Chugiak, Eagle River ready to skate into state hockey tournament

ustangs skated into the 4A state tournament as the champions of the Cook Inlet Conference, but fell just short of its ultimate goal, finishing as the state runner-up.

This year, the Mustangs will once again enter the state tourney as the top team from the CIC. But this year, the Mustangs aim to be part of a celebration, and not just a witness from the sideline.

“It’s an important title If you win the CIC championship. It’s a good thing to have. But it’s not our ultimate goal,” Longtime Chugiak head coach Rodney Wild told The Eagle after the Mustangs secured their second straight conference crowd with a 4-1 win over rival Eagle River Feb. 4 in Anchorage. “Obviously we won it last year and came up short. We beat West here a year ago and a week later end up losing to them in the final game at state. It’s an important game. You want to win very game. But at the same time, hopefully we’re not done yet.”

Chugiak’s road to a potential return to the state title game begins Thursday against Juneau-Douglas in the first round of the ASAA First National Cup at the Menard Arena in Wasilla. Juneau is the No. 2 team from the Mid-Alaska Conference. Chugiak beat Juneau 8-2 on Jan. 12.

Eagle River also is in the state tournament for the second straight year, and second time in school history. Eagle River’s CIC tourney last week included the Wolves’ first trip to the CIC championship game in program history. The Wolves open their tournament against North Star Conference runner-up Wasilla, the host school of the First National Cup. Eagle River meets the Warriors Thursday at 5 p.m.

Following the CIC title game last week, Eagle River head coach Bill Comer, in his fifth season at the helm of the program, was asked what it could take for the Wolves to win a state title.

“I would say I’ve got to figure out a way to keep them believing that they can do this,” Comer told The Eagle. “I think that they have the skill and the ability. They’re good team.”

Chugiak and Juneau stand on the top side of the bracket with North Star champion Colony and Dimond, the No. 4 seed from the CIC. Colony and Dimond meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Chugiak/Juneau winner faces the Colony/Dimond winner Friday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

The loser of each first-round game on the top side of the bracket meet Friday at noon in the consolation semifinals.

MAC champion West Valley and South Anchorage, the No. 3 seed from the CIC, share the bottom side of the bracket with Eagle River and Wasilla. West Valley meets South Thursday at noon in the first round. The West Valley/South winner and the Eagle River/Wasilla winner plays Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals. The losers of those first-round games meet Friday at 2:30 p.m. in the consolation semifinals.

The 2017 4A state title game is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.

All 4A state tournament games are at the Menard sports complex in Wasilla.

Freelance writer Tim Rockey contributed to this report. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.