The Kenai River Brown Bears, in an abrupt and unanticipated move, announced on Monday that Brown Bears Head Coach Kevin Murdock is no longer with the team and will not finish-out the 2021 Junior A hockey season on the bench for Kenai River.
The Brown Bears, with a 5-1 record at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex since locating in Alaska, have qualified for the NAHL playoffs and posted a 21-21-1-1 overall record.
According to Brown Bears GM Chris Hedlund, “Kevin has resigned to pursue other options within the NAHL. While disappointed in his abrupt departure, we (Brown Bears) understand that the NAHL is the league of opportunity. The organization thanks him for his contributions and wishes him the best in future endeavors.”
Kenai River plans to announce new staff additions in the near future. The Midwest Division has only two weeks remaining in the regular season with the Brown Bears scheduled to face the Fairbanks Ice Dogs four times to close the regular season.
Alaska Airlines Cup
New to the 2021 hockey season, The Kenai River Brown Bears and Fairbanks Ice Dogs will compete for the Alaska Airlines Cup.
The Alaska Airlines Cup will be awarded to the team with the best head-to-head record in the upcoming four-game series between the Brown Bears and Ice Dogs.
In 2021-22, the Alaska Airlines Cup will be contested between three Alaska-based teams: Brown Bears, Ice Dogs and Anchorage Wolverines.
