Wasilla forward named North Star’s top player

WASILLA — In 26 games this season, the Wasilla Warriors scored 115 goals. Junior Porter Schachle earned a point on 65 of them. On more than half the total pucks that reached the back of the net for the Warriors this season, Schachle has recorded either the goal or the assist.

During the North Star Conference Championships, the forward was recognized for his work. Schachle was named the North Star Conference Player of the Year.

Schachle, who scored a key goal on a penalty shot as the Warriors rallied to a 4-3 win over rival Colony in the NSC title game last week, has 33 goals and 32 assists this season. Schachle and the Warriors opened ASAA First National Cup Division I State Championships play Thursday night against Service.

During the regular season and the region tournament, Schachle averaged 2.6 points per game. He has recorded at least a point in 21 of 26 games this season, and collected at least four points 10 times. Schachle notched a season-best five goals during a 6-1 win over East Anchorage in December.

Schachle was one of five Valley players to earn first-team honors. The list includes Colony senior Cooper Smith, who also led his team in scoring, and like Schachle, showed up on the scoresheet on more than half of his team’s goals. Smith led his team in all three scoring categories, 25 goals, 31 assists and 56 points. Smith had at least a point in 19 of the 22 games entering the state tournament. He scored at least a goal in 17 games. Smith hit a season-high seven points, three goals and four assists, during a 12-1 win over Kenai in January.

Smith also became only the third player in school history to notch his 150th career point this season.

Colony opened state tournament play Thursday night against South Anchorage.

Knights forward Jake Hessinger and defenseman Kolten Ketchum, and Wasilla defenseman Wyatt Moore also eaned first-team honors. Hessinger is third on his team with 36 points (18 goals and 18 assists). Ketchum logged 5-12-17 numbers. Moore has two goals, five assists and only six penalty minutes as a top-pair blueliner for the Warriors.

Wasilla forward Hayden Masterson and blueliner Lucas Gudz; Colony defenseman Zack Monaco and goalie Cole Doss; and Palmer forwards Noah Keil and David Scully, and defenseman Ethan Welch were named to the second team.

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

All-North Star Conference

Player of the Year: Porter Schachle, Wasilla

Coach of the Year: Chance Rockett, Homer

First team:

Forward — Jake Hessinger, Colony; Galen Brantley III, Soldotna; Levi Mese, Kenai; Cooper Smith, Colony; Dmitry Kuzmin, Homer; Porter Schachle, Wasilla; Defense — Matt Hagel, Kenai; Wyatt Moore, Wasilla; Charlie Menke, Homer; Kolten Ketchum, Colony; Goalie — Hunter Warren, Homer.

Second team:

Forward — Jakeb O’Brien, Kenai; Tyler Gilland, Homer; Noah Keil, Palmer; Hayden Masterson, Wasilla; David Scully, Palmer; Tim Blakely, Homer; Defense — Lucas Gudz, Wasilla; Zack Monaco, Colony; Ethan Welch, Palmer; Douglas Dean, Homer; Goalie — Cole Doss, Colony.

Honorable mention:

Forward — Spencer Warren, Homer; Phil Weston, Homer; Isaiah Nevak, Homer; Foster Riekena, Colony; Tae’jean Evans, Colony; Mitchell Diltz, Colony; Alex Engan, Wasilla; Darian Wilson, Palmer; Wyatt Medcoff, Soldotna; Braxton Urban, Soldotna; Defense — Bret Ewing, Colony; Devin Carney, Wasilla; Luke Thiesen, Palmer; Goalie — Aaron Campbell, Wasilla; Josh Tree, Kenai; Corbin Wirz, Soldotna; Cale Winder, Palmer.

Good sport team:

Wyatt Moore, Wasilla Dane Jellich, Colony; Wyatt Medcoff, Soldotna; Alex Nelius, Palmer; Jordan Knudson, Kenai; Charlie Menke, Homer.