Kirk Chaves
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Three West Valley football players signed college scholarships
West Valley seniors Darren Benedetti, Kellen Roach and Wesley Watts signed `letters of intent to continue their football careers at the collegiate level, capping off a successful senior class for the Wolfpack. Benedetti, a defensive end, signed with Western Colorado University, while Roach will attend Victor Valley College. Watts, a 6-foot-5, 360-pound offensive lineman, signed with William Jewell College. All three athletes signed together surrounded by family, friends and teammates on March 31.
Ice Dogs rally late for series split vs Wisconsin
The Ice Dogs finished their second-to-last regular-season series against Wisconsin at the Big Dipper Ice Arena. Wisconsin took Friday’s game 3-1 before Fairbanks came on in at the halfway point to win 3-2 on Saturday. Friday: Windigo rally in third to top Ice Dogs, 3–1 In the series opener, Wisconsin’s defense prevailed strongly enough throughout the entire game. Windgo finally capitalized on their opportunities with a strong third period.
North Pole's Jaelynn Colby signs to play collegiate flag football at Ottawa University
Jaelynn Colby, a North Pole High School senior, will continue her athletic career at Ottawa University in Kansas, where she will join one of the nation’s top collegiate flag football programs. “It means a lot to me,” Colby said. “It really means everything.
Ice Dogs face Wisconsin with playoff seeding implications on the line
The Ice Dogs return to the Big Dipper this weekend for their second-to-last regular-season series against the Wisconsin Windigo. Fairbanks has already clinched a playoff spot and are vying for higher seeding. Fairbanks enters the weekend leading the Club 49 Cup standings with 28 points, followed closely by Anchorage with 26, while Kenai River sits at 12. Head Coach Dakota Bell said Fairbanks remains in the driver’s seat when it comes to postseason positioning.
Ice Dogs face Wisconsin with Club 49 Cup implications on the line
The Ice Dogs return to the Big Dipper this weekend for their second-to-last regular-season series against the Wisconsin Windigo. Fairbanks has already clinched a playoff spot and has a chance to clinch the Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup. Fairbanks enters the weekend leading the Club 49 Cup standings with 28 points, followed closely by Anchorage with 26, while Kenai River sits at 12.
North Pole‘s Landon Ritter commits to Graceland University
North Pole‘s Landon Ritter has committed to continue his football career at Graceland University. The senior receiver capped off his high school career as one of the Patriots’ top receiving threats, leading the team in receiving yards while earning back-to-back all-conference and all-state honors in 2024 and 2025. “It’s a long process,” Ritter said of his recruitment. “I had to put in some work, send my film out to the coaches. A lot of my offers came from coaches on Twitter and all that stuff.
West Valley junior guard Jayden Miranda wins Gatorade Player of the Year
West Valley standout Jayden Miranda has helped elevate the Wolf Pack boys basketball program into one of the top teams in the state over the past several seasons. The junior guard was recently named the Gatorade Alaska Boys Basketball Player of the Year, recognizing him as the top high school player in the state. The award was announced earlier this month. “Our coach took our phones, so I couldn’t wake up and know if I won it right away,” Miranda said.
Here comes baseball: Alaska Goldpanners release 2026 schedule
The Alaska Goldpanners announced their 2026 season schedule this week, featuring a 30-game home slate beginning June 5 at Growden Memorial Park. Six visiting teams will make the trip to Fairbanks this summer, starting with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, who open the home schedule with a two-game series June 5-6.
Monroe basketball player Leila Church reaches 1,000 career points
Monroe Catholic junior Leila Church achieved a major milestone during the Aurora Conference regional tournament on Mar. 6th, reaching 1,000 points in her high school career. The milestone came during Monroe’s matchup against Galena, adding another accomplishment to a standout career that has already included multiple all-conference and all-tournament selections over the past three seasons. Church said the moment caught her off guard, as even the timeout that followed came as a surprise.
Ice Dogs spilt final March series against Janesville
The Ice Dogs split their series in March against Janesville at the Big Dipper Ice Arena. Fairbanks picked up a 3–1 win Friday night before falling 3–1 in Saturday’s series finale. However, Fairbanks still won the overall season series vs the Jets. Friday: Ice Dogs take control early in 3–1 win The Ice Dogs opened the series by taking control with an early lead and their strong goaltending in Friday night’s victory.
