Youth provides a boost to Warrior hockey

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors skated into the 2011-12 season with some holes to fill.

Wasilla graduated a nice collection of seniors and lost an incoming senior to the lure of junior hockey. But Wasilla did get a preseason boost by an intriguing freshman class, and that’s creating some excitement in the Warriors locker room.

“I think what we gained in youth and skill made up for what we lost in experience,” Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant said.

Wasilla lost nine players total from a team that finished as the North Star Conference runner-up last season and advanced to the state tournament. But the Warriors welcome a half-dozen freshmen to the varsity roster.

“It’s always excited to see a good group of kids coming up,” Sturdevant said. “I’m really pleased with what we have.”

Leading the group of veterans is senior defenseman Chancie Hanson, a four-year varsity player and two-year captain. Sturdevant said, even though Hanson has only worn the ‘C’ on his chest for two seasons, he been a leader on the team since he was a sophomore.

“The team responds to him,” Sturdevant said. “What he brings to the team is huge. From a leadership role, he’s tremendous. We think he’s one of the best captains we’ve ever had.”

Hanson also anchors the Wasilla blue line and quarterbacks the special teams.

Another leader on defense is junior Will Harren.

Wasilla’s senior class also includes forwards Rell Sturdevant and Brandon Trush. Sturdevant said Rell has also become a quality leader on the team and does many of the things that may not show up on the statistics sheet.

“He’s a player you can give him a job and he’ll do it,” Sturdevant said. “Whether it’s to kill a penalty or be the first forward in the zone of the forecheck.”

Rell Sturdevant is currently playing on line with sophomore Troy Verplanke and freshman Tanner Schachle. Wasilla also sports a line with sophomore Cooper Hanson, junior Brett Keene and Trush.

A third line is made up by freshmen Colton Fletcher, Adam Apangolook and Teegan Harrington.

“The three players played in comp together,” Bill Sturdevant said. “We wanted to keep them together on that line, make the adjustment for them a little easier.”

Wasilla also has a trio of young talent on the blue line Sturdevant is excited about — sophomores Andrew Cooley and Tyler Hansen, and freshman Blake Carricaburu.

“They’re doing real well for us back there,” Sturdevant said.

Sturdevant is also excited about a deep group of goalies, led by junior Zach Eastham. While Eastham is the veteran, sophomore Rhys Jones and freshman Lauren Massie also will see their time in net.

“Right now we have three goalies who are very capable,” Sturdevant said. “It makes our job a little bit different as far as who we want to play in which game on which nights. But at the same time, it’s a good problem to have.”

Massie already helped Wasilla score a major win. In his first career varsity start, Massie made 35 saves to help Wasilla upset defending state champion South Anchorage 3-2 last week.

Wasilla, which is 3-1-0 in its first four games, returns to the ice Thursday during the first round of the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla. The Warriors play Lathrop in the first round.

** Editor’s note: This is the second piece of a four-part series previewing the prep hockey season for the four local squads. For the Colony High preview, see frontiersman.com/sports. For the Palmer and Houston previews, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.