ALASKA’S BEST: 5 Valley players named first-team all-state

WASILLA — For the first time in eight years, Alaska high school hockey has an official all-state team. And the Valley has five first-team selections for the first time ever.

Colony led all of Alaska’s Division I programs with four first-team selections. Knights senior forwards Cooper Smith and Jake Hessinger, senior defenseman Kolten Ketchum and senior goalie Cole Doss were among the 20 players selected. Wasilla junior forward Porter Schacle was also named to the first team.

“It’s just a validation for that group of kids,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said. “They’ve stuck to the plan. They haven’t gone out of state. They’ve stayed in state, got their education and played with their friends.”

Cooper Smith, Hessinger, Ketchum and Doss helped the Knights finished third in the state tournament for the second straight season.

Cooper Smith capped his Colony career with a pair of program records. The forward now has the most career points in team history, with more than 160. He also finished with 64 points as a senior, which ties the single-season record originally set by former Knights standout Seth Reda. Smith, Reda and Ryan Pauling are the only Knights in school history to finish with at least 150 points. Smith bagged 30 goals and 34 assists as a senior.

Hessinger was third on the team with 40 points, 20 goals and 20 assists. Ketchum led all Colony blueliners in scoring with five goals and 13 assists. Doss finished 17-3-2 in 22 starts between the pipes, posting a 1.73 goals against average and .921 saves percentage.

“It validates what they’ve done,” Smith said. “Their talents, their development over the last few years.”

Smith said he was also pleased to see the Knights represented among the forward, defensemen and goaltender positions.

“That’s the coolest part of the whole things. As a coach, you try to develop kids in all three phases of the game,” Smith said.

With Schachle also selected, Smith said he was also excited to see the Valley occupy five of the 20 spots on the team, which also includes players from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Homer.

“It’s really neat to see the two teams represent the Valley,” Smith said.

Schachle, the 2018 North Star Conference Player of the Year, finished with 69 points as a senior, 35 goals and 34 assists. The junior grabbed at least a point in 25 of 29 games this season. He had at least four points nine times this season.

This is the first official all-state team for Alaska high school hockey since the 2009-10 season. That list, with included votes from Alaska high school hockey coaches, was compiled by former Chugiak coach Paul Brauneis. Prior to that, the Alaska all-state team was organized by the Anchorage Daily News.

Former Wasilla standout Trent Wohlers was the last Valley players to be named to the first team, landing on the 2010 list. There were only three Valley players named to the first team between 2001 and 2010. Former Colony standout defenseman Jake Luthi made the list in 2001 and former Houston standout Wade Williams was named first-team in 2005.

Former Palmer High star Cotton Gore is the only Valley skater to earn Alaska Player of the Year honors, netting that award after leading the Moose to a state title in 1989.

There was no player of the year award this season.

Smith said the return of an official all-state team is an important step for Alaska high school hockey.

“It highlights the kids, promotes the sport,” Smith said. “It gets the kids’ names out there. It’s something they can throw on their resume. It’s nothing but positive.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersma.com

Alaska High School Hockey Coaches Association All-State Team

Forward — Nicholas Corbin, South Anchorage; Jaiden Gibson, Dimond; Blake Hausinger, Dimond; Jake Hessinger, Colony; Dmitry Zuzmin, Homer; Luke Hartensen, Service; Ty EcEnaney, Eagle River; Anton Ruppert, West Valley; Dylan Savereide, West Valley; Porter Schachle, Wasilla; Hunter Schmitz, South Anchorage; Cooper Smith, Colony; Defensemen — Brenden Anaruk, Dimond; JJ Fabeck, South Anchorage; Kolten Ketchum, Colony; Brad Mackin, Bartlett; Zac Nelson, South Anchorage; Adam Victorino, Lathrop; Goaltenders — Connor Batman, West Anchorage; Cole Doss, Colony.