2018/2019

Dear Board:

I wanted to announce that Mike Ashley has stepped down from the position as ASHA’s SafeSport Coordinator. I first want to extend my personal thanks to Mike for all of the time and energy he put into the position for the past few years. It has been a pleasure working with Mike. He embraced the position and took it seriously from the start.

On behalf of the Board and Alaska State Hockey, Mike's continued wisdom and experience has been invaluable to Alaska Hockey, and we all thank him. My hope is Mike will continue to be that valuable resource moving forward and that he will continue to help with our Hall of Fame Committee.

Second, I would like to announce that Andrew Good will be stepping up again to serve as our SafeSport Coordinator. He will update the Web Site with his email and contact information. Look for to seeing you all next weekend and hoping your summers are full and fun!

Darryl L Thompson, Esq.

Alaska Warriors helping disabled veterans through hockey

Anchorage, AK (KTUU) - From the frontlines to the ice rink... this is more than just a team. It's a family.

"It's that one hour a week or two hours a week that we can skate, " team founder Chris Block said. "We don't have to worry about anything else."

"It's a support system outside of the house." former Marine Core corporeal Brad Ross said.

The Alaska Warriors hockey team is entirely made up of disabled veterans. The team started back in September of 2017 after receiving a grant from USA hockey.

"With veterans, suicide rate is fairly high, so the goal was to create something organized where they had a team, a group to come together," Challenge Alaska recreational therapist Brandon Harker said.

"Getting out and transitioning to the civilian world was a little bit tougher," former staff sergeant Bryan Murphy said. "So, finding this and being a part of this gives me a chance to be around all those guys that I know how to be around."

Their motto is not forgotten.. and it's more than just hockey for these men.

"People say, oh you guys are a hockey team but it's not about hockey for us," Ross said. "It's a whole different level. Hockey is just kind of the byproduct of everybody getting together."

With 48 rostered players now, the team hopes to continue to grow and expand throughout the state, including having a team up in Fairbanks at some point.

"Really, what we want, what I hope is that we have a network, we have a place that, a safe place for any veteran that wants to come out to play hockey, to learn hockey," Harker said.

"I just hope they realize that there's a support group out there that may not be advertised all over the place, " Ross said. " It might not be a 1-800 number. This team is all about whoever wants to come out. "

The team recently went up to the National Disabled Hockey Festival in Chicago and took second place out of the entire festival.

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Alaska-Warriors-disabled-veteran-hockey-team-takes-second-in-national-tournament-479114483.html

SULLIVAN HONORS ALASKAN OF THE WEEK:

CARLOS GOMEZ

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) this week spoke on the Senate floor in recognition of Carlos Gomez, a relentless advocate for disadvantaged youth hockey programs in Alaska and President of the Scotty Gomez Foundation. Carlos was honored as part of Senator Sullivan’s “Alaskan of the Week” series.

Senator Sullivan Honoring Carlos Gomez as Alaskan of the Week

(click image or here to watch, click here to download video).

TRIBUTE TO CARLOS GOMEZ

Mr. President, one of the things I enjoy doing in my duties in the Senate is to come down each week to recognize somebody special in my State--somebody who has made a difference for their community, somebody who might not get the attention that people get in the press or in other areas but someone who has really made an impact. I like to call that person our Alaskan of the Week.

Right now what has been happening in Alaska is a very special time. Our State, in many ways, is shrouded with myth and mystique. We certainly have, I believe, the most beautiful State in the country. There is a lot of excitement that happens, a lot of special things. Just last week, we had 60 mushers who were being pulled by dog teams, dozens of dogs--these great athletes, as we call them--nearly 1,000 miles through some of the harshest landscapes and some of the harshest climates. We just finished the Iditarod, the last great race. We want to encourage people watching on TV and people in the Galleries to come on up to Alaska. You will love it. It will be the trip of a lifetime. Come see the Iditarod next year, the last great race. We just finished that.

Read more here...

2018 ASHA State Tournament Winners

10U Squirt Major - Alaska All Stars
10U Squirt Minor - North Stars - McIlroy
10U Squirt A - Delta Huskies
10U Squirt B - Kodiak
12U Pee Wee Major - Alaska Blue Devils

12U Pee Wee Minor - Alaska Blue Devils
12U Pee Wee Tier A - Juneau Capitals
12U Pee Wee Tier B - Juneau Capitals
14U Tier I - North Stars

14U Tier II - Alaska All Stars
14U A - AHA Comets - Carter
14U B - Delta Huskies
16U Tier II - Alaska Wolves
18U Tier II - Alaska Oilers
18U A - AHA Comets
18U B - AHA Blankenship

Click on the line to see the winners photo

News from ASHA Goaltender Coordinators

juneau Goalie Symposium

Steve Thompson and Wylie Rogers flew to Juneau Wednesday January 24th to conduct a coaches symposium for the hockey community. This symposium was designed to empower non-goalie coaches to learn the position and better help their goaltenders development every day in practice.

A photo was taken in front of the Mendenhall glacier with some of the participating goalies, along with Steve and Wylie. USA Hockey wants to get pictures of the GDCs with some of their students that is unique to their affiliate for the USA Hockey Magazine.