The Open North American Championship marks its 80th year
The Open North American Championship, the longest continuously-ran sled dog race in the world, kicked off for its 80th anniversary on Friday with a three-day event running all weekend, hosted by the Alaska Dog Mushers Association. Dogs sprint around the mushing trails on the first day of the 2026 Open North American Championships on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
State basketball tournament recap: Lathrop and West Valley boys fall short in semifinals, Monore girls takes second place
The 2026 ASAA High School Basketball State Championships finished with the semifinal and championship rounds. Lathrop and West Valley boys fell short in the semifinals, while the Monroe girls made it all the way to the title game. Monroe Catholic girls Championship Round vs Barrow: The Rams held a 14-10 lead at the end of the first, showing early control. Barrow responded in the second quarter, going on a 10-5 run to take a 24-15 lead into halftime as the Whalers found their offensive rhythm.
2026 ASAA High School State Basketball Tournament: Full first and second round results
The 2026 ASAA High School Basketball State Championships opened this week with multiple Fairbanks teams taking the floor across the girls and boys brackets, highlighted by strong starts from Monroe Catholic’s girls and both West Valley and Lathrop boys teams. Monroe Catholic girls First Round vs Delta Junction: Monroe wasted little time asserting itself in its opening-round matchup against Delta, using a relentless defensive effort to jump out to a 10-0 run.
Ice Dogs return to Fairbanks for final series against Janesville
The Ice Dogs return to the Big Dipper Ice Arena this weekend for their final regular-season matchup against Janesville with key points on the line in the Robertson Cup playoff race. Fairbanks are down to their final three regular-season series, all of them at home. “It’s going to be much needed,” Head Coach Dakota Bell said. “We just went through the hardest and toughest stretch of our season. We played a ton on the road against some good teams. We’ve been pretty good at home this year.
ASAA HS State Basketball
Jacee Chaffey signs a commitment letter to Coe College Thursday evening, May 18, 2023, before a crowd of cheering supporters at Raven Home School in Fairbanks. West Valley Coach David Powers shares the table for his player’s proud moment.
Dynasty complete: Fort Yukon girl's basketball win third straight title
Two years ago, the Fort Yukon girls became the first Interior Alaska team to win a 1A basketball state title since the ASAA classification was created in the mid-1980s. This year, the Eagles captured their third consecutive state championship, completing a dynasty and cementing their place among Alaska’s top 1A programs. “It means a lot for the community for the interior that we bring home not only one, but three in a row,” Head Coach Josh Cadzow said.
2026 March Madness Alaska Preview: Three interior schools represented in Anchorage
The Interior is well represented at the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships, with Fairbanks sending three teams to Anchorage: the West Valley boys team, the Lathrop boys team and the North Pole girls team. All state tournament games will be played at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage beginning Wednesday, with quarterfinals followed by semifinals Friday and championship games Saturday. 4A Boys: No. 1 West Valley vs.
2026 March Madness Alaska Preview: Three interior schools represented in Anchorage
The Interior is well represented at the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships, with Fairbanks sending three teams to Anchorage: the West Valley and Lathrop boys and the North Pole girls. All state tournament games will be played at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage beginning Wednesday, Mar. 18, with quarterfinals followed by semifinals Friday, Mar. 20, and championship games on Saturday, Mar. 21. 4A Boys: No. 1 West Valley vs.
Ice Dogs spilt final road series in Kenai after two exciting third periods
The Ice Dogs split their final two-game road set against the Kenai River. The Brown Bears held off a late Fairbanks comeback for a 6–5 win Friday night before the Ice Dogs did the same with a 4–3 victory in Saturday’s series finale. Friday: Brown Bears hold off Ice Dogs comeback, 6–5 Fairbanks rallied late but ultimately fell short as the Kenai River Brown Bears held on for a 6–5 victory Friday night.
Ice Dogs set for final roadtrip of the season at Kenai River
The Ice Dogs will make their final road trip of the regular season this weekend as they travel to face the Kenai River in a two-game Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup series. Fairbanks enters the weekend leading the Club 49 Cup standings with 26 points, followed by Anchorage with 22 while Kenai River sits at 10. With four games remaining against the Brown Bears, the Ice Dogs control their own destiny in the race for the in-state trophy.
