The Kenai River Brown Bears were swept by the host Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play.
The Bears lost 4-1 on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday.
Chippewa bumps up to 19-20-0-2 and into sixth place in the Midwest Division, while the Bears fall to 10-28-3-2 and remain in last in the division.
The Bears stay on the road to face the Minnesota Magicians at 4 p.m. AKST on Feb. 11 and 12.
With the trade deadline approaching this week, Kenai River made a series of moves headed into the weekend. Interim head coach Taylor Shaw said the moves were designed to get former Kenai River players in their last year of junior eligibility to a place where they can make a playoff run.
Kenai River gets players that can help them chase wins this year, but also have junior eligibility beyond this season.
Cole Dubicki, the top point scorer in the league, was traded to the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues for forward Noah Holt, who has one season of eligibility left after this season.
Gramm McCormack was traded to the St. Cloud (Minnesota) Norsemen for forward Ethan Lindahl, who has two seasons of eligibility after this season.
Carter Green was traded to the Shreveport (Louisiana) Mudbugs for defensemen Colin Doherty and Tyler Behl. Doherty has two seasons left after this season, while Behl has one season left.
The Bears also acquired goalie Levi Gho from Chippewa this week and released Tommy Aitken.
Friday, Kenai River took a 1-0 lead into the third period only to get outscored 4-0 in the final 20 minutes, including a hat trick by Chippewa’s Nick Sajevic.
Kevin Marx Noren, assisted by Doherty and Sean Henry, got the Bears on the board in the first period.
Kenai River earned five power plays in the game, but its league-leading power play did not score.
Just 55 seconds into the final frame, Joseph Grainda score short-handed for the Steel. Sajevic then poured on three goals, including an empty-netter.
Shaw said his team played a good first period, but took the foot off the gas a little bit and ended up losing a close game.
Cole Wheaton stopped 27 for the Bears, while Croix Kochendorfer had 31 saves for the Steel.
Saturday, Matthew Brille and Kade Nielsen gave the Steel a 2-0 lead in the second period.
Marx Noren, assisted by Ryan Finch and Bryce Monrean, scored on the power play in the third, but the Bears could not equalize.
Wheaton made 18 saves, while Kochendorfer stopped 20.
Friday
Steel 4, Brown Bears 1
Kenai River 1 0 0 —1
Chippewa 0 0 4 —4
First period — 1. Kenai River, Marx Noren (Doherty, Henry), 7:15. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 4 for 8:00; Chippewa 7 for 14:00.
Third period — 2. Chippewa, Grainda (un.), sh, 0:55; 3. Chippewa, Sajevic (Bisson, Manning), 9:37; 4. Chippewa, Sajevic (Tanos, Brille), 18:18; 5. Chippewa, Sajevic (Brille), en, 19:45. Penalties — none.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 9-11-12—32; Chippewa 4-11-16—31.
Goalies — Kenai River, Wheaton (30 shots, 27 saves); Chippewa, Kochendorfer (32 shots, 31 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 5; Chippewa 0 for 2.
