

Under new coach Jeff Worlton, the Kenai River Brown Bears are planning ahead while being mindful of the present.“We want to win lots of games… Continue reading

Homer hockey escapes with OT win over SoHi

Saturday, the Soldotna hockey team defeated Colony 6-2 to knock the Knights out of a first-place tie in the North Star Conference.Tuesday at the Soldotna… Continue reading

SoHi’s Gibbs verbally commits to play football at Northern State University

Soldotna senior Drew Gibbs was on the field for the final few plays of a fourth-straight medium-schools state football championship in mid-October and Sunday verbally… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina uses his long reach to try and secure the puck Friday against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Wilderness ruin debut of new Brown Bears coach Worlton

The Minnesota Wilderness spoiled the debut of Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Jeff Worlton with a sweep Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai River Brown Bears forward Joey Sardina uses his long reach to try and secure the puck Friday against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

After tumultuous week, Brown Bears face defending Robertson Cup champions

Things have been extremely eventful since the Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a string of 30 North American Hockey League games without a win Saturday… Continue reading

Brown Bears remove Beauparlant as head coach, install Worlton

Nate Kiel, president and general manager of the Brown Bears, announced Monday night that Geoff Beauparlant has been replaced as head coach of the North… Continue reading