tease

Brown Bears split with Magicians

The Kenai River Brown Bears split on the road with the Minnesota Magicians on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play.

The Bears lost 6-2 on Friday before winning 4-3 in overtime Saturday.

Kenai River improves to 11-29-3-2, still good for last place in the Midwest Division. The Magicians are in fifth at 19-16-4-2.

The Bears now play 13 of their final 15 games at home, starting with 7:30 p.m. games Friday and Saturday against the Anchorage Wolverines.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Saturday, Noah Holt had the game-winner for Kenai River just 7 seconds into the overtime, scoring short-handed.

The Bears grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first period. Bryce Monrean scored, assisted by Holt and Hunter Newhouse. Nick Stevens then scored on the power play, assisted by Nick Ostbloom and Monrean.

Minnesota stormed back with three straight goals. Jon Bell and Lucas Kanta scored in the second period, then Evan Tanos scored just 8:14 into the final frame for a 3-2 lead.

With 2:17 left in the game, Holt, assisted by Ostbloom, scored on the power play to get the Bears to overtime.

Holt, who had four points on the weekend, was actually playing his fourth straight game against Minnesota. He had played the Magicians on Jan. 27 and 28 as a member of the Springfield Jr. Blues before getting traded to Kenai River for Cole Dubicki, who continues to lead the league in points.

The Brown Bears continue to lead the league on the power play with a 31.3% conversion rate.

Cole Wheaton made 32 saves for the Bears, while Josh Seeley stopped 32 for the Magicians.

Friday, Minnesota jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Lucas Kanta scored twice in the first period, while Cole Schneider also had a goal. Hunter Longhi then scored just 21 seconds into the second period.

With 16:50 left in the second, Holt scored on the power play, assisted by Stevens and Ostbloom.

The Bears cut it to 4-2 with 13:42 left in the game when Barak Braslavski, assisted by Ostbloom and Ryan Finch, scored.

Chris Kernan and Daniil Dolzhenko finished out the victory for Minnesota with goals.

Wheaton saved 36 for the Bears, while Josh Langford stopped 24 for the Magicians.

More in Sports

tease
Saturday: Kenai girls close season with loss to Monroe Catholic

The Kenai girls basketball team closed their season with a 45-18 loss… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Mitchell Mccusker has the puck trapped under his body as Carter McCormick and Colten Nestler of the Brown Bears and Zachary Cline of the Wisconsin Windigo battle Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday: Windigo topple Brown Bears

The Wisconsin Windigo defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 5-2 on Saturday… Continue reading

Kenai's Eli Smith charges into Valdez's Romen Weber during the Kardinals 71-49 loss to the Buccaneers on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the 4th/6th place game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Friday: Valdez boys defeat Kenai for 4th place in Class 3A state tourney

The Valdez boys defeated Kenai Central 71-49 on Friday for fourth place… Continue reading

Kenai's Miles Metteer, Homer's Einar Pederson (4) and Henry Wedvik (22) and Kenai's Mason Tunseth (33) battle for a rebound on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in their consolation bracket semifinal during the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Thursday: Kenai girls lose in 3A semifinals; Kenai boys top Homer to move to 4th place game

The Kenai Central girls basketball team lost to Grace Christian in the… Continue reading

The Seward girls celebrate at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward girls cruise past Glennallen for 2nd hoops state title in school history

The Seward girls basketball team defeated Glennallen 51-29 for the Class 2A… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy head coach Ben McGarry, the team and fans cheer at the Class 1A boys state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday: Shaktoolik topples CIA for Class 1A state title

The Shaktoolik boys defeated Cook Inlet Academy 76-55 for the Class 1A… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Seward boys come back for 3rd at 2A state

The No. 4-seeded Seward boys defeated No. 2 Metlakatla 52-49 on Saturday… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Brown Bears bounce back to defeat Wolverines

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Anchorage Wolverines 3-2 in a… Continue reading

Most Read