Sports

Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski and Emma Beck trap Soldotna's Montana Fischer on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, SoHi, Homer, Nikiski hoops start seasons

The Soldotna girls basketball team defeated Kenai Central 68-16 on Thursday in the season opener for both teams. The opening of the season was delayed… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Erin Koziczkowski and Emma Beck trap Soldotna's Montana Fischer on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Predaceous flatworms hide under leaves by day in a spring near Soldotna Airport on Dec. 21, 2017. At night they hunt for other invertebrates. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Life in Kenai Peninsula freshwater springs

I like winter. I really do. The cold and the dark don’t wear on me too much as long as I can get out and… Continue reading

Predaceous flatworms hide under leaves by day in a spring near Soldotna Airport on Dec. 21, 2017. At night they hunt for other invertebrates. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)
American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)

Tangled Up in Blue: Speckled purple

I woke up in the morning to NPR on Wednesday morning highlighting the importance of the color purple. I rolled over, turned on the light… Continue reading

American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)
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)

Brown Bears top Wilderness for 4th straight win

Staff report The Kenai River Brown Bears won their home away from home opener Wednesday, topping the Minnesota Wilderness 3-1 in North American Hockey League… 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)
Kenai Central's Emily Moss takes the victory in the girls race at the Kenai Nordic Trails on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Kenai Golf Course. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak)

Kenai, SoHi ski teams take dual meets

Kenai Central’s Jack Laker and Emily Moss were the top skiers in a dual meet between the Kardinals and Seward on Saturday at the Kenai… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Emily Moss takes the victory in the girls race at the Kenai Nordic Trails on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Kenai Golf Course. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Porter Schachle trades blows with Fairbanks Ice Dogs defenseman Andrew Garby on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears sweep Minotauros

The Kenai River Brown Bears swept the host Minot (North Dakota) Minotauros on Friday and Saturday in North American Hockey League play. The Bears won… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Porter Schachle trades blows with Fairbanks Ice Dogs defenseman Andrew Garby on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Fletcher runs through the snow on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, on Diamond Ridge near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: How all the dogs in my life have kept me sane and happy

From Ginny to Fletcher and all the dogs in between, furry companions provide friendship, healing.

Fletcher runs through the snow on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, on Diamond Ridge near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
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Ski teams to return to action

The four high school ski teams will be back in action Saturday. Kenai Central and Seward will have a dual meet at the Kenai Nordic… Continue reading

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A fish friendly culvert in Alaska. (Photo by Katrina Liebich/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: What’s your number? Mine is 5

Have you ever considered how many salmon streams you cross on your daily drive to work, school or another location you frequent? My number is… Continue reading

A fish friendly culvert in Alaska. (Photo by Katrina Liebich/USFWS)
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)

Brown Bears split with Janesville

Kenai River releases new schedule for rest of season

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's Morgan Bouschor digs up a ball against Kenai Central on Nov. 7, 2020, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Hockey, basketball practice to start Monday

Hockey practice normally starts in the middle of October.

Soldotna's Morgan Bouschor digs up a ball against Kenai Central on Nov. 7, 2020, at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Biological intern Annaleese Rasanen surveys severely burned alpine shrub tundra within the Swan Lake Fire burn July 27, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: A refuge manager’s perspective on 2020

A friend and colleague recently sent me a list of “things to consider” as 2020 drew to a close (all credit to the unidentified source… Continue reading

Biological intern Annaleese Rasanen surveys severely burned alpine shrub tundra within the Swan Lake Fire burn July 27, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)
Lost Lake Trail, winter route. May 16, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tangled Up in Blue: Clearing my head

I set out for a run in the afternoon to clear my head. It was this past Wednesday, Jan. 6, and I left the trailhead… Continue reading

Lost Lake Trail, winter route. May 16, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Brown Bears lose in return to ice

The Kenai River Brown Bears returned to action Saturday for the first time since Nov. 14 with a 5-2 loss to the host Chippewa (Wisconsin)… 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)
The author looks across Eklutna Lake on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 near Eagle River, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey)

Out of the Office: Good riddance

When I first saw my turn in the rotating schedule for writing this column would fall on New Year’s Eve, my mind jumped to a… Continue reading

The author looks across Eklutna Lake on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 near Eagle River, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey)
Nikiski’s Bethany Carstens shoots in the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Games on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Wells Fargo Arena in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman.com)

Nikiski grad Carstens makes quick transfer

Former Brown Bears goalie Oldham sees time at Clarkson

Nikiski’s Bethany Carstens shoots in the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Games on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Wells Fargo Arena in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman.com)
My makeshift Christmas tree only had a few ornaments this year, but brought a lot of joy. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)

Tangled Up in Blue: Happy Holidays

I just wrapped up celebrating Christmas 2020, a holiday marked by familial Zoom calls, small gatherings and a global pandemic. I wasn’t expecting much, but… Continue reading

  • Dec 26, 2020
  • By KAT SORENSEN For the Clarion
My makeshift Christmas tree only had a few ornaments this year, but brought a lot of joy. (Photo by Kat Sorensen)
Sorin Sorensen. (Photo provided)

Kenai’s Sorensen commits to DI Long Island

When Long Island University decided to create a men’s swim team, the coaches put out a nationwide search for people interested in helping the program… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2020
  • By VAN WILLIAMS Alaska Sports Hall of Fame
Sorin Sorensen. (Photo provided)
A Northern Hawk Owl clutching a red-backed vole near Watson Lake on Nov. 30, 2020. (Photo by Colin Canterbury/USFWS)

Northern Hawk Owls frequent Swan Lake Fire burn

In a gliding dive it swooped down from atop an aspen and disappeared, plunging into the fresh snow behind a stand of willows. I hunkered… Continue reading

A Northern Hawk Owl clutching a red-backed vole near Watson Lake on Nov. 30, 2020. (Photo by Colin Canterbury/USFWS)
Bottenintnin Lake, Nov. 24, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: More questions than answers

The only place life makes sense anymore is the outdoors. How do we balance the needs of students and parents with the safety of school… Continue reading

Bottenintnin Lake, Nov. 24, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)