Wasilla skaters help lead Alaska team to national title game

WASILLA — The Alaska All-Stars U16AA girls’ team finished as one of the top two hockey teams in its class in the country, and a pair of Valley skaters helped the squad get there.

Olivia Matson and Ally Hull, both of Wasilla, helped the Anchorage-based All-Stars finish as the national runner-up in the USA Hockey U16 Tier II National Championships in Burlington, Vermont, earlier this month.

Matson, a junior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School who also plays for the Wasilla High boys’ hockey team, led the tournament in scoring with eight goals, three assists and 11 points. Hull, a Wasilla High junior, was not far behind with four goals, four assists and eight points.

“Ally and Olivia were the backbone. We depend them to work hard on every shift,” All-Stars head coach Cristy Hickel said earlier this week.

The East Coast Wizards edged Alaska 2-1 in the championship game April 4. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak in the tournament, a stretch dominated by the duo of Wasilla forwards. Matson and Hull, who make up two-thirds of Alaska’s top forward line, combined to score 12 of their team’s 23 during the first five games of the tournament. Matson had at least one goal in each of those five games, while Hull had at least a point in four of the five.

Hull enjoyed a strong start to her tournament, notching a natural hat trick in her team’s opener, a 7-1 win over the Colorado Roughriders. Matson bagged two goals and an assist during the win. The All-Stars followed with a 5-4 shootout win over the Brewster Lady Bulldogs. Matson finished with a goal and Hull had an assist in that win. Matson scored twice and Hull added an assist during a 4-2 win over the Brick Hockey Club.

Alaska notched a spot in the national title game with a pair of wins on April 3. Matson scored in overtime to lift the All-Stars to a 3-2 win over the Steel City Selects.

Matson and Hull also helped Alaska upset the defending national champions, Assabet, 4-2. Matson factored into all four Alaska goals, and Hull played a part in three of the four. Matson recorded two goals and two assists. Hull had a goal and two assists, and posted a key power-play tally in the third period.

Hickel had high praise for both players.

“It’s a huge commitment driving (into Anchorage) from the Valley. Their commitment was fierce. Their leadership was apparent from the beginning,” Hickel said.

Hickel said Matson has grit, and is athletic and passionate.

“Her passion is at the top of the meter,” Hickel said.

Hickel said Matson gained ground this season, better using that passion to help drive her teammates.

“Her maturity really improved this year in terms of leadership on the ice,” Hickel said. “As a team leader, she learned how to share that passion with the other girls and be a leader.”

Hickel said Hull is also a very driven player, and with their differences, Hull and Matson greatly compliment each other.

“She’s a workhorse day in and day out,” Hickel said of Hull. “Her attitude is great. She is calm and the girls are calm around her.”

A pair of Valley skaters also played for the Alaska All-Stars U19AA team, which finished 2-2 in the national tournament in Burlington. Cheyenne Matson, a senior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High, finished with two assists in four games. Courtaney Simmons, a Colony High junior, finished with a goal in the tournament.

Junior Avalanche teams skate in national tournaments

A pair of squads from the Junior Avalanche hockey association skated in national tournaments.

The Avs U18AA finished 1-3 in its tournament in Amherst, New York. The Valley team’s tournament win came with a 3-2 victory over Mission (Arizona). Larsen Tubbs, Darren Fish and Josh Meyers each scored a goal during the tournament.

Garrett Conroy led the team with a goal and two assists during the tournament. Meyers added two goals and Taylor Foster chipped in two assists.

The Avs U16AA team finished 0-3 at the national tournament in Wayne, New Jersey. Reed Humphreys led the team with a goal and an assist in three games. Porter Schachle and Kolten Ketchum also scored goals for the Avs.

Valley players reach NA3HL semifinals

A handful of Valley players helped the Great Falls Americans advance to the Junior A Tier III NA3HL Silver Cup semifinals earlier this month.

The Metro Jets blocked the Americans’ chance to advance to the finals, scoring a 5-4 win over Great Falls in the semifinals. Wasilla’s Tegan Harrington grabbed a goal and an assist in the loss.

The team also features goaltender Lauren Massie, forward Hayden Moistner and forward Adam Apangalook, all of Wasilla.

Great Falls finished the 2015-16 regular season 34-11-2. Massie finished 16-7-1 with a 1.86 goals against average and .929 saves percentage in 24 starts. Apangalook was seventh on the team in scoring with 28 points, 11 goals and 17 assists. Harrington finished eigth on the team with 27 points, 13 goals and 14 assists. Harrington was also a plus-29.

Moistner had a goal and two assists.

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