Sports

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Theo Thrun brings the puck up the ice on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, against the Minnesota Magicians at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears continue to try and find way back to Alaska

Kenai River drops 6th straight game

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Theo Thrun brings the puck up the ice on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, against the Minnesota Magicians at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
TEASE

SoHi JV girls, Ninilchik boys notch wins

The host Soldotna C girls basketball team defeated Ninilchik 39-16 on Wednesday. The Wolverines fell to 2-3 with the loss. The Stars led 16-9 at… Continue reading

TEASE
Soldotna's Dylan Walton attacks Kenai's Central's Hunter Erwin and Daniel Shelden on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, SoHi, Homer set for state hockey

For the first time since the state cross-country meet on Oct. 10, Kenai Peninsula athletes will get a chance to compete in state competition when… Continue reading

Soldotna's Dylan Walton attacks Kenai's Central's Hunter Erwin and Daniel Shelden on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski's Rylee Ellis and Avery White and Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski and Amber Nash battle for the rebound Thursday, Feb. 16, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Nikiski girls, Kenai boys notch wins

Seward boys, SoHi girls also taste victory

Nikiski's Rylee Ellis and Avery White and Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski and Amber Nash battle for the rebound Thursday, Feb. 16, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears fall to Magicians again

The Kenai Rivers Brown Bears took a fifth straight loss, falling to the host Minnesota Magicians 5-3 on Sunday in North American Hockey League play.… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Magicians take 2 from Bears

The host Minnesota Magicians defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 2-1 on Friday and 5-1 on Saturday in North American Hockey League play. Minnesota is… 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)
Nikiski's Brady Bostic faces pressure from Soldotna's Daniel McRorie on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Soldotna sweeps Nikiski

The host Soldotna boys basketball team used a stifling half-court trap to stop Nikiski 45-30 on Saturday. The Stars moved to 2-7 by avenging a… Continue reading

Nikiski's Brady Bostic faces pressure from Soldotna's Daniel McRorie on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyler Hippchen competes at the Kenai Klassic on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at the Kenai Nordic Trails in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Hippchen, Boonstra lead after 1st day of boroughs

Kenai Central’s Tyler Hippchen and Jayna Boonstra got off to a great start Saturday at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Meet outside of Homer at Lookout… Continue reading

Tyler Hippchen competes at the Kenai Klassic on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at the Kenai Nordic Trails in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna's Dylan Walton keeps the puck away from Kenai Central's Riley Graves in front of SoHi goalie Ayden See on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Puck parity continues

Homer beats SoHi; Stars top Kards on final weekend

Soldotna's Dylan Walton keeps the puck away from Kenai Central's Riley Graves in front of SoHi goalie Ayden See on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A day on Kachemak Bay (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Water taxi talking

Reporters spend a lot of time talking to people: people they don’t know, people they do know, people who really don’t want to talk to… Continue reading

A day on Kachemak Bay (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Emma Back brings the ball up the floor against Soldotna's Autumn Fischer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Stars girls pull away from Kenai late to stay unbeaten

The Kenai Central girls basketball team gave Soldotna its stiffest test of the season Thursday. The Stars passed that test. The Stars overcame a one-point… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Emma Back brings the ball up the floor against Soldotna's Autumn Fischer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Travis Temple. (Photo by Travis Temple)

No peninsula riders will start Iron Dog

Soldotna’s Temple wants to make area a player in race again

Travis Temple. (Photo by Travis Temple)
Salt marshes are important food sources for brown bears. As we see an earlier start to the growing season or increased plant growth, bears will likely benefit from them even more. (Photo by Michael Hannam/NPS)

Refuge Notebook: Could bears benefit from changing coastal marshes?

Flying over the Cook Inlet coast, you can look down and see expansive salt marshes where mountain rivers meet the sea in lush green meadows.… Continue reading

Salt marshes are important food sources for brown bears. As we see an earlier start to the growing season or increased plant growth, bears will likely benefit from them even more. (Photo by Michael Hannam/NPS)
Owen Rolph. (Photo provided by Owen Rolph)

Kenai swimmer Rolph commits to Old Dominion

By JEFF HELMINIAK Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central senior Owen Rolph has become the fourth Kenai Peninsula swimmer in the past year to commit to a… Continue reading

Owen Rolph. (Photo provided by Owen Rolph)
Nikiski's Austin Stafford drives on Seward's Max Pfeiffenberger and Trey Ingalls on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: Seward, Homer notch sweeps

After starting their season 0-5, the Seward girls basketball team is now on a two-game winning streak. The visiting Seahawks defeated the Bulldogs 44-28 on… Continue reading

Nikiski's Austin Stafford drives on Seward's Max Pfeiffenberger and Trey Ingalls on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sensei Robert Brink at the Sterling Elementary School gym during promotion awards in May 2019. (Photo provided by Robert Brink)

Sterling’s Brink inducted into U.S. Judo Hall of Fame

Sterling’s Robert Brink has been inducted into the U.S. Judo Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020 after a unanimous vote of… Continue reading

Sensei Robert Brink at the Sterling Elementary School gym during promotion awards in May 2019. (Photo provided by Robert Brink)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears swept in Minot

The host Minot (North Dakota) Minotauros swept the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday and Saturday. In each game, the Bears went up 2-0 in… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie pulls up against the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer’s Casey Otis takes the puck through a group of Soldotna Stars during a Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 hockey game at the Kevin Bell Arena in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Kenai, SoHi hockey top Homer

The visiting Kenai Central and Soldotna hockey teams were able to notch wins over Homer this weekend. Friday, the Kardinals topped the Mariners 3-2 in… Continue reading

Homer’s Casey Otis takes the puck through a group of Soldotna Stars during a Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 hockey game at the Kevin Bell Arena in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Soldotna's Maleda Denbrock drives on Homer's Ryan Carroll on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak)

Soldotna girls stay perfect

Seward boys hand Kenai its 1st loss; Seahawks get 1st win on girls side

Soldotna's Maleda Denbrock drives on Homer's Ryan Carroll on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak)
Elizabeth Moffet skis up a hill during the Kenai Klassic on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at the Kenai Nordic Trails in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Cox, Delker take Kenai Klassic

Soldotna’s Quinn Cox and Katie Delker swept the individual titles Saturday at the Kenai Klassic at the Kenai Nordic Trails. The boys team title went… Continue reading

Elizabeth Moffet skis up a hill during the Kenai Klassic on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at the Kenai Nordic Trails in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)