Ice Dogs clinched season series against Anchorage
The Ice Dogs played their last series against Anchorage over the weekend. Fairbanks clinched the season series after Friday’s 4-3 OT thriller before the Wolverines 7-4 loss on Saturday. Friday: Ice Dogs rally, win in overtime against Wolverines, 4–3 Fairbanks erased a second-period deficit and completed the comeback with an overtime winner to secure a 4–3 victory over Anchorage on Friday.
Ice Dogs split final series of season against Anchorage
The Ice Dogs played their last series against Anchorage over the weekend. Fairbanks took Friday’s game in a 4-3 OT thriller before the Wolverines split the season series, 7-4, on Saturday. Friday: Ice Dogs rally, win in overtime against Wolverines, 4–3 Fairbanks erased a second-period deficit and completed the comeback with an overtime winner to secure a 4–3 victory over Anchorage on Friday.
North Pole girls earns three-peat, West Valley boys survives double overtime in 2026 MAC Basketball Championships
In front of a packed gym at West Valley High School, two teams punched their ticket to the state tournament in the 2026 Mid Alaska Conference basketball championships Saturday night. North Pole’s girls leaned on defense to claim their third straight conference crown, while the West Valley boys survived a dramatic double-overtime battle with Lathrop.
North Pole basketball player David Wiehl Jr. scores 1,000 career points
North Pole senior guard David Wiehl Jr. reached a major milestone during the Patriots’ game against Monroe Catholic on Feb. 26, 2026, scoring the 1,000th point of his high school career. The four-year varsity starter achieved the mark early in the contest, capping a memorable moment for both the team and the program. “It was nice, it’s been a long four years,” Wiehl said. “I couldn’t have done it without the team.
Ice Dogs return to Fairbanks for final series against Anchorage
The Ice Dogs return to the Big Dipper Ice Arena this weekend for the last series against Anchorage that will have major implications in the Club 49 Cup standings. The Wolverines are currently pushing toward the playoff line in the Midwest Division and have been playing some of their best hockey of the season. “They’re climbing right now and getting healthier,” Head Coach Dakota Bell said. “They’re battling for a playoff spot.
UAF men's basketball prepares for GNAC tournament
The UAF men’s basketball team is headed to the postseason after securing a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships with a win in its regular-season finale. The Nanooks will face No. 3 seed Northwest Nazarene in the opening round at 4:15 p.m. AKST on Thursday in Bellingham, Washington. UAF closed the regular season on Feb. 28 with an 82-74 victory over Western Oregon at the Patty Center to clinch a berth in the GNAC Championships.
Filipino ice carvers win back-to-back multiblock competitions at the 2026 World Ice Art Championships
Filipino ice carvers Ross Baisas, Angelito Baban, Antonio Baisas and Victor Dagatan captured first place in the multiblock division at the 2026 World Ice Art Championships for the second year in a row. The annual event brings elite carvers from around the globe to Interior Alaska, where towering blocks of crystal-clear ice are transformed into frozen masterpieces.
UAF hockey sweeps UAA to close the regular season
The UAF hockey team closed out the regular season with a weekend sweep of Alaska Anchorage, earning a 2-0 victory Friday before finishing the year with a 5-1 win Saturday night. The series followed last weekend’s Governor’s Cup clincher and extended Alaska’s strong late-season stretch heading into the United Collegiate Hockey Cup.
UAF men's basketball secures sport in GNAC tournament with win over Western Oregon
One game remained for the Nanooks in the regular season. After a tough home loss to Saint Martin’s on Thursday, UAF entered Saturday in a win-and-in scenario for the GNAC Championships. The Nanooks responded with an 82-74 victory over the Western Oregon University Wolves to punch their ticket to the conference tournament.
Ice Dogs take two in Kenai River to close out February roadtrip
The Ice Dogs swept their two-game road series against the Kenai River Brown Bears, earning a 4–0 victory Friday night at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex before securing a 3–1 win in Saturday’s series finale. Friday: Ice Dogs blank Brown Bears in 4–0 win Fairbanks controlled the pace from start to finish Friday, scoring in all three periods and receiving a shutout performance in net from Miles Roberts.
