The Kenai River Brown Bears started their 2021-22 season with a pair of losses to the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on the road.
The Bears lost 5-1 on Friday and 4-0 on Saturday. Kenai River takes on the New Mexico Ice Wolves at 11:30 a.m. AKDT at the North American Hockey League Showcase in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Friday, Chippewa scored four unanswered goals to run away with the opener.
After the Steel led 1-0 after the first period, Max Marquette tied it for the Bears in the second before the Steel took control.
Levi Gho stopped 25 for Chippewa, while Nathan Dickey had 34 saves for the Bears.
Saturday, Chippewa broke open a scoreless game with three goals in the second period, and then an empty-netter in the third.
Bryant Marks had 26 saves for the Bears, while Levi Gho stopped 22 for the Steel.
Friday
Steel 5, Brown Bears 1
Kenai River 0 1 0 —1
Chippewa 1 3 1 —5
First period — 1. Chippewa, Sajevic (Benz, Miller), pp, 4:11. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00.
Second period — 2. Kenai River, Marquette (Lockwood, Monrean), 3:18; 3. Chippewa, Brille (Rozsival, Brown), 4:03; 4. Chippewa, Grainda (Manning, Braslavski), 6:02; 5. Chippewa, Braslavski (Braden), 9:01. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 17:00; Chippewa 3 for 17:00.
Third period — 6. Chippewa, Grainda (Janda), 18:58. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 6-11-9—26; Chippewa 15-16-8—39.
Goalies — Kenai River, Dickey (39 shots, 34 saves); Chippewa, Gho (26 shots, 25 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 1; Chippewa 1 for 4.
Saturday
Steel 4, Brown Bears 0
Kenai River 0 0 0 —0
Chippewa 0 3 1 —4
First period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Chippewa 2 for 4:00.
Second period — 1. Chippewa, Waltman (Sajevic, Benz), 3:00; 2. Chippewa, Waltman (Benz, Brown), 6:31; 3. Chippewa, Benz (Braden, Waltman), 19:16. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 4. Chippewa, Waltman (Benz, Braden), en, 18:22. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 11-5-6—22; Chippewa 9-18-3—30.
Goalies — Kenai River, Marks (29 shots, 26 saves); Chippewa, Gho (22 shots, 22 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 4, Chippewa 0 for 4.
