Sports

Patrick Lewis and Kenzie Barnwell ski the trails in Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 7, 2021. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)

Tangled Up in Blue: Ski season

Nordic skiing has been a great equalizer for me this winter. I often spend my days doing laps around Bear Lake in Seward or training… Continue reading

Patrick Lewis and Kenzie Barnwell ski the trails in Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 7, 2021. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)
Blood stars (top left) and leather stars (top right) were less impacted by the disease and are more likely to be seen today. Sunflower sea stars (bottom left), mottled sea stars (lower center, this one showing symptoms of disease) and ochre sea stars (lower right) used to be common, but were most affected by the disease and have become more rare. (Photos courtesy of Mandy Lindeberg, NOAA, and Brenda Konar, University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Refuge Notebook: The fall of sea stars

Sea stars are a keystone species. As a top predator, they can restructure intertidal communities. For example, by feeding on mussels, they open up limited… Continue reading

Blood stars (top left) and leather stars (top right) were less impacted by the disease and are more likely to be seen today. Sunflower sea stars (bottom left), mottled sea stars (lower center, this one showing symptoms of disease) and ochre sea stars (lower right) used to be common, but were most affected by the disease and have become more rare. (Photos courtesy of Mandy Lindeberg, NOAA, and Brenda Konar, University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Ninilchik boys top Nikolaevsk, improve to 12-1

The host Ninilchik boys defeated Nikolaevsk coed 98-55 on Wednesday. The Wolverines are now 12-1, having won 12 games in a row after losing the… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Zac Buckbee defends against Homer’s Parker Lowney during a Tuesday, March 2, 2021 basketball game in the Alice Witte Gymnasium in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Hoops roundup: Soldotna girls finish undefeated on peninsula

The visiting Soldotna girls completed an undefeated season on the Kenai Peninsula with a 39-22 victory over Homer on Tuesday night. The Stars, who defeated… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Zac Buckbee defends against Homer’s Parker Lowney during a Tuesday, March 2, 2021 basketball game in the Alice Witte Gymnasium in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
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Ninilchik girls use late comeback to top Kenai C team

The Ninilchik girls basketball team used a late comeback to defeat host Kenai Central’s C team 32-29 on Monday. The Wolverines improved to 4-6 by… Continue reading

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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)

Jets top Brown Bears again

The visiting Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-2 on Sunday at the Breezy Point Hockey Center in Minnesota. The Bears also… Continue reading

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)
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Hoops roundup: Homer boys defeat Seward

Staff report The host Homer boys got a big game from River Mann in defeating Seward 61-45 on Saturday. Homer moves to 11-2 and avenges… Continue reading

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Kenai River Brown Bears forward Laudon Poellinger jumps on the boards to celebrate his first-period goal against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs with Brandon Lajoie and Ryan Reid at the Soldotna Sports Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Jets defeat Brown Bears

Staff report The visiting Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 3-2 on Saturday in North American Hockey League action. The game was… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Laudon Poellinger jumps on the boards to celebrate his first-period goal against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs with Brandon Lajoie and Ryan Reid at the Soldotna Sports Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central's Gregory Fallon skis down a hill in the 10-kilometer freestyle Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, at the state Nordic ski meet at Government Peak Recreation Area just north of Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)

Kenai skiers clean up at Division II state level

The Kenai Central ski team cleaned up at the Division II level at the state Nordic ski meet on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Kardinals… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Gregory Fallon skis down a hill in the 10-kilometer freestyle Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, at the state Nordic ski meet at Government Peak Recreation Area just north of Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
Kenai Central's Tyler Hippchen competes at the state Nordic ski meet Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at Government Peak Recreation Area just north of Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)

SoHi’s Cox, Kenai’s Boonstra lead area skiers at state

Soldotna senior Quinn Cox and Kenai Central sophomore Jayna Boonstra led the Kenai Peninsula on Thursday on the first day of the state Nordic ski… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Tyler Hippchen competes at the state Nordic ski meet Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at Government Peak Recreation Area just north of Palmer, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
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Hoops roundup: Soldotna girls move to 13-0

The host Soldotna girls basketball team cruised past Kenai Central on Thursday to improve to 13-0 and 4-0 against the Kardinals. Kenai, which is now… Continue reading

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A young beaver enjoys a willow branch snack on a pond in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area. (Photo by Colin Canterbury, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Leave it to beavers

I was skiing along a lake in the canoe system on a clear, cold winter day, enjoying the crisp fresh air and the shushing sound… Continue reading

A young beaver enjoys a willow branch snack on a pond in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area. (Photo by Colin Canterbury, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Soldotna's Erika Arthur skis to victory Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the second day of Kenai Peninsula Borough ski meet at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Area ski teams set for state

Kenai Central coach Brad Nyquist and Soldotna coach Isaac Erhardt have no idea what to expect from the competition at the state ski meet Thursday,… Continue reading

Soldotna's Erika Arthur skis to victory Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the second day of Kenai Peninsula Borough ski meet at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears move into tie for division lead

Staff report The Kenai River Brown Bears returned to their temporary home at the Breezy Point Hockey Center in Minnesota to defeat the Minnesota Wilderness… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Peter Morgan makes a pass against the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna's Morgan Bouschor looks for an outlet pass under pressure from Seward's Shelby Sieminski as Soldotna's Taylor Edwards looks on at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hoops roundup: SoHi notches senior night sweep

The host Soldotna girls basketball team celebrated senior night on Tuesday by defeating Seward for the fourth time this season to improve to 12-0. Seward… Continue reading

Soldotna's Morgan Bouschor looks for an outlet pass under pressure from Seward's Shelby Sieminski as Soldotna's Taylor Edwards looks on at Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Ninilchik boys take 7th straight win

The host Ninilchik basketball team defeated Homer’s junior varsity 73-68 on Monday. The Wolverines have now won seven straight games after a season-opening loss. Ninilchik… Continue reading

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Kenai River Brown Bears forwards Laudon Poellinger and Peter Morgan battle with Brendan Ogle and Jaden Grant of 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 lose in shootout to Wilderness

The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Minnesota Wilderness on Sunday in North American Hockey League play. The Bears… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forwards Laudon Poellinger and Peter Morgan battle with Brendan Ogle and Jaden Grant of the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The women’s field takes to the course Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska. Eventual winner Allie Ostrander is to the right of Christy Marvin (1). (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mount Marathon Race moved to July 7

The Mount Marathon Race Committee announced Friday that the 2021 edition of the race has been rescheduled from July 4 to July 7. According to… Continue reading

The women’s field takes to the course Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska. Eventual winner Allie Ostrander is to the right of Christy Marvin (1). (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Bears snap 7-game losing streak

The Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the host Minnesota Magicians 5-2 on Saturday in North American Hockey League play.… Continue reading

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)
Soldotna's Quinn Cox poles ahead of Tyler Hippchen and Jack Laker on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the second day of the Kenai Peninsula Borough ski championships at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Cox, Kenai’s Boonstra take borough ski titles

By JEFF HELMINIAK Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central sophomore Jayna Boonstra and Soldotna senior Quinn Cox won the two-day combined titles on Saturday at the Kenai… Continue reading

Soldotna's Quinn Cox poles ahead of Tyler Hippchen and Jack Laker on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the second day of the Kenai Peninsula Borough ski championships at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)