Sports

Nikiski falls to Barrow, finishes 5th at state

With both teams ranked in the top five of the Winning Percentage Index standings for most of the season, the matchup between Alaska’s northernmost team… Continue reading

SoHi graduate Fox wins 25K at Oosik Classic Ski Race

Sadie Fox, a graduate of Soldotna High School who now skis for the University of Alaska Anchorage, continued to have a great winter on classic… Continue reading

  • Mar 26, 2017
  • By Staff Report
Kenai River’s Evan Butcher hoists up a salmon in a victory salute after the Brown Bears scored the opening goal Saturday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Bears fans hold out hope

This will either be remembered as the weekend that saved the Kenai River Brown Bears or one heck of a way to go out. Steve… Continue reading

Kenai River’s Evan Butcher hoists up a salmon in a victory salute after the Brown Bears scored the opening goal Saturday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Kenai’s Hanson scores goal that moves his squad to hockey nationals

Kenai’s Ross Hanson, 18, scored an overtime goal Sunday to send the Colorado Thunderbirds 18U team to the USA Hockey National Tournament. The Thunderbirds faced… Continue reading

  • Mar 26, 2017
  • By Staff Report
Nikiski’s Emma Wik (right) tries to force a turnover on Sitka’s Marlis Boord in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Friday state hoops: Nikiski girls drop semifinal to Sitka

A sluggish start doomed the Nikiski girls from the opening tip in Friday’s Class 3A state tournament semifinal against Sitka, and the Bulldogs never recovered.… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Emma Wik (right) tries to force a turnover on Sitka’s Marlis Boord in Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. Knights

By JEFF HELMINIAK Peninsula Clarion Whether these are the last two home games of the season for the Kenai River Brown Bears, or the last… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Brianna Vollertsen (left) looks for a shot against Grace Christian’s Makenna Shamburger in the Class 3A state quarterfinal contest Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

State hoops: Nikiski girls stave off Grace on 1st day

Under the bright lights at the spacious Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, the Nikiski girls drowned out the nightmares of the Southcentral Conference tournament with… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Brianna Vollertsen (left) looks for a shot against Grace Christian’s Makenna Shamburger in the Class 3A state quarterfinal contest Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski’s Rylee Jackson dribbles down the court Friday against Grace Christian at the Southcentral Conference basketball tournament at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski girls prepare for state tourney without Carstens

As the opening minutes rolled out from tipoff of the Southcentral Conference tournament semifinal game, the home team Nikiski girls looked to be on their… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Rylee Jackson dribbles down the court Friday against Grace Christian at the Southcentral Conference basketball tournament at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears forward Lucas Carroll commits to UW-Stout

Brown Bears forward Lucas Carroll commits to UW-Stout

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Lucas Carroll became the first member of the team to make a college commitment this season, verbally committing to Division… Continue reading

Brown Bears forward Lucas Carroll commits to UW-Stout

Push is on to save Kenai River Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears still have a chance at survival. After the North American Hockey League Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 26, Brown… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s White nabs Gatorade Player of Year

With eight state championships and nine state players of the year in 18 seasons under seven-time state coach of the year Dan Leman, it would… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners forward Kyle Klatt battle for the puck Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Topeka takes series from Brown Bears

The Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-1 on Saturday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in the rubber match of the… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Shayne Monahan and Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners forward Kyle Klatt battle for the puck Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk’s Anfim Kalugin (54) looks on as Warriors teammate Kalenik Molodih guards Hydaburg’s Roger Trout, Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Class 1A state tournament held at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys return to 1A state hoops final

The Ninilchik boys announced their return to the Class 1A state prep basketball championship final with a commanding 72-49 semifinal victory Friday night over Buckland… Continue reading

Nikolaevsk’s Anfim Kalugin (54) looks on as Warriors teammate Kalenik Molodih guards Hydaburg’s Roger Trout, Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Class 1A state tournament held at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik senior Austin White holds the championship trophy high above his head after the Class 1A state championship game Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

On Repeat: Ninilchik boys win 2nd straight state hoops crown

Rare is it that a sports team comes along with the ability to dominate its competition to a degree that the outcome is a near… Continue reading

Ninilchik senior Austin White holds the championship trophy high above his head after the Class 1A state championship game Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk’s Vera Fefelov brings the ball up court against Aniak on Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Class 1A state girls tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

State 1A hoops girls roundup

The Ninilchik girls made it to Saturday, but their season ended in a 49-42 loss to Aniak in the Class 1A state tournament fourth-place game… Continue reading

  • Mar 17, 2017
  • By JOEY KLEKCA
Nikolaevsk’s Vera Fefelov brings the ball up court against Aniak on Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Class 1A state girls tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Anderson, Finley, White get major basketball all-state awards

Nikiski girls coach Scott Anderson, Ninilchik boys coach Nick Finley and Ninilchik senior Austin White all won major awards in Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches… Continue reading

  • Mar 17, 2017
  • By Staff Report
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Luke Radetic chips the puck out of danger as Topeka RoadRunners’ Will Schlagenhauf, Jeff Makowski and Jay Keranen pursue Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears defeat RoadRunners to snap 13-game skid

The Kenai River Brown Bears snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Topeka (Kansas) RoadRunners on Thursday at the Soldotna Regional… Continue reading

  • Mar 17, 2017
  • By Staff Report
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Luke Radetic chips the puck out of danger as Topeka RoadRunners’ Will Schlagenhauf, Jeff Makowski and Jay Keranen pursue Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk’s Markiana Yakunin shoots a 3-pointer against King Cove on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikolaevsk, Ninilchik girls fall at state

The Ninilchik girls ran into a Class 1A juggernaut Thursday afternoon, but came away knowing the future is bright. The Wolverines fell 43-26 against the… Continue reading

Nikolaevsk’s Markiana Yakunin shoots a 3-pointer against King Cove on Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik’s Tyler Presley drives down the lane against Shaktoolik’s Joshua Takak (13) Thursday, March 16, 2017, afternoon at the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys move to state semis, Nikolaevsk falls

As the defending Class 1A state champions, the Ninilchik boys know the name of the game. Survive and advance. The No. 1 seeded Wolverines did… Continue reading

Ninilchik’s Tyler Presley drives down the lane against Shaktoolik’s Joshua Takak (13) Thursday, March 16, 2017, afternoon at the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Series preview: Brown Bears vs. RoadRunners

The news that the Kenai River Brown Bears will take up inactive status at the end of their 10th season has rocked everyone associated with… Continue reading