Capitals to defend home ice, protect Treadwell Arena from outside insurrection

Juneau Douglas Ice Association hosts 18U Alaska State Hockey Championships

The Juneau Capitals 18U 'A' hockey team, from the City and Borough of Juneau, representing the Juneau Douglas Ice Association, will be defending their home Treadwell Ice Arena as they host the 18U 'A' Alaska State Hockey Tournament beginning Friday, March 6, 2026, and playing through Sunday, March 8. (Photo courtesy JDIA)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

Some of the "frozen north’s" best hockey players age 18 and younger will meet on the ice for the 2026 Alaska State Hockey Championships at Treadwell Ice Arena on March 6-8.

The Juneau Douglas Ice Association is hosting the tournament and that means the Juneau Capitals 18U "A" team will be defending their home ice from any and all puck-slinging, body-checking, stick-slashing and attacking insurgents from north of the Southeast borders.

“The team is excited to face off again this weekend,” Capitals coach Richard Morris said. “We played both teams that are coming a few weeks ago in the  President's Day tourney. We beat them each time we played them, but all the games were very close. This weekend we will be playing both teams twice, and possibly/hopefully a third time. It is really hard to beat a team twice. We'll have to continue playing with speed, moving the puck, and pressure the other team to be successful. We are at our best when we take away time and space from the opposing teams. I expect our kids that are in their final year of JDIA to be flying around this weekend. I know how much they want to go out on top. They are a skilled group and have really learned to play as a team this year.”

The 18U "A" state tournament at the Treadwell Ice Arena will include some of the top players in the state.

From the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and representing the Jr. Avalanche Amateur Hockey Association, the Junior Avalanche will feature defenseman Thaddeus Gasper (2), forward Danica Bowers (#6), forward Alexander Habighorst (9), goalie Tess Jorgensen (11), defenseman Blake Parker (12), forward Daniel Kuzmin (21), forward Levi Goff (26), center Dean Yeager (29), defenseman Jordyn Wold (41), forward Mason Varner (44), forward John Natekin (45), goalie Avery Mae Walker (#NA) and defenseman Jayden Huddleston (97). The team includes Head coach Jason Beach, coaches Ryan Skaw and Clayton Arnold, assistant coaches Devon Beach and Zane Newell, and team managers Tanja Beach and Kristine Gasper.

The Avalanche 18U 'A' hockey team, from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, representing the Jr. Avalanche Amateur Hockey Association will be bringing some of the top players from that area to the Treadwell Ice Arena for the 18U 'A' Alaska State Hockey Tournament beginning Friday, March 6, 2026, and playing through Sunday, March 8. (Photo courtesy JDIA)

From "Alaska’s Playground" in Southcentral Alaska, and representing the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association, the KPHA Ice Iawks will feature Draiden Mullican (4), Mason Bock (6), Tanner Williams (9), Chase Johnson (10), Chase Willis (12), William Howard (13), Castin Garcia (14), Ryder Gagnon (16), Nathan Hawkins (18), Peter Perez-Bailon (20), Rylan Broyles (24), Noah Hallam (27), goalie Natalee Strouse (30), Riley Wagers (32), Isaac Potton (60), and goalie Mason Butler (74). The team includes head coach Steven Hallam, assistant coaches Eric Fabian, Rocky Garcia and Angel Puentes, team manager Sarah Williams and treasurer Shana Butler.

The KPHA 18U 'A' hockey team, representing the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association, will be bringing some of the top players from that area to the Treadwell Ice Arena for the 18U 'A' Alaska State Hockey Tournament beginning Friday, March 6, 2026, and playing through Sunday, March 8. (Photo courtesy JDIA)

From the Southeast Panhandle, and representing the Juneau Douglas Ice Association, the Juneau Capitals will showcase the home grown talents of defenseman/forward Jack Barrett (17), forward Drew Cadigan McAdoo (15), forward Nolan Cruz (32), goalie Jed Davis (71/Friend), forward Tricen Headings (26), defenseman Bryden Roberts (49), forward Hunter Lingle (81), forward Isabelle Martin (38), forward Paxton Mertl (7), forward Caden Morris (11), forward Emerson Newell (95), goalie Taylor Petrie (72), defenseman Isaac Phelps (63), Zachary Prather (39), defenseman Elias Schane (18) and defenseman Elliot Welch (76).

The Juneau Capitals will be overseen by head coach Richard Morris, coaches Matthew Boline and Jason Kohlhase and team manager Eva Melancon.

“The rosters on the other teams have changed a little bit, too, so they are going to have a different look than a few weeks ago,” coach Morris said. “At the President's Day tourney the coaches were talking about how 18-year-olds have jobs and girlfriends and sometimes those things take priority over a weekend tournament. This weekend the kids that travel to Juneau will be focused on hockey and have the same goals of going out on top. The Jr. Avalanche are a fast team that moves the puck really well. They have great goaltending too. The Ice Hawks play a physical game and use it to create turnovers and get offensive opportunities.  It is going to be an exciting seven games.”

Game schedules are as follows:

Friday, March 6

Gm 1 - 8 a.m. KPHS vs. Avalanche

Gm 2 - 1:15 p.m. Avalanche vs. Juneau

Gm 3 - 6:30 p.m. Juneau vs. KPHA

Saturday, March 7

Gm 4 - 8 a.m. Juneau vs. Avalanche

Gm 5 - 1:15 p.m. KPHA vs. Juneau

Gm 6 - 6:30 p.m. Avalanche vs. KPHA

Sunday, March 8

Gm 7 championship 8 a.m.- 1st in points vs. 2nd in points.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.