Sports

AJ LaMonda

Oilers get ready for season with new GM

The Peninsula Oilers, after taking the summer of 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic, have hired a new general manager and are preparing for… Continue reading

AJ LaMonda
Bleached, dying elodea in Sandpiper Lake on Aug. 28, 2020. (Photo by Mark Laker/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Update on non-native species in refuge

While some planned projects at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge were put on hold in summer 2020 due the pandemic, we in the refuge’s biology… Continue reading

Bleached, dying elodea in Sandpiper Lake on Aug. 28, 2020. (Photo by Mark Laker/USFWS)
Michael Armstrong is properly outfitted for an Arctic summer hiking trip in this photo taken in 1989 along the Wulik River in northeastern Alaska. (Photo by Charles Barnwell.)

Out of the Office: Living in Alaska is a lifetime in learning

From boots to parkas, there’s lots to figure out about surviving in the Last Frontier

Michael Armstrong is properly outfitted for an Arctic summer hiking trip in this photo taken in 1989 along the Wulik River in northeastern Alaska. (Photo by Charles Barnwell.)
Mariner Austin Cline, top, attempts a take down of Kardinal Owen Whicker, bottom, in a wrestling meet on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in the Alice Witte Gym at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Area wrestlers compete in duals

Kenai Peninsula wrestlers continued to participate in unscored dual meets Tuesday. The unscored dual meets allow coaches to get wrestlers the best matchups possible, without… Continue reading

Mariner Austin Cline, top, attempts a take down of Kardinal Owen Whicker, bottom, in a wrestling meet on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in the Alice Witte Gym at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears cap Steel series with victory

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished 1-2 in a three-game series against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel, finishing the series with a 3-2 win Saturday at… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Tucker Vann and Nikiski's Caileb Payne tangle Friday, April 3, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Vann won by an 11-6 decision. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Wrestlers sharpen skills with local meets

Kenai Peninsula wrestling teams continued to sharpen their competitive edge with unscored dual meets Friday. Soldotna, Kenai and Nikiski gathered for a meet at Soldotna,… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Tucker Vann and Nikiski's Caileb Payne tangle Friday, April 3, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Vann won by an 11-6 decision. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Steel top Brown Bears

The Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel notched a 3-2 victory over the Kenai River Brown Bears on Thursday in North American Hockey League action at the Schwan… Continue reading

Morel species collected from the Kenai Peninsula. Clockwise from upper left: Norwegian morel, beautiful morel, excellent morel, sixth black morel, exuberant morel and gray morel. (Photos by Matt Bowser and Colin Canterbury/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: A new perspective on Kenai morels

Years ago, a co-worker shared with me a place where morels appeared at the bases of cottonwood trees. I have found them at that same… Continue reading

Morel species collected from the Kenai Peninsula. Clockwise from upper left: Norwegian morel, beautiful morel, excellent morel, sixth black morel, exuberant morel and gray morel. (Photos by Matt Bowser and Colin Canterbury/USFWS)
Hannah Lafleur skis through Resurrection Pass on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska on March 29, 2021. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)

Tangled Up in Blue: Passing through

I started writing this column 17 miles into a three-day, 38-mile ski. We had just reached the pass part of the Resurrection Pass trail, where… Continue reading

Hannah Lafleur skis through Resurrection Pass on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska on March 29, 2021. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)
Soldotna's Travis Temple and Chad Moore accept awards from Cindi Herman of Skwentna Roadhouse after the 5th Annual Skwentna XC Snowmachine Race on Saturday, March 27, 2021. (Photo provided)

Temple, Moore take 3rd at Skwentna 200

Travis Temple and Chad Moore, both of Soldotna, finished third in the 5th Annual Skwentna 200 XC Snowmachine Rally on Saturday. Temple said the result… Continue reading

Soldotna's Travis Temple and Chad Moore accept awards from Cindi Herman of Skwentna Roadhouse after the 5th Annual Skwentna XC Snowmachine Race on Saturday, March 27, 2021. (Photo provided)
Homer's Nestor Kalugin tries to control Nikiski's Simon Grenier at 171 pounds Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. Grenier won by 10-4 decision. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski wrestlers sweep tri meet

