The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Danbury (Connecticut) Hat Tricks 5-1 on Friday at the North American Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
The Brown Bears finish up play at the Showcase on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 12:30 p.m. AKDT against the Minnesota Mallards. Kenai River then returns to Alaska for the home opener at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
The Brown Bears are 4-2-0-0 and are in third place in the Midwest Division, while the Hat Tricks are 1-5-1-0.
After a scoreless first period, Kenai River struck first on a Jack Clarke goal, assisted by Greye Rampton. The Hat Tricks equalized a minute later on the power play, but the Bears led going to the final period thanks to a goal by Brady Engelkes, assisted by Andy Larson.
The Bears then dominated the third period. Luke Lizak scored with help from Carter McCormick, James Lyver scored on a Michael Fiedorczuk helper, and Thomas Gunderson had a power-play goal with help from Larson.
Mitchell Mccusker stopped 26 for the Bears, while Jack Fialkoff stopped 29 for Danbury.
Friday
Brown Bears 5, Hat Tricks 1
Dan 0 1 0 —1
Ken 0 2 3 —5
First period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00.
Second period — 1. Kenai River, Clarke (Rampton), 5:53. 2. Danbury, Omicioli (Jensen, Tournas), pp, 6:54. 3. Kenai River, Engelkes (Larson), 12:20. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00.
Third period — 4. Kenai River, Lizak (McCormick), 13:28; 5. Kenai River, Lyver (Fiedorczuk), 16:39. 6. Kenai River, Gunderson (Larson), pp, 19:30. Penalties — Danbury 2 for 4:00; Kenai River 1 for 3:00.
Shots on goal — Danbury 11-9-7—27; Kenai River 11-11-12—34.
Goalies — Danbury, Fialkoff (34 shots, 29 saves); Kenai River, Mccusker (27 shots, 26 saves).
