Competitive hockey players almost always have that moment of pause and self-reflection, regardless of the highest level of play reached.

“Have I achieved all I can?”

“Is this it for me?”

Nick Walters of Eagle River faced that cross-ice pass of a crossroads nearly a decade ago. A 2006 Chugiak High grad, Walters wrapped up his business administration studies at Youngstown State (Ohio) and time with the Penguins club hockey squad that included assistant captain responsibilities.

“When you’re younger, you’re like every other kid who wants to play as high (a level) as you can for as long as you can,” said Walters, 35. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t very long for me.”

Fortunately, Walters didn’t have to wait long for coaching and the eventful world of hockey operations to come calling. From high school to college and even a silver-medal stint working with the 2022 U.S. Women’s Olympic team all over North America and abroad, he’s taken full advantage of every opportunity.

The latest chapter in Walters’ story unfolds this weekend with the North American Hockey League’s Anchorage Wolverines. The Tier II Junior A team makes the home debut of its second season Friday and Saturday against the Janesville (Wisc.) Jets at Ben Boeke Arena.

Anchorage surprised the junior hockey world last season by finishing second in the NAHL’s Robertson Cup playoffs. Players and coaches came and went during the offseason, most notably former head coach Mike Aikens who left for St. Lawrence University. The Wolverines promoted Alaska Aces Kelly Cup champion Evan Trupp to head coach in September. Walters soon joined Trupp and former UAA Seawolf Merit Waldrop on the staff, making for all locals helping run the show.

“The way things have worked out has been awesome,” Walters said.

Dialing it back to 2013. Walters’ mother laid on him a bit of a guilt trip after veteran Chugiak coach Rodney Wild asked Walters to coach the Mustangs’ junior varsity.

“At the beginning, I wasn’t all too interested in coaching because I only knew I liked playing hockey,” Walters said. “Mom and Coach Wild had to convince me.”

Despite Chugiak JV’s limited number of players and wins, Walters said he quickly fell in love with the work. He stuck around for a few years and assisted the Mustangs to a 2016 Cook Inlet Conference (varsity) championship and First National Cup DI runner-up finish.

During the Chugiak stretch, Walters began interning with the University of Alaska Anchorage and helped the Seawolves with video and statistical work. This eventually led to Walters taking over first as UAA’s director of hockey operations and then as an assistant coach. He worked under coaches Matt Thomas and Matt Curley until politics put the Seawolves on ice in fall 2020.

“The UAA experience was ever evolving,” Walters said. “But I give coaches Thomas and Curley a lot of credit. They saw something in me, the eagerness to learn and progressively get better.”

While the ‘Save Seawolf Hockey’ portion of Anchorage’s sporting life may always be memorable, it left Walters wondering about the next professional development. Through a strengthened resume, timing and connections, namely with Anchorage’s Steve Thompson, Walters joined the U.S. Women’s (USWNT) staff in March 2021. During an eventful year, he assisted the American women in winning silver at the World Championships and the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

“Wearing the American flag on my chest was certainly wild and something I’d never thought I’d get to do,” Walters said. “You know you’re into something bigger than yourself while working with some of the best players in the world.”

Olympic coaches don’t get medals, which was fine by Walters who relished being part of that team. He noted an Olympic highlight getting a Canada goal overturned through video replay – his department – early in the Gold Medal game.

Walters found himself a free agent once again after his time with the USWNT ended. He’s grateful the Wolverines welcomed him because Walters and wife Hilary didn’t want to leave Alaska. They’ve been married since 2016.

“The age group (of the Wolverines) is so great because these players are still very hungry and ambitious,” Walters said. “They want to get on the ice early and stay on it late.”

2022-23 Anchorage Wolverines
Local Products
#2 Trent Powell, D, Soldotna
#5 Andy Ramsey*, D, Anchorage
#7 Cooper Morris*, D, Anchorage
#15 Clay Allen*, D, Anchorage
#16 Cameron Morris*, F, Anchorage
#21 Colten Gerken, D, Anchorage
#26 Aiden Westin*, F, Anchorage
#27 Peyton Van Buskirk*, D, Anchorage
*Returning from last season

Walters main gameday duty is handling the defensemen. The Wolverines (5-4-3) boast a healthy dose of returning blueliners, including five local products. Colten Gerken, a member of the 2021 All-CIC team while at South, could be worth keeping an eye on.

When you rewind back almost a decade, Walters wasn’t sure what hockey would have him do, if anything. Presently, being part of the Wolverines and helping build camaraderie and character through coaching remains of utmost importance.

Almost passing up on all this opportunity years ago still leaves him a bit dumbfounded.

“I’ve always been a bit tough on myself and definitely was back then,” he said. “I had to learn to cut myself some slack while enjoying the process of learning.

“Now, these Wolverines are a fun group. To think of having a little something to do with these players’ development, getting them over the hump to that next level is pretty cool.”