Wasilla grad helps junior team open national tourney with win

WASILLA — The North Iowa Bulls, a team that includes former Wasilla Warriors standout Chancie Hanson, took their first step toward defending their national title Thursday.

Hanson and the Bulls opened the 2014 USA Hockey Junior A Tier III National Championships with a 5-0 win over the Florida Junior Blades during the first day of the tournament in Simsbury, Conn.

Hanson is a 2012 graduate of Wasilla High School.

The Bulls, the 2013 national champs, continue pool play against the Wisconsin Dells Ducks Friday at 3 p.m. AST and the Boston Bandits at 9:30 a.m. AST.

The pool play round includes three groups of four teams. The top four teams from pool play are paired in semifinal matchups slated for Sunday. The championship is Monday, 1 p.m. AST.

Hanson is one of six Alaskans in the tournament. Sam Bratten and Logan Henne of Fairbanks are skating for the Helena Bighorns. Anchorage’s Bryan Larsen is a member of the Marquette Royals. Anchorage’s Tony Crow plays for the Northern Cyclones. Anchorage’s Austin Sabin is a member of the Bellingham Blazers.

Warriors skating in youth nationals

A pair of Wasilla Warriors have helped the Anchorage-based Southcentral Wolves improve to 2-0 in the 2014 USA Hockey U18AA National Championships in Wayne, N.J.

Wasilla juniors Adam Apangalook and Blake Carricaburu are both skating for the Wolves, who used overtime to beat the Biddeford Wave 4-3 Thursday.

Wednesday, Apangalook tallied a goal and an assist during a 5-1 win over the Road Island Hitmen. The Wolves continue play against the Texas Hockey Club of Dallas Friday at 5:30 a.m. AST.