For the first time since March 3, 2012, the Kenai River Brown Bears will host a North American Hockey League rival from Southcentral Alaska today and Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Back in 2012, that rival was the Alaska Avalanche of Palmer, but that franchise then moved to Pennsylvania and became the Johnstown Tomahawks.
Today and Saturday at 7:30, that rival will be the Anchorage Wolverines, who are in their first season of NAHL play.
“I’d imagine there will be some fans down from Anchorage,” Kenai River head coach Josh Dubinsky said. “We have a bunch of players from Anchorage and they have a bunch of players from Anchorage. They grew up playing together and they’re excited about it.”
The Wolverines are 9-4-1-0, good for third place in the Midwest Division. The Bears are in last at 2-13-0-0.
This will be Anchorage’s first crack at the Club 49 Cup, the seasonlong battle for supremacy between the three Alaska NAHL teams — the Bears, Wolverines and Ice Dogs. Fairbanks has four points, while Kenai River and Anchorage have none.
Kenai River was swept at the sports complex by the Ice Dogs last weekend, losing 4-3 Friday and 6-1 on Saturday.
Dubinsky said his team played well Friday. Saturday, he said Kenai River cut the lead to 3-1 early in the third period and had a great chance a minute later to make it 3-2. When the Bears didn’t get that goal, the Ice Dogs started pulling away.
The Kenai River head coach said this weekend will be another stern test.
“They’re just a solid hockey team,” Dubinsky said. “They work extremely hard and earn everything they get. It’s a good test, and one we’re excited for.”
The Bears are continuing to tinker with their roster in searching for success. Swedish player Kevin Marx Noren played both games against Fairbanks and Dubinsky said the forward looked good.
Marx Noren had three goals and five assists in eight games with the Jamestown (Pennsylvania) Rebels this season, but Dubinsky said the Rebels had to move the forward when they went over the limit on the number of imported players allowed.
Anchorage’s Luke Helgeson also joined the team for the Fairbanks games, picking up an assist. Helgeson, a defenseman from Anchorage, played for six games for the Bears last season before starting this season with the North Iowa Bulls of the NAHL and getting released.
Riku Brown, a forward formerly of the Minnesota Magicians, also has been brought in to join the team.
“He should bring some size and be able to play up the middle and on the wing,” Dubinsky said.
The Bears also have traded defenseman Tyler Pfister and released forward Hunter Allen.
