Rugby star Alev Kelter, NHL stalwart Brandon Dubinsky named to Alaska Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025

Alev Kelter laughs as former teachers and coaches give comments. Chugiak High School hosted a celebration for Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby player Alev Kelter on September 5, 2024. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Olympic rugby star Alev Kelter and 13-year NHL veteran Brandon Dubinsky have been named to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, the organization said Tuesday.

Eagle River’s Kelter is fresh off earning a bronze medal as part of Team USA’s Rugby Sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The Olympics were Kelter’s third representing the U.S. and she was the first American woman to reach 1,000 points competing in the World Rugby Sevens Series. Kelter, 33, also competes professionally in women’s 15s rugby.

Before competing in rugby, Kelter played both Division I hockey and soccer at the University of Wisconsin.

Alaska Aces center Brandon Dubinsky battles for control of the puck with Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon during an exhibition at the Sullivan Arena on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. (Bill Roth / ADN archive 2012)

Dubinsky finished his NHL career with 153 goals and 438 points in 823 career regular-season games. He broke in with the New York Rangers in 2007 and played six seasons in New York before spending the final seven seasons of his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dubinsky played youth hockey in Anchorage and also signed with the Alaska Aces and played in Anchorage during the 2012-13 NHL lockout.

“Alev Kelter and Brandon Dubinsky are extremely talented athletes that put together sparkling resumes,” Alaska Sports Hall of Fame executive director Harlow Robinson said in a statement. “They’re two Alaskans that excelled on the biggest stage of their respective sports and we’re excited to induct them into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and add their enshrinement portraits to the wall.”

Kelter and Dubinsky will be joined in the Class of 2025 by a pair of moments.

The first is Mario Chalmers’ stunning 3-pointer for Kansas in the NCAA basketball title game on April 7, 2008. Chalmers, who is from Anchorage, hit the shot from just right of the top of the key with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to send the 2008 NCAA title game against Memphis into overtime. Kansas eventually won 75-68 in overtime to take the championship.

FILE - In this Monday, April 7, 2008, file photo, Kansas' Mario Chalmers shoots a 3-pointer to take the game in to overtime against Memphis during the championship game at the NCAA college basketball Final Four in San Antonio. (Mark Humphrey / AP file photo)

The second moment was Anchorage named America’s choice to host the 1992 Winter Olympics. Anchorage was not chosen to host the 1992 Games as that award went to Albertville, France.

The Class of 2025 will be the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame’s 17th class. Inductee portraits are displayed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Former ADN sports editor Beth Bragg is the chair of the selection panel, which includes more than a half dozen other administrators and media members, past and present.