Hockey

Mat-Su Valley School staff member and hockey coach James Donald "Jamie" Smith Jr. is facing five felony counts, in connection with mismanaged funds for the Wasilla Spirit minor-league hockey booster club. The charges against Smith go back to 2008 and 2009, and include two counts of forgery in the second degree, one first-degree count of theft of $25,000 or more of property or services, and two felony charges related to fraud. Mat-Su Borough School District spokesperson Katherine Gardner says the district is examining its own finances, and will be monitoring the situation.

After a pair of regular season losses to the South Wolverines, the Dimond Lynx secured revenge in a sweet manner on Saturday night as the Lynx defeated the Wolverines, 7-3 to claim the state 4A hockey title.  Dimond repeats as state champion and hands South its first loss all season.  After allowing a goal 89 seconds into regulation, the Lynx settled in and tied the game on the very next shift on a goal by Christian Hausinger.  Dawson Glover added...

ASAA 4A Hockey Tournament Thursday's Quarterfinal Games Dimond def. West Valley, 7-1 Service def. Soldotna, 3-2 South def. Lathrop, 3-0 West def. Wasilla, 1-0 in 2OT Friday's Semifinals 5:30 Dimond vs. Service 8:00 West vs. South

The quarterfinal matchups and game times have been announced for the ASAA hockey tournament Thursday through Saturday at the Wasilla Sports Complex.  In 4A, Dimond is the defending state champion, although South comes in undefeated and champion of the Cook Inlet Conference. --ASAA 4A Hockey Tourney-- Thursday's Opening Round Games Dimond vs. West Valley, 12:00 Service vs. Soldotna, 2:30 South vs. Lathrop, 5:00 West vs. Wasilla, 7:30 Semifinals 5:30 & 8:00 Friday --Greatland Hockey Tourney-- Friday's Semifinal Games Hutchison vs. Monroe, 12:30 Houston vs. Delta Junction, 3:00  

Nathan Wright made 23 saves as the South Wolverines stayed unbeaten on the season with a 2-0 win over Service in the Cook Inlet Conference tournament title game.  Both teams are bound for the ASAA tournament next week in Wasilla. In a tightly played game with only three combined minor penalties, Tyler Onstott scored the only goal for South until Steven Orizotti's empty net tally with one second remaining.  Onstott's goal deflected off a Cougars' stick and past Dustin Fritz, who made 18 stops in the loss.     

Following a 2-2 draw Friday night, the UAA Seawolves hockey team tied Colorado College Tigers 3-3 Saturday at the Sullivan Arena. The home team was first to strike, when defenseman Austin Coldwell buried one on the power play at 14:57 in the first. In the second period, Coldwell set up Matt Bailey to give Alaska a 2-0 lead.  CC's Mike Boivin put the Tigers on the board with less than 3 minutes remaining in the period, to make the score 2-1 headed into the third. Colorado picked up their game in the final frame.  A penalty shot from William Rapuzzi would even the score, and Archie Skalbeck nailed the go-ahead at 16:41.  Alaska senior Scott Warner managed the equalizer with less than 2 minutes left in play, rounding out the 3-3 final.

The UAA hockey team wasted an early lead and fell, 3-1 to the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks in Friday night WCHA action.  The Seawolves dropped to 1-5-3 in league play while the Mavericks won their fifth straight to reach 6-5-0 in conference. Matt Bailey opened the scoring 1:49 into regulation with a beautiful backhander top shelf for his second goal of the season.  UAA quickly went to the penalty box, however, and the Mavericks scored on the ensuing power play to tie the game.

The Seawolf hockey team defeated #14 St. Cloud State 3-1 Saturday night.  For fans of the green and gold the teams 3-0 lead in the third period may not have offered much comfort.  Only a night prior UAA saw a similar 3-0 lead evaporate and end in a 4-3 overtime loss.  In a show of toughness the home town team was able to shake off the rough ending in that game and play their way to the groups first WCHA win this year.  The scoring parade got started...

UAA junior Andrew Pickering has announced his retirement from hockey, due to health concerns. A statement realeased by head coach Dave Shyiak said Pickering had suffered two concussions in the past two months, prompting him to leave hockey and focus on his health and studies. Pickering was a WCHA All-Academic team honoree, and a member of last year's WCHA Scholar-Athlete team.  

On Monday night, the Alaska Aces hosted its sixth annual “Paint-the-Rink-Pink” exhibition game that corresponds to the national Breast Cancer Awareness month. The game was played on pink ice at the Sullivan Arena and it's become an early-October tradition for the hometown team. “About a decade ago when the new ownership took over, we made a point that this isn't just the Anchorage Aces anymore, it's the Alaska Aces,” Josh Bogorad, Alaska Aces Director of Media Relations, said.  “The fact that we can do local fundraising events, make them all that much more special.” The Aces said proceeds of ticket sales and proceeds of a pink-trimmed jersey auction go to local breast cancer organizations.