The early season, three game series in the Midwest Division of the North American Hockey League between the Kenai River Brown Bears and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, bragging rights to the Midwest Division and the opening series between the #1 Kenai River Brown Bears and the #2 Fairbanks Ice Dogs, goes to the Brown Bears on Thursday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex 5-3.
The Brown Bears improve to 15-5-1-2 and 33 points; Fairbanks stands at 14-7-0-1 and 29 points.
Kenai River 5 – Ice Dogs 2
Kenai River opened the scoring on a Zach Krajnik goal in the first two minutes (1:15) and Porter Schachle scored the first of two goals (9:30) for a 2-0 Brown Bear lead in the first period.
A late, second period short-handed goal off the stick of Trey LaBarge gave the Brown Bears a 3-1 advantage; however the Ice Dogs answered to make the score 3-2 after two periods.
Theo Thrun with a third period goal for the Brown Bears and an empty-netter for Schachle gave the Brown Bears the victory 5-3 over the Ice Dogs. Landon Pavlisin recorded 34 saves for the Brown Bears.
Weekend Schedule @ Soldotna Regional Sports Complex
Friday, November 22: Kenai River vs Fairbanks 7:30 Educator Appreciation Night, free admission with KPDSB ID
Saturday, November 23: Kenai River vs Fairbanks 7:30 Skate with Brown Bears, following the game