Wrestlers competed in a pair of tri meets Tuesday on the Kenai Peninsula. At Nikiski High School, the Bulldogs defeated Grace Christian 18-16 and Homer… Continue reading

Homer's Nestor Kalugin tries to control Nikiski's Simon Grenier at 171 pounds Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. Grenier won by 10-4 decision. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Erika Arthur signs her National Letter of Intent on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Behind her are grandparents, Mike and Gloria Sweeney; brother, Andrew Arthur; and mother, Krista Arthur. (Photo provided)

SoHi’s Arthur commits to Carroll College

Soldotna senior Erika Arthur signed a National Letter of Intent to run in the track and field program at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Carroll… Continue reading

Erika Arthur signs her National Letter of Intent on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Behind her are grandparents, Mike and Gloria Sweeney; brother, Andrew Arthur; and mother, Krista Arthur. (Photo provided)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Max Helgeson chases the puck along the boards against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears’ Helgeson commits to Division I Lindenwood

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Max Helgeson of Anchorage has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. According… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Max Helgeson chases the puck along the boards against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna senior Autumn Fischer signs her National Letter of Intent on Friday, March 26, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Next to Autumn is her father, Eric Fischer. In the back row is mother, Judith Fischer, and sister, Brook Fischer. (Photo provided)

SoHi’s Fischer signs with Penn State Mont Alto

Soldotna senior Autumn Fischer signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Penn State Mont Alto of the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference.… Continue reading

Soldotna senior Autumn Fischer signs her National Letter of Intent on Friday, March 26, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. Next to Autumn is her father, Eric Fischer. In the back row is mother, Judith Fischer, and sister, Brook Fischer. (Photo provided)
Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Ryan Reid battles Ignat Belov of the Maine Nordiques for the puck Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Sunday: Magicians blow past Brown Bears

The Minnesota Magicians rebounded with a 9-0 victory over the host Kenai River Brown Bears on Sunday at the Breezy Point Hockey Center in Minnesota… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Ryan Reid battles Ignat Belov of the Maine Nordiques for the puck Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer's Sophie Ellison triggers a shot against Hutchison on Friday, March 26, 2021, at the Class 3A state basketball tournament at Colony High School in Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)

Kenai, Homer girls basketball finish with wins at state

The Kenai Central and Homer girls basketball teams finished their seasons with consolation wins in the Class 3A state tournament Friday at Colony High School.… Continue reading

Homer's Sophie Ellison triggers a shot against Hutchison on Friday, March 26, 2021, at the Class 3A state basketball tournament at Colony High School in Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
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Delayed wrestling season gets started on peninsula

The wrestling season, which had been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, got started with a pair of meets Saturday. Kenai hosted Nikiski and Soldotna hosted… Continue reading

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New Mexico Ice Wolves forward Tristan Rand shields the puck from Kenai River Brown Bears forward Daymin Dodge on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears take 2 from Magicians

The host Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the Minnesota Magicians on Friday and Saturday at the Breezy Point Hockey… Continue reading

New Mexico Ice Wolves forward Tristan Rand shields the puck from Kenai River Brown Bears forward Daymin Dodge on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski posts up on Sitka on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at the Class 3A girls state tournament at Palmer Middle School in Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)

Kenai, Homer lose on 1st day of state

The Kenai Central and Homer girls basketball teams lost opening round games Thursday at the Class 3A state basketball tournament at Palmer Middle School. The… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski posts up on Sitka on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at the Class 3A girls state tournament at Palmer Middle School in Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
Cook Inlet Academy girls head coach Josh Hawley coaches at the Peninsula Conference tournament Friday, March 19, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Area cagers scoop up all-state awards

Ninilchik junior guard Landon Colburn, Seward girls coach Curtis Berry, Ninilchik boys coach Dick Hawkins and Cook Inlet Academy girls coach Josh Hawley won major… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy girls head coach Josh Hawley coaches at the Peninsula Conference tournament Friday, March 19, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)