Kenai River Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then has upgraded and added team-specific facilities to the 2,000 plus capacity Soldotna Sports Center it calls home.

Kenai River Brown Bears
CitySoldotna, Alaska
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
DivisionMidwest
Founded2007
Home arenaSoldotna Sports Center
ColorsBrown
 
Owner(s)Kenai Peninsula Youth Foundation
General managerChris Hedlund[1]
Head coachKevin Murdock
Franchise history
2007–presentKenai River Brown Bears

On February 28, 2017, during a major slump in the Alaskan economy, years of team futility and increased travel costs, the Brown Bears announced it would cease operations at the end of the 2016–17 season.[2] However, after a fan fundraising effort, the Brown Bears applied to the NAHL for approval to reactivate in April 2017 and was approved.[3]

Due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brown Bears temporarily relocated home games to Breezy Point, Minnesota, for at least the beginning of the 2020–21 season.[4][5]

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLOTLPTSGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2007–0858123883214425712726th, SouthDid not qualify
2008–0958143683616524913504th, WestLost in 1st Round
2009–1058124063014424710454th, WestLost in 1st Round
2010–1158272476118919110764th, WestLost Div. Semifinals
2011–126031254661861898944th, WestLost Div. Semifinals
2012–1360292566413922411153rd, WestLost Div. Semifinals
2013–1460282486416417811814th, WestLost Div. Semifinals
2014–156016422341322449635th, WestDid not qualify
2015–166045151310923213516th of 6, Midwest Div.
22nd of 22, NAHL		Did not qualify
2016–1760124622612123312556th of 6, Midwest Div.
23rd of 24, NAHL		Did not qualify
2017–1860183844015323812696th of 6, Midwest Div.
22nd of 23, NAHL		Did not qualify
2018–1960233165213917410885th of 6, Midwest Div.
20th of 24, NAHL		Did not qualify
2019–205227196601971828533rd of 6, Midwest Div.
13th of 26, NAHL		Season cancelled

Playoffs
  • 2009
First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2010
First Round – Wenatchee Wild defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2011
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2012
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-0
  • 2013
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-2
  • 2014
Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Kenai River Brown Bears 3-games-to-2

Head coaches
  • 2007–2009: Mike Flanagan
  • 2011–2013: Oliver David
  • 2013–2016: Geoff Beauparlant
  • 2016–2017: Jeff Worlton[6]
  • 2017–2019: Josh Petrich
  • 2019: Dan Bogdan (interim)[7]
  • 2019–present: Kevin Murdock[8]

References
  1. "Hedlund named GM of Brown Bears". NAHL. November 29, 2019.
  2. "Brown Bears to cease operations next year". Peninsula Clarion. February 28, 2017.
  3. "Brown Bears reactivated for next season". Peninsula Clarion. April 18, 2017.
  4. "NA Now: Kenai River Brown Bears". NAHL. September 24, 2020.
  5. "Brown Bears Plan For Upcoming Season: Start Remote, Finish At Home". Radio Kenai. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  6. "Kenai River announces coaching change". NAHL. January 12, 2016.
  7. "Brown Bears announce coaching change". NAHL. February 11, 2019.
  8. "Brown Bears name Murdock as head coach". NAHL. April 11, 2019.


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