Juneau Capitals battle on northern ice sheet at Fairbanks

Juneau Douglas Ice Association Capitals U16 team places second at state tournament

The Juneau Douglas Ice Association 16U Capitals hockey team pose for a photo at the state championships at Fairbanks. From left are coach Joel Bos, Murphy Sheehan (G), Austin Roberts, Summit Bos, Ryker Nelson, Joshua Monahan, Zachary Lagerquist, Braxton Jenkins, Sidney Boline, Mason Catrett (back), Shahly Sheehan (front), Winter Osterhout, John Melancon, Adelin Janson, Taylor Petrie (G) and coach Matt Boline. Not pictured is coach Mike Nelson. (photo coutesy JDIA Capitals 16U)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The Juneau Douglas Ice Association Capitals 16U hockey team competed at the 2026 16U B State Tournament last week at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Polar Ice Arena.

The Capitals went 3-2-1 and placed second out of six teams. The 16U Capitals initial roster included Adeline Janson (#2), Austin Roberts (9), Braxton Jenkins (19), Brandon Cruz (13), Ryker Nelson (21), Sidney Boline (22), Mason Catrett (24), Winter Osterhout (36), Joshua Monahan (46), Summit Bos (54), John Melancon (64), Ole Gifford (69), Stahly Sheehan (70) and Zachary Lagerquist (89). Goalies were Murphy Sheehan (1) and Taylor Petrie (72). The team was coached by Michael Nelson and assistants Joel Bos and Matthew Boline. Manager was Eva Melancon.

The Capitals defeated HCF Schneider 5-3 on Friday. The Caps Monahan scored at 1:56 of the first period assisted by Janson and Bos scored to open the second period at 10:15, assisted by J. Melancon. The HCF scored three goals for a 3-2 lead in the period, but the Caps scored three unanswered in the third period: Jenkins at 10:06 (assist Bos), Bos at 8:39 (assist Janson) and Bos at 4:45 (assists Lagerquist, S. Sheehan). The Caps had 32 shots on goal and faced nine with M. Sheehan in the 1st period thru 0:32 in the 2nd and Petrie in relief to the end.

The Capitals next defeated HCF McGlinchy 5-3 on Friday. The Caps shot 22 times and faced 10 with Petrie in net. In the first period Bos scored two goals unassisted, the second tying the score at 2-2. In the second period Catrett scored (assist Monahan) and Nelson scored unassisted for a 4-3 lead. S. Sheehan scored in the third period (assist Nelson).

The Capitals next drew a 1-1 tie through overtime with the Avalanche on Saturday. The Capitals had 26 shots on goal and faced 10 with M. Sheehan in net. Trailing 1-0 in the second period the Capitals Monahan scored unassisted at 6:19 for the tie score that lasted through the remainder of the game.

The Capitals next defeated Kodiak 5-1 on Saturday, with Petrie facing just six shots in goal and the team putting 37 against their opponents. In the first period Catrett scored at 9:35 (assists Monahan, Roberts) and Nelson at 6:27 (assist Catrett). In the second period Roberts scored unassisted at 6:27. In the third period Nelson and Monahan scored unassisted at 6:43 and 2:44, respectively.

On Sunday the Capitals lost to the Huskies 4-1. M. Sheehan faced 24 shots and the Capitals put 18 on net. The Capitals Catrett put the last score of the game in the third period at 8:39 assisted by S. Sheehan.

The Capitals would get a rematch against the Huskies on Sunday and fell 3-2 in what would be the title game. Petrie faced 25 shots on goal and the Capitals put 17 against their opponents’ net. The Capitals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period as Catrett scored his fourth goal of the tournament at 5:23 on a power play assisted by Monahan and S. Sheehan, both notching their third assists of the tournament. Lagerquist would score his first goal of the tournament with 0:12 seconds left, assisted by Bos with his second of the tourney. The Huskies scored once in the second period and twice in the third for the win.

Bos would lead the Capitals in the tournament with five goals and two assists for seven points. He earned six penalty minutes. Monahan had three goals, three assists and four penalty minutes; Catrett four goals, one assist, 10 penalty minutes; Nelson three goals, one assist, four penalty minutes; S. Sheehan one goal, three assists, two penalty minutes; Roberts one goal, two assists; Janson two assists, six penalty minutes; Lagerquist one goal, one assist, six penalty minutes; Jenkins one goal; and Melancon one assist. Petrie faced 48 shots, allowed seven goals and had a save percentage of 0.854 while going 3-1-0 in net. M. Sheehan faced 36 shots, allowed eight goals, had a save percentage of 0.778 and was 0-1-1 in net.

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