West Valley boy's basketball sweeps regular season series vs Lathrop
For the second time this season, two of the top three teams in the state met in a crosstown Mid Alaska Conference showdown, as West Valley and Lathrop squared off with conference positioning and statewide rankings on the line. Round two delivered the intensity and atmosphere expected from a late-season rivalry game. West Valley found a way to close it out in a 51-44 victory. “It’s just exciting for Fairbanks in general,” West Valley head coach Colten Growden said.
Ice Dogs head to Kenai River to close out February roadtrip
The Ice Dogs return to Alaska this weekend for another Alaska Airlines Club 49 Cup road series against Kenai River, to close out the February road trip. Fairbanks currently leads the Club 49 Cup standings with 20 points, followed closely by Anchorage with 19 and Kenai River with 10. The matchup carries added weight beyond the rivalry. Fairbanks is 3–3 against Kenai this season, and the Ice Dogs will play the Brown Bears six times in the final 12 games.
2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational is underway with multiple Interior participants
The 2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational is underway, with Fairbanks-area athletes competing in both the 1,000-mile and 350-mile divisions as they make their way along the historic winter trail toward McGrath and Nome. Times reflect cumulative race times at each checkpoint as of press time. The race remains ongoing as athletes continue across remote terrain and winter conditions along the Iditarod Trail. In the Bike Men 1,000 division, Tyson Flaharty has reached McGrath, covering 306.6 miles.
Kendall Kramer closed out the Olympics with 26th finish in 50-kilometer mass start
Fairbanks Olympic skier Kendall Kramer closed out her Olympic schedule Sunday with a 26th-place finish in the women’s 50-kilometer mass start classic at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Kramer, representing the United States, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 35 minutes, finishing 18 minutes, 32.2 seconds behind the gold medal pace in the longest and most grueling event on the Olympic Nordic program.
Lathrop vs West Valley basketball preview: Two top 3 ranked teams square off
The Mid Alaska Conference boys basketball race continues to tighten as the regular season winds down, and Thursday’s matchup between West Valley and Lathrop could carry significant implications for conference positioning and state tournament seeding. The Wolfpack and Malemutes meet again after squaring off earlier this month in a crosstown matchup. West Valley came away with a 44-38 victory in the previous contest.
UAF hockey sweeps UAA to claim Governor’s Cup for 15th straight season
The UAF hockey team secured the Governor’s Cup for the 15th consecutive year, sweeping Alaska Anchorage in a two-game series last weekend at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. The Nanooks earned a dramatic 4-3 victory Friday night before pulling away for a 6-2 win Saturday to complete the sweep and retain the rivalry trophy.
UAF hockey sweep UAA to claim Governor’s Cup for 15th straight season
The UAF hockey team secured the Governor’s Cup for the 15th consecutive year, sweeping Alaska Anchorage in a two-game series last weekend at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. The Nanooks earned a dramatic 4-3 victory Friday night before pulling away for a 6-2 win Saturday to complete the sweep and retain the rivalry trophy.
Ice Dogs fall short at Wisconsin and Chippewa
The Ice Dogs dropped both games against two different opponents in the final roadtrip in the Lower 48. Fairbanks fell 4–1 to the Chippewa on Friday night before a 3–1 loss to Wisconsin in Saturday’s matchup. Friday: Steel capitalize on special teams, hand Ice Dogs 4–1 loss Chippewa erased an early Fairbanks lead and used two power-play goals to pull away for a 4–1 win Friday night.
Ice Dogs set for final roadtrip in Lower 48, Gunderson earns NAHL weekly honors
The Ice Dogs close out their final Lower 48 road weekend of the regular season with a two-game trip against the Chippewa Steel and Wisconsin Windigo, beginning today in Chippewa Falls before wrapping up Saturday in Brookfield. “It’s our last weekend down here in the Lower 48 for the regular season,” Head Coach Dakota Bell said. “We’ve been really good down here this year, so hopefully we can close that out on a high note.” Fairbanks opens today against Chippewa, a team Bell said is improving.
