Hockey faithful celebrate 10 years of state pucks in Wasilla

WASILLA — Wasilla High School and the Menard Sports Complex celebrated 10 years when the players hit the ice Thursday afternoon for the start of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Hockey Championships.

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of Wasilla hosting the 3A and 4A state hockey tournaments at the Menard, giving the school and arena the longest current consecutive run of hosting an ASAA state championship sporting event.

“Really, it’s the best venue in the state for his particular sport and event. It’s the right size, centrally located,” Paul Cossette, a former Wasilla High activities director who has helped organize the tournament since 2007, said recently. “Not taking anything away from the (Carlson Center or Big Dipper Arena in Fairbanks) or the Soldotna Sports Center. It’s our location, and it’s the right-sized building. We’re very fortunate and blessed to have that facility in the Valley. Why not make it the best event we can for young people.”

The Menard Sports Complex features the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, which can house more than 2,000 fans. Late last year, the ASAA Board of Directors approved Wasilla High’s bid to continue to host the tournament into the future. With the approval, Wasilla will host the tournaments at the Menard through at least 2019. After Wasilla High was awarded the rights to continue to host the tournament, Cossette said positive feedback from hockey fans throughout the state, and from the Anchorage area in particular, played into the decision to attempt to continue to host the tournament. Cossette said there’s been great support from the Anchorage-area fans who have packed the house to watch an all-Anchorage 4A state championship in seven of the tournament’s nine years in Wasilla.

The hockey atmosphere at the Menard has added to the 10 years worth of hockey highlights, which includes four 4A state title games and four 3A championship bouts that have been decided by a single goal.

Among the most memorable state hockey moments at the Menard came in 2008 when South Anchorage’s Brad Schierhorn scored in double-overtime to lead the Wolverines to a 4-3 win over rival Service in the 4A state championship game.

The 3A state tournament has featured three titles games decided in overtime. In 2009, Glennallen edged Hutchison 4-3 in overtime. Hutchison, a Fairbanks area school, has also won a pair of championship games in overtime. The Hawks beat fellow Interior program Monroe Catholic 3-2 in overtime in the 2012 title match. In 2014, Hutchison edged Houston 4-3 in OT.

Last year, West Anchorage earned a thrilling 4-3 victory over West Valley in the 4A game. Houston blanked Monroe 3-0 to win the 3A championship.

In the last decade, the tournament has featured at least a dozen players who have gone on to skate at the Division I level. Also during the last decade, there is also at least one player, former West Anchorage standout Casey Bailey, who has risen to the NHL ranks. Bailey, who was named all-tournament for fourth-place West in 2009, made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2014-15 season. Early this week, Bailey was part of a blockbuster trade between Toronto and Ottawa.

The list also includes former Lathrop Malemutes goaltender Stephon Williams, who enjoyed a stellar three-year career with Division I Minnesota-Mankato. Williams, who now plays for the Missouri Mavericks, of the East Coast Hockey League, was selected by the NHL’s New York Islanders in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. Williams led the Malemutes to a 2009 4A state hockey title, helped Lathrop earn the 4-2 win over Dimond. With the win, Lathrop became the first non-Cook Inlet Conference program to win the state title since Palmer edged rival Wasilla for the 1989 crown.

The 4A state tournament continues today with consolation semifinal games at noon and 2:30 p.m., and consolation finals action at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

The 4A tourney continues Saturday with the fourth-place game at 11:15 a.m., third-place match at 1:30 p.m. and championship game at 7:30 p.m.

The 3A state championship game will feature Houston and Monroe Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the event. A daily ticket is $10 for adults and $5 for students. A tournament pass is $25 for adults and $12 for students. Fans ages 65 and older, and children in the sixth grade or below are free.

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