Alaska sports notebook: Jeremy Swayman named to NHL All-Rookie Team; Anchorage Wolverines announce 2022-2023 schedule

Anchorage’s Jeremy Swayman was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team this week after a stellar first season with the Boston Bruins. Swayman, who was the 111th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, dominated nearly every statistical category for rookie goalies in the 2021-22 season.

Swayman had 23 wins in 41 appearances and led all rookies goals-against average (2.41) and save percentage (.914).

The 23-year-old made his NHL debut in April 2021. He played youth hockey growing up in Anchorage and spent two seasons on the South High team before leaving for junior hockey. He eventually landed at the University of Maine, where he was runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award in 2020.

Wolverines reveal 2022-2023 schedule

The schedule for the upcoming North American Hockey League regular season dropped this week and the reigning Midwest Division playoff champion Anchorage Wolverines know who will be their first opponent and when they will play the 2022-23 opener.

Coming off an inaugural season in which they made the Robertson Cup title game, the Wolverines will be hosting the Janesville Jets in their home home opener in a two-game series Oct. 21-22. Prior to that, Anchorage will kick off the the season at the 19th annual NAHL Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minnesota, at the Super Rink from Sept. 14-17.

The Wolverines will open the regular season with a nearly three-week road trip from Sept. 22 to Oct. 8 featuring two-game series against with the Chippewa Steel, Minnesota Wilderness and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Anchorage will take on their instate rivals at home for the first time from Nov. 4-5 and the regular season will run to April 15, 2023.

Wolverines wrap up summer recruiting class

Anchorage announced the close of their recruitment for the 2022-2023 season with a trio of NAHL draft picks. The selections supplement the recent trades and current tenders that will report to the team’s training camp in the beginning of August.

The three forwards that were announced include Jake Fisher (2005) in the fourth round at pick 108, Mason LeBel (2004) in the sixth round at pick 166, and Kade Shea (2003) in the seventh round at pick 195.

Fisher is committed to play Division I hockey at Northern Michigan, LeBel played in one game for the Janesville Jets last season and Shea played in 42 regular season games last season between his time with the Austin Bruins and Rochester Grizzlies.

Fairbanks youth girls soccer team nearly made nationals

The Alaska Eclipse girls U17 club soccer team came up just short last weekend of becoming the third ever Alaska team to claim a regional title at the USYS Far West Presidents Cup. They fell 1-0 in the finals to the Colorado Rush on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona.

A victory would’ve not only crowned the Eclipse as regional champions but it would’ve punched their ticket to the national tournament in July scheduled to take place in North Carolina. The only two Alaska teams to win the regional tournament came in the same year and hasn’t happened since 2014.

The Eclipse did have strong run to the finals with a 2-0 shutout in their first game and a pair of commanding 4-1 victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals.