Jeff Helminiak

Ninilchik’s Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central’s Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys seek to cap perfect season

The Ninilchik boys basketball team will look to cap a perfect season with a title at the Class 2A state basketball tournament today through Saturday… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central’s Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Nanwalek boys ready for 1st state appearance

The Nanwalek boys basketball team will make its first appearance at a state basketball tournament tonight when the Eagles take on Scammon Bay at 7:45… Continue reading

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The Kenai River Brown Bears celebrate a goal by Carter Cloutier (21) against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears, Ice Dogs split series

The Kenai River Brown Bears and Fairbanks Ice Dogs split a pair of North American Hockey League games Friday and Saturday at the Soldotna Regional… Continue reading

The Kenai River Brown Bears celebrate a goal by Carter Cloutier (21) against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Ninilchik boys celebrate the Interior Conference title Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tok, Alaska. (Photo provided by team)

Ninilchik boys win Interior Conference

The Ninilchik boys basketball team won the Interior Conference championship game Friday in Tok to advance to the Class 2A state tournament. The Wolverines topped… Continue reading

The Ninilchik boys celebrate the Interior Conference title Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tok, Alaska. (Photo provided by team)
Kenai Central's Emma Beck keeps the ball from Olivia Glasman on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Peninsula Conference tournament at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Grace Christian sweeps Peninsula Conference titles; Kenai girls, Homer boys take 2nd

The Grace Christian girls and boys basketball teams claimed Peninsula Conference titles Friday at Kenai Central High School. Both Grizzlies squads came into the tournament… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Emma Beck keeps the ball from Olivia Glasman on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Peninsula Conference tournament at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Bridger Beck battles Homer's Ryan Carroll and Noah Irons for the ball Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Peninsula Conference tournament at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, Grace to play for girls, boys titles

The girls and boys championship games will both feature Kenai Central and Grace Christian today at the Peninsula Conference tournament at Kenai Central High School.… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Bridger Beck battles Homer's Ryan Carroll and Noah Irons for the ball Thursday, March 10, 2022, at the Peninsula Conference tournament at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Ninilchik boys make championship game

The Ninilchik boys defeated Tok 87-43 on Thursday to move to the championship game of the Interior Conference tournament in Tok. The Wolverines will face… Continue reading

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Brown Bears ready to host Ice Dogs

The Kenai River Brown Bears host the Fairbanks Ice Dogs tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in North American… Continue reading

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Skiers take off for the men’s 40K freestyle race at Sunday’s Tour of Tsalteshi event just outside of Soldotna on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Back in rhythm

At the beginning of February, I began reading “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin. The first 100 pages were slow but worthwhile as… Continue reading

Skiers take off for the men’s 40K freestyle race at Sunday’s Tour of Tsalteshi event just outside of Soldotna on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik’s Justin Trail drives to the basket against Kenai Central on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys take top seed into Interior Conference tournament

The Ninilchik boys basketball team takes the top seed and an undefeated overall record into the Interior Conference tournament today through Saturday in Tok. The… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s Justin Trail drives to the basket against Kenai Central on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Brand-new Peninsula Conference tourney debuts

Staff report The brand-new Peninsula Conference basketball tournament will make its debut Thursday through Saturday at Kenai Central High School. Last season, Class 3A Kenai… Continue reading

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Hoops roundup: Lumen Christi sweeps Peninsula Conference titles again, Nanwalek boys clinch historic state berth

Lumen Christi swept the Peninsula Conference titles for the second straight year Friday at the conference tournament at Lumen Christi in Anchorage. The Archangels boys… Continue reading

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Ninilchik's Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central's Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys top Kenai, complete perfect regular season

The visiting Ninilchik boys basketball team defeated Kenai Central 70-37 on Saturday in nonconference action to finish the regular season 21-0. “It means a lot… Continue reading

Ninilchik's Justin Trail saves the ball in front of Kenai Central's Luke Armstrong and Eli McCubbins on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward's Lena Jagielski passes under pressure from Jolie Widaman, Katelyn Morrison and Adarra Hagelund on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: SoHi sweeps Seward on senior night

The Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams celebrated senior night Thursday at Soldotna High School by sweeping Seward in nonconference action. The Soldotna girls topped… Continue reading

Seward's Lena Jagielski passes under pressure from Jolie Widaman, Katelyn Morrison and Adarra Hagelund on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Peninsula to celebrate Hockey Week

The Kenai River Brown Bears, Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association and RedLine Sports are teaming up to celebrate USA Hockey’s Hockey Week Across America. Hockey Week… Continue reading

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SoHi C hoops teams topple CIA

The host Cook Inlet Academy girls and boys basketball teams lost games to Soldotna’s C team Tuesday as the Eagles tuned up for this weekend’s… Continue reading

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Ninilchik boys move to 19-0

The Ninilchik boys basketball team moved to 19-0 with a nonconference, 81-56 victory late Saturday over host Unalaska. The Wolverines jumped out to a 17-7… Continue reading

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Soldotna's Hudson Metcalf and Kenai Central's John Grossl wrestle at 182 pounds Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at Kenai Central High School. Metcalf would pin Grossl. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mousasi stops Vanderford, retains middleweight title

Staff report Austin Vanderford, a 2008 graduate of Ninilchik School, took the first loss of his pro mixed martial arts career Friday in Dublin, Ireland,… Continue reading

Soldotna's Hudson Metcalf and Kenai Central's John Grossl wrestle at 182 pounds Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at Kenai Central High School. Metcalf would pin Grossl. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Stevens and Minnesota Magicians defenseman Evan Tanos battle for the puck in front of Minnesota Magicians goalie Josh Seeley on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears, Magicians split weekend series

The Kenai River Brown Bears split a weekend series with the Minnesota Magicians in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Nick Stevens and Minnesota Magicians defenseman Evan Tanos battle for the puck in front of Minnesota Magicians goalie Josh Seeley on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Logan Satathite dribbles against Soldotna's Josie Sheridan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Soldotna sweeps Kenai

The visiting Soldotna girls and boys basketball teams swept Kenai Central on Friday in nonconference play. The SoHi girls (8-12 overall) got revenge for an… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Logan Satathite dribbles against Soldotna's Josie Sheridan on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)