The only thing worse than losing your final game of the season is helping your in-state, conference rival. The Kenai River Brown Bears managed both in Fairbanks on Saturday.
The Brown Bears closed-out the regular season on the road in Fairbanks with Midwest Division contests against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
Kenai River fell to the Ice Dogs 7-2 on Friday and finished the season with a 5-4 loss on Saturday at the sold-out Big Dipper Arena.
The Brown Bears finish the season with a 16-42-2 overall record and finish in last place in the Midwest Division of the North American Hockey League. The Brown Bears fail to make the playoffs; the top four teams in the Midwest advance to the playoffs in the five team division.
In Friday’s game, Kenai River got goals from Nick Klishko and Matt Rudin. Saturday’s goal scorers included: Jack Gessert, Tyler Andrews, Gustav Gerland and Colton Fletcher.
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs, 2014 Champions of the Robertson Cup, by virtue of the two-game sweep of the Brown Bears, earn home-ice advantage and the top seed into the playoffs. Fairbanks closes the regular season with a 40-16-4 overall record and a 14-2 record against the Brown Bears.