West Valley boys basketball beats Monroe on Senior Night
West Valley closed out its home slate on Senior Night with a 56-12 victory over Monroe Catholic on Feb. 19. The Wolfpack has positioned itself as the top team in the state rankings entering the final week of the regular season. The Wolfpack used the opportunity to send their seniors out on a high note in front of the home crowd as the regular season begins to wind down and the Mid Alaska Conference tournament approaches.
UAF set for final roadtrip of the season at Seattle Pacific and Montana State
The UAF men’s basketball team will head south for its final Great Northwest Athletic Conference road swing before closing the regular season in Fairbanks, traveling to Seattle Pacific on Jan. 19. and Montana State Billings on Jan. 21. UAF enters the week looking to bounce back following its most recent outing against Alaska Anchorage and will face two opponents that secured wins in the first meetings earlier this season. Seattle Pacific earned an 82-75 victory in Fairbanks on Jan.
UAF hockey set for final road series at UAA
The University of Alaska Fairbanks men’s hockey team will continue Governor’s Cup play this weekend with another in-state matchup against the University of Alaska Anchorage following a split series earlier this month in Anchorage. UAF and UAA divided the two-game set at Sullivan Arena, with the Nanooks taking the first game on Feb. 6 before the Seawolves responded with an overtime win Feb. 7. The split kept the Governor’s Cup race competitive heading into the next meetings between the rivals.
UAF men's basketball fall short at UAA, spilt season series
The University of Alaska Fairbanks men’s basketball team dropped a 70-54 road game to the University of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center, as the in-state rivals split their season series. The Nanooks kept the game tight through the first half before the Seawolves used a strong second-half push to pull away. UAA outscored the UAF 42-28 after the break and led by as many as 18 points late.
Ice Dogs spilt season series vs Springfield with Gunderson's 5 goal performance
The Ice Dogs split the season series, going 4-4 against Springfield over the weekend. After falling 3–1 on Friday, the team responded with a dominant 9–2 victory in Saturday’s finale at the Nelson Center. Friday: Jr. Blues use second-period surge to top Ice Dogs, 3–1 The Jr. Blues broke open a tight game with two goals in the second period and held off Fairbanks for a 3–1 win Friday night.
Six Ice Dogs named to NAHL Top Prospects Tournament
Fairbanks will be well-represented at this year’s NAHL Top Prospect Tournament, a showcase for the league’s uncommitted talent looking to gain exposure. The two-day event serves as a key recruiting tool for players aiming to make the next step. Six Fairbanks Ice Dogs were named to the event’s rosters: defensemen Nick Madsen and Mason Noble, forwards Luca Ricciardi, Oliver Barna and Mack Diggins, and goaltender Miles Roberts.
Ice Dogs start month-long roadtrip with final series vs Springfield
The Ice Dogs head back on the road this weekend for a two-game series at Springfield, carrying momentum from a dominant home sweep of Anchorage that pushed them back into the lead in the Alaska Club 49 Cup race. Fairbanks will look to keep that pace rolling as it begins a stretch of critical late-season games. Both teams are vying for second place in the Midwest division. Head coach Dakota Bell expects another tight series as the teams continue to learn each other late in the season.
West Valley beats Lathrop in a battle two MAC powerhouses
Two of the top teams in the Mid Alaska Conference met once again in a highly anticipated crosstown matchup as two ranked 4A teams, West Valley and Lathrop, squared off with conference positioning on the line. In front of a packed gym filled with students and community members, The Wolfpack came away with a hard-fought 44-38 victory, using defense and timely runs to hold off the Malemutes in a matchup between two of the top programs in the Interior.
North Pole Hockey Coach Jesse Lindsoe reflects on the Pats' 2026 championship run
North Pole High School hockey coach Jesse Lindsoe is still taking in what his team accomplished. After guiding the Patriots to the first state championship in program history, the longtime coach reflected on the emotions of the moment, the players who helped make it happen and the community that celebrated alongside them. “It’s huge for our team,” Lindsoe said. “We had a lot of guys that came up four years ago who would have never thought necessarily we’d be winning state.
UAF basketball losses to Northwest Nazarene, holds off Central Washington in close victory
The UAF men’s basketball team responded to a Thursday night loss with a needed bounce-back performance Saturday afternoon, defeating Central Washington 89-81 at the Patty Center to keep pace for a spot in the GNAC postseason. The split weekend kept UