More than a year ago, 389 days to be exact, the North American Hockey League approved the Anchorage Wolverines’ membership application. The team observed the first anniversary of its official launch – video announcement of name, color scheme, uniforms, coach Mike Aikens’ hire and more – earlier this week.
Friday night in front of a sellout, yet compact Ben Boeke Arena crowd, the Wolverines cemented Robertson Cup playoff position in their first crack. Local skaters Clay Allen, Cam Morris, Andy Ramsey and Aiden Westin accounted for three goals and an assist, and goaltender Raythan Robbins recorded 40 saves to lead Anchorage to a 5-2 over the Minnesota Magicians.
More importantly, the win took Anchorage to the postseason.
“It’s the start of massive things to come,” said Wolverines director of hockey operations Keith Morris.
A goal celebration. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Let’s be honest, reaching the playoffs is no small feat for a franchise barely out of infancy.
“Ever since I joined the team, where they are now to where they were then is pretty astonishing,” said Wolverines assistant coach Evan Trupp, another Anchorage product who enjoyed a storied college career at North Dakota before helping the Alaska Aces capture the 2014 Kelly Cup championship. “It’s pretty cool to see the progress a lot of these guys have made.”
“The character of the guys on this team is why they’re here.”
In all objectivity, the Wolverines were forced to cut a much different path than Anchorage hockey sensations of the past. It’s difficult to fully appreciate what was accomplished by earning a Tier II Junior A playoff berth in the 29-team NAHL.
You may have noticed the community landscape doesn’t currently resemble anything close to UAA’s 80s and early 90s heyday when seats at the Sullivan Arena were always occupied. The Alaska Aces won a hat trick of professional ECHL national championships in a nine-year span (2006, 2011 and 2014) and regularly played in front of 6,000-plus rabid fans.
The Wolverines averaged 856 spectators at Boeke in their first 28 home games, and they were more or less forced to play at the old barn best known for a rad high school atmosphere and beer-league games kicking at 10:45 p.m. The Sullivan remains the city’s chief homeless shelter.
One of eight Anchorage kids currently on the roster, Allen said none of the logistical obstacles, pandemic problems or general apathy filtered into the team’s locker room or on the ice. In fact, the squad relished performing in front of only several hundred.”
Ben Boeke was rocking Friday night. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“I used to play in front of 50 people last year,” said Allen, 20. “The first game we played here, I was getting chills. My whole body shivered when I heard that crowd.”
Allen left Anchorage after his sophomore year at South High. He played at the AAA level in New Jersey and Maine before immediately returning home when Morris called and told him the NAHL was here.
“My coach in Maine wanted me to stay, but it was an instant ‘yes’,” said Allen, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed shooting defenseman. “I wanted to play in my hometown and get some home-cooked meals.”
Allen notched his 14th goal of the regular season at 19 minutes, 17 seconds of an opening period where Anchorage sauntered out to a 3-0 lead. Cam Morris and Talon Sigurdson scored 62 seconds apart in the first 2:52 of game action.
An Arizona State commit from Sartell, Minn., Sigurdson tallied his 37th goal, good for a second-place tie the NAHL.
The evening proved a tad tense when Minnesota scored a pair 1:05 apart in the second period. But Robbins made 19 of his saves in the second and Jackson Krock and Westin tacked on insurance goals. Westin’s goal came at the 1:05 mark of the third.
Hometown Anchorage forward Aiden Westin draws a crowd. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“These guys have never batted an eye and made the most of everything presented to them,” Trupp said. “No matter the situation, they gone in with the same mentality.
Anchorage improved to 32-19-8 and its 72 league points put it in third place in the NAHL’s Midwest Division. The top four advance to the division semifinals beginning Thursday. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs won the division and the Springfield (Ill.) Junior Blues own the tiebreaker over the Wolverines for second place should the teams finish with 74 points.
What comes next will all get fleshed out in the next few days. The Wolverines close out the regular season with another matchup with Minnesota at Boeke on Saturday night.
But Anchorage’s playoff push worked out. The Wolverines rightfully deserve credit for the accomplishment even if bigger goals are ahead. The players didn’t go overboard in their postgame celebration on the ice, and likely didn’t once departing the arena.
Remember, despite fans lining the glass and building beer-can pyramids, only three Wolverines are of legal drinking age. Allen said a player who threw a fair share of parties is no longer on the roster.
“Uh, go to bed,” Allen said. “At least I am. Maybe I’ll celebrate a little with my family first.”
Hometown goaltender Raythan Robbins turned aside 40 of 42 shots. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Not that Eagle River
The Magicians are moving to Eagle River, the NAHL announced last month.No, not that one.
The Minnesota franchise will relocate to Eagle River, Wisc., and rebrand for the 2022-23 season.