The Kenai River Brown Bears received a rude “Welcome to Alaska” for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs as the Ice Dogs recorded a pair of victories in Junior A hockey in Fairbanks. The Brown Bears managed only three goals in the two-game series.
Kenai River 1 – Fairbanks 4 Friday @ Big Dipper
The Brown Bears and Ice Dogs played even through one period with Fairbanks scoring first and Kenai River answering with a Tristian Thibeault goal. That goal would prove to be the last for Kenai River. Fairbanks added a single goal in the second period and a pair of goals in the third for the 4-1 Midwest Division victory. Tommy Aitken recorded 24 saves for the Bears.
Kenai River 2 – Fairbanks 8 Saturday @ Big Dipper
Fairbanks opened the scoring with two, first period goals enroute to an 8-2 Midwest Division victory on Saturday in Fairbanks.
Fairbanks scored early in the second period; then, Kenai River got on the board with a Cole Dubicki goal just :32 seconds later. The Ice Dogs scored three unanswered goals in 4:30 minutes to extend their lead to 6-1, before Bruce Monrean scored for Kenai River late in the second period. Fairbanks closed the third period with a pair of goals for the 8-2 victory. Kenai River was outshot 41-34 as the Brown Bears were unable to capitalize on opportunities to score.
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs take an early 2-0 lead in the Club 49® Cup, a three-team, in-season tournament to declare hockey supremacy in the 49th state between the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Anchorage Wolverines and Kenai River Brown Bears.
Kenai River moves into its home arena at the Soldotna Regional Sports Center with a home-opener weekend scheduled for October 21-23 against the Chippewa Steel.
