Back -to- back overtime Midwest Division hockey games against in-state rival Fairbanks Ice Dogs; just another weekend at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex!
The Kenai River Brown Bears and Fairbanks Ice Dogs battled on Friday night to a 6-5 overtime victory for the Ice Dogs; then, Kenai River, in front of a white-out home crowd, snatched a 3-2 overtime victory from the Ice Dogs. Saturday’s win was the first of the season against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
Ice Dogs 6 – Kenai River 5 Friday Night
Fairbanks opened a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Jacob Conrad and McCabe Dvorak. Kenai River’s Ryan Finch scored a power-play goal to close to 2-1; however, the Ice Dogs strike on a goal by Billy Renfrew for a 3-1 first period advantage.
The Brown Bears opened the second period with a pair of power-play goals; one for Ashton Christman and one by Bryce Monrean, tying the game at 3-3. Following a Julian Redine goal for the Ice Dogs, Kenai River took the lead on goals by Finch and Noah Holt.
Leading 5-4 into the third period, Kenai River allowed an early goal by Kole Altergott tying the game at 5-5.
Fairbanks scores just :57 seconds into the overtime for a 6-5 victory. For the game Kenai River Nils Wallstrom recorded 29 saves on 35 shots.
Kenai River 3 – Fairbanks 2 OT Saturday
Late in the overtime period with the game tied at 2-2, Kenai River’s Carson Triggs produced the game-winner with only seven seconds remaining; pushing the Brown Bears past Fairbanks for the first time in the 2023 season.
Fairbanks opened the scoring in the first period with a Cameron Ricotta goal for a 1-0 lead.
The Brown Bears tied the game late in the second period at 1:09 with a goal by Garett Drotts.
The Ice Dogs retook the lead in the first minute of the third period on a Mac Gadowski goal; Kenai River evened the game in regulation on a Bryce Monrean goal with under five minutes remaining.
The game-winner in overtime by Triggs with :07 on the clock gave Kenai River its first victory over Fairbanks. Kenai River’s Nils Wallstrom recorded 31 saves on 33 shots.
Club 49 Cup Standings
In the Club 49 Cup standings, the Anchorage Wolverines have 23 points, the Ice Dogs have 18 points and Kenai River stands at 10 points. Kenai River owns a 1-3-2-0 record against the Ice Dogs.
