Valley Grown: Former Wasilla skater named to women’s all-conference team

** Editor’s note: Valley Grown is a regular feature highlighting the work of Valley athletes at the next level.

WASILLA — A former member of the Wasilla Warriors hockey squad and graduate of Mat-Su Career and Technical High School has been recognized by the Northeast Women’s Hockey League.

Cheyenne Matson, a sophomore blueliner at Buffalo State University, was named second-team all-conference by the NEWHL. The former Warrior finished with two goals and five assists. With seven total points, Matson was tied for ninth in scoring among NEWHL defensemen. The 5-foot-5 sophomore now has 12 points in two seasons at Buffalo State. She finished with five assists as a freshman. Matson has skated in 48 total games.

Buffalo State finished the season 13-11-2 overall, and placed second in the league with a 9-6-1 record. The Buffalo, New York, Division III program’s season came to an end in the semifinals of the league postseason tournament.

Matson is one of at least four Wasilla products currently skating at the collegiate level. Her younger sister Olivia completed her first season at Division III Aurora University, in Aurora, Illinois. Olivia Matson, a 5-foot-3, forward recorded four assists in 21 games.

Ally Hull, of Wasilla, also completed her freshman season at Division III Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin. Hull, a 5-3 forward, bagged three goals and three assists in 27 games.

Cheyenne Matson, Olivia Matson and Hull all played for the Alaska All-Stars U-19 team.

Former Wasilla standout Andrew Cooley recently completed his sophomore season at Division III Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island. Cooley skated in 16 games.

Former Knight scores in prospects showcase

Josh Boyer, a former member of the Colony Knights hockey team, lit the lamp during the North American Hockey League Top Prospects Tournament earlier this week.

Boyer, a forward for the Brookings Blizzard, scored his team’s first goal during the NAHL Selects Red squad’s 4-3 overtime win over the NAHL South. Boyer is averaging a point per game for the Blizzard, a team based in Brookings, South Dakota. In 47 games this season, Boyer has 20 goals and 27 assists.

Boyer was one of a pair of Valley products selected to play in the Junior A Tier II league’s annual prospect showcase. Former Wasilla standout Colton Fletcher, a forward with the Aberdeen Wings, skated for the NAHL Central team.

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