The Kenai River Brown Bears look to open 2023 stronger than they closed-out 2022 in NAHL hockey with a pair of road contests in Minnesota to open the new year.
The Brown Bears face-off against the Minnesota Wilderness at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena with games on Friday and Saturday, January 6-7.
Kenai River dropped a pair of games to the Wisconsin Windigo falling 7-0 and 4-3 on New Years weekend.
The Brown Bears, in game one, allowed a single goal in the first period, three goal in the second and three goals in the third period, falling 7-0. In the New Years Eve game, Wisconsin broke a 3-3 tie in the third period for the 4-3 Midwest Division victory.
Kenai River currently stands in third place in the Midwest Division of the NAHL with a record of 18-14-1-0 and 37 points. The Wilderness own the division’s best record with a record of 18-10-1-2 and 39 points. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs also stand with 39 points in the Midwest Division standings.
In the Club 49 Cup Standings, Kenai River still holds the third position with 7 points; the Anchorage Wolverines top the standings with 17 points and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs stand at 9 points. Kenai River stands at 3-3 against the Wolverines and 0-2 against the Ice Dogs.
Midwest Division Standings (as of Jan. 1)
Teams Games Wins Loss OTL SOL Total
| 1 | MN Wilderness | 31 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 39 |
| 2 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 32 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 39 |
| 3 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 33 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 37 |
| 4 | Janesville Jets | 32 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| 5 | Chippewa Steel | 31 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 34 |
| 6 | Wisconsin Windigo | 31 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 34 |
| 7 | Anchorage Wolverines | 32 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 34 |
| 8 | Springfield Jr. Blues | 28 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 26 |