Soldotna, Alaska | 12/03/21 | Isaac Smoldon
Despite Anchorage scoring early, three unanswered tallies from the Kenai River Brown Bears would undo the Wolverines lead and ultimately cause a 4-2 loss on Friday. The win is Kenai’s fifth on the season, but it puts them only 4 points behind Anchorage in the Club 49 Cup standings. The Wolverines have now lost the opening game of both series they have played in Kenai this year.
The Wolverines early tally came from Aiden Westin, who sprung Cameron Morris for a 2 on 1 that resulted in Westin tapping in his seventh goal of the season. Kenai would be able to tie the score before the halfway point of the frame however, with Kevin Marx Noren firing a one-timer that beat Anchorage goaltender Raythan Robbins. Robbins would be forced to make some key saves in the latter half of the 1st, robbing the Brown Bears several times while Anchorage was on the penalty kill.
Carter Green of the Brown Bears would get the next goal of the contest, beating Robbins over his right shoulder just under five minutes into the 2nd. Bryce Monrean would make it three unanswered goals for Kenai, off a shorthanded goal halfway through the frame. Kenai would carry the two-goal lead into the 3rd, in part thanks to a perfect period from Brown Bears goaltender Tommy Aitken.
Anchorage would put a stop to Kenai’s scoring streak with 9:25 left to play in the 3rd, when Clay Allen fired a shot from the point that trickled through Tommy Aitken’s legs. Despite the time remaining in the period, The Brown Bears would hold Anchorage scoreless for the duration of the frame, and an empty net goal from David Vieten would seal the game giving Kenai a 4-2 win.
Both teams will play against each other tomorrow night at 7:30 AKST. The Wolverines now trail 8 points behind the 1st place Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the Midwest division standings, and are tied for 4th. Kenai is playing to win back-to-back contests, something they have not done yet this season.
