The Kenai River Brown Bears lost 4-1 to the host Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Friday in North American Hockey League play.
Chippewa is in seventh in the Midwest Division at 18-20-0-2, while the Bears are in last at 10-27-3-2.
Kenai River took a 1-0 lead into the third period only to get outscored 4-0 in the final 20 minutes, including a hat trick by Chippewa’s Nick Sajevic.
Kevin Marx Noren, assisted by Colin Doherty and Sean Henry, got the Bears on the board in the first period.
Kenai River earned five power plays in the game, but its league-leading power play did not score.
Just 55 seconds into the final frame, Joseph Grainda score short-handed for the Steel. Sajevic then poured on three goals, including an empty-netter.
Cole Wheaton stopped 27 for the Bears, while Croix Kochendorfer had 31 saves for the Steel.
The same two teams play at 4 p.m. AKST today. The Bears stay on the road to face the Minnesota Magicians at 4 p.m. AKST on Feb. 11 and 12.
Friday
Steel 4, Brown Bears 1
Kenai River 1 0 0 —1
Chippewa 0 0 4 —4
First period — 1. Kenai River, Marx Noren (Doherty, Henry), 7:15. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 4 for 8:00; Chippewa 7 for 14:00.
Third period — 2. Chippewa, Grainda (un.), sh, 0:55; 3. Chippewa, Sajevic (Bisson, Manning), 9:37; 4. Chippewa, Sajevic (Tanos, Brille), 18:18; 5. Chippewa, Sajevic (Brille), en, 19:45. Penalties — none.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 9-11-12—32; Chippewa 4-11-16—31.
Goalies — Kenai River, Wheaton (30 shots, 27 saves); Chippewa, Kochendorfer (32 shots, 31 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 5; Chippewa 0 for 2.
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