No trial for accused hockey coach

PALMER — A longtime Valley hockey coach won’t stand trial after apparently coming to a plea agreement with state prosecutors.

A trial for James “Jamie” Donald Smith Jr. was scheduled to begin Monday, but has been vacated while a change of plea and sentencing hearing has been set for June 7. The result of an April 19 pretrial hearing with Smith’s attorney, Stevan Elliott, and assistant attorney general Lisa Kelley of the state Office of Special Prosecutions, documentation in Smith’s court file shows his trial call was vacated and the change of plea and sentencing hearing scheduled.

Just what a potential plea agreement might entail is not spelled out in the file, and calls to Elliott and Kelley were not returned by press time.

The Palmer Grand Jury indicted Smith earlier this year for allegedly defrauding the Alaska Avalanche Junior A hockey program’s booster club of more than $48,000. In all, Smith has been charged with five felonies, including two of second-degree forgery of legal documents, first-degree theft greater than $25,000, scheme to defraud more than $10,000 and fraudulent use of an access device greater than $25,000.

Smith, a 1984 Wasilla High School graduate, a teacher at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School and current head coach of the Colony High School hockey program, has a long history of involvement in Valley hockey. The indictment focuses on time when Smith coached and served in multiple front office positions with the Alaska Avalanche from 2005 to 2009, including serving as president of the Spirit Booster Club. Prior to that, he spent 16 seasons coaching the Houston High School hockey program.

, winning six Greatland Conference titles and five Class 3A state championships. He’s been the Colony coach since 2010.

The Alaska Avalanche franchise was sold following the 2011-2012 season and moved to Johnstown, Penn., where it now operates as the Johnstown Tomahawks.

Contact reporter Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.