Kenai River Brown Bears

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Kenai River Brown Bears
Kenai River Brown Bears.svg
CitySoldotna, Alaska
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
DivisionMidwest
Founded2007
Home arenaSoldotna Sports Center
ColorsBrown
 
Owner(s)Kenai Peninsula Youth Foundation
General managerChris Hedlund[1]
Head coachTaylor Shaw (interim)
Franchise history
2007–presentKenai River Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then has upgraded and added team-specific facilities to the 2,000 plus capacity Soldotna Sports Center it calls home.

On February 28, 2017, during a major slump in the Alaskan economy, years of team futility and increased travel costs, the Brown Bears announced it would cease operations at the end of the 2016–17 season.[2] However, after a fan fundraising effort, the Brown Bears applied to the NAHL for approval to reactivate in April 2017 and was approved.[3]

Due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brown Bears temporarily relocated home games to Breezy Point, Minnesota, for most of the 2020–21 season[4][5] until mid-April 2021.[6]

Season-by-season records[]

Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2007–08 58 12 38 8 32 144 257 1272 6th, South Did not qualify
2008–09 58 14 36 8 36 165 249 1350 4th, West Lost in 1st Round
2009–10 58 12 40 6 30 144 247 1045 4th, West Lost in 1st Round
2010–11 58 27 24 7 61 189 191 1076 4th, West Lost Div. Semifinals
2011–12 60 31 25 4 66 186 189 894 4th, West Lost Div. Semifinals
2012–13 60 29 25 6 64 139 224 1115 3rd, West Lost Div. Semifinals
2013–14 60 28 24 8 64 164 178 1181 4th, West Lost Div. Semifinals
2014–15 60 16 42 2 34 132 244 963 5th, West Did not qualify
2015–16 60 4 51 5 13 109 232 1351 6th of 6, Midwest Div.
22nd of 22, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2016–17 60 12 46 2 26 121 233 1255 6th of 6, Midwest Div.
23rd of 24, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2017–18 60 18 38 4 40 153 238 1269 6th of 6, Midwest Div.
22nd of 23, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2018–19 60 23 31 6 52 139 174 1088 5th of 6, Midwest Div.
20th of 24, NAHL		 Did not qualify
2019–20 52 27 19 6 60 197 182 853 3rd of 6, Midwest Div.
13th of 26, NAHL		 Season cancelled
2020–21 48 22 24 2 46 155 168 787 4th of 5, Midwest Div.
20th of 23, NAHL		 Lost Div. Finals

Playoffs[]

  • 2009
First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2010
First Round – Wenatchee Wild defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2011
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2012
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2013
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-2
  • 2014
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-2
  • 2021
Division Semifinals – Kenai River Brown Bears defeated Janesville Jets 3-games-to-1
Division Finals – Minnesota Magicians defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-2

Head coaches[]

  • 2007–2009: Mike Flanagan
  • 2011–2013: Oliver David
  • 2013–2016: Geoff Beauparlant
  • 2016–2017: Jeff Worlton[7]
  • 2017–2019: Josh Petrich
  • 2019: Dan Bogdan (interim)[8]
  • 2019–2021: Kevin Murdock[9][10]
  • 2021: Josh Dubinsky[11]
  • 2021–present: Taylor Shaw (interim)[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Hedlund named GM of Brown Bears". NAHL. November 29, 2019.
  2. ^ "Brown Bears to cease operations next year". Peninsula Clarion. February 28, 2017.
  3. ^ "Brown Bears reactivated for next season". Peninsula Clarion. April 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "NA Now: Kenai River Brown Bears". NAHL. September 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Brown Bears Plan For Upcoming Season: Start Remote, Finish At Home". Radio Kenai. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  6. ^ "Brown Bears returning to Alaska". NAHL. March 17, 2021.
  7. ^ "Kenai River announces coaching change". NAHL. January 12, 2016.
  8. ^ "Brown Bears announce coaching change". NAHL. February 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Brown Bears name Murdock as head coach". NAHL. April 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Brown Bears part ways with head coach Murdock". NAHL. May 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Brown Bears announce coaching staff for 2021-22 season". NAHL. August 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "Brown Bears announce coaching, staff changes". NAHL. November 22, 2021.

External links[]


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