J's World: Knights, Warriors prove it’s a new era for prep hockey in the Valley

I was ready to party like it was 1989.

Valley hockey faithful have been waiting nearly 30 years to see one of their own skate for an Alaska large schools (now known as Division I) hockey title. The Valley has been represented only once in the big game, 1989, and it was an all-Valley battle.

Epic Valley battle.

Former Palmer standout Chris Carney blasted a shot from the blue line into the back of the net in overtime to edge rival Wasilla 4-3 at a packed Ben Boeke Arena in Anchorage.

After nearly three decades, I thought this would be the year. This would be the year a Valley team would finally, once again, play for the state title.

And as I walked out of the Menard Arena late on Feb. 8, the first day of the ASAA/First National Cup Division I state tournament, I was convinced we’d have not one, but two teams playing for Alaska hockey gold.

In maybe the most dramatic single day of prep hockey during my tenure with the Frontiersman, both Colony and Wasilla earned quarterfinal wins in overtime. The Knights edged state power South Anchorage 5-4 in triple-overtime. Wasilla followed win a 4-3 overtime win over Service.

Talk about one heck of a doubleheader.

Ultimately, both Valley teams ran out of gas the following evening and settled for a rematch in the third-place game. Dimond edged Colony 2-1, and West Anchorage got past the Warriors.

As great as it would have been to see one, or maybe both teams, advance to the final, regardless of the outcomes, the overall improvement of Valley hockey can’t be denied.

In most years since Valley hockey fans stormed the Boeke to see the Moose edge the Warriors, a Valley victory in the large-schools state quarterfinals was considered a triumph. Houston has long been a power at the small-schools level. But for Colony, Wasilla and Palmer, most of the action has been on the backside of the bracket.

That is until recently.

There’s no longer a guaranteed Cook Inlet Conference sweep in the first round of the state tourney. Teams from the North Star and Mid-Alaska conferences are finding their way to the semifinals. A couple of Fairbanks area schools have even vied for the title. Lathrop won it all in 2009.

After an eight-year absence from the state tournament, Colony has finished in the top 5 each year since 2015. The Knights have also finished third in 2017 and 2018. During that stretch, Colony is 3-1 in the first round.

Wasilla has advanced to the state tournament 12 times since 2004. In nine trips from 2004 through 2013, Wasilla was 1-8 in the quarterfinals. The Warriors are 3-0 in the first round since 2014, and placed third in 2014 and 2015. The Warriors played Colony for third in 2018.

That’s improvement.

The competitive balance at the Division I level in Alaska has improved. Teams like Colony, Wasilla, West Valley, and even Homer, which deserved to be in the state tournament, can’t be overlooked by the state’s traditional hockey powers.

And maybe someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, Valley hockey fans will have the chance to party like it’s 1989.

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