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.

Talkeetna Goalie Symposium

80-year-old Alaskan scores in game-winning shootout for

Team USA hockey

KTUU By Patrick Enslow | Posted: Fri 5:51 AM, Jan 12, 2018 | Updated: Fri 3:47 PM, Jan 12, 2018

Many young hockey players in the United States dream of representing their country, and in October, two Alaskans made that dream a reality.

Frank Nosek and Jimmy Reese were selected to play for the over 80-year-old USA hockey team.

“We are among the only over 80-year-old skaters playing hockey in Alaska,” said 83-year-old Nosek.

Nosek and Reese play hockey year round in South Anchorage with the 49er club made up of players over the age of 50.

“It’s pretty laid back, I don’t push it too much,” said Reese before a game on Monday. On top of playing locally the two teammates travel out of state to play.

Due to a knee replacement Nosek wasn’t able to make the usual pilgrimage to Santa Rosa, California for the Snoopy’s Senior World Hockey Tournament.

Reese, however, did go to the Santa Rosa tournament this year, and was recruited to represent the United States in the Canada 150 Cup. A tournament in Ottawa, Canada for players over the age of 80.

The team then asked Reese if he knew any other players his age. “I knew [Frank] had a bum knee so I said, ‘are you ready to go play a game in Ottawa?’” said Reese.

Nosek tested out his knee before leaving in October, cleared himself to play, and the two were off to Canada.

“The tournament was eye opener for Jimmy and I,” said Nosek. “When we got into the locker room, we didn’t know any of the other players, met them, or even heard of them.”

While Nosek was a little surprised, Reese was confident he could hang with the Canadians after playing our neighbors to the North in a practice game.

“If I know the Canadians like I do, their good players hadn’t shown up yet,” said Reese.

The Canada 150 Cup consists of a scrimmage and a championship game between Canada and the United States.

The Americans would lead two to nothing early in the championship, but Canada would tie the game late.

When the championship came down to the wire in a shootout, Reese scored the game winning goal for Team USA.

“It was a good deal to beat ‘em, it was better than losing,” said Reese as he showed off of the trophy on Monday. Like the Stanley Cup, every player gets a couple weeks with the trophy in their hometown.

The two say they hope to play in the tournament next year if they get invited back.

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/80-year-old-Alaskan-shootout-goal-lifts-Team-USA-over-Canada--468920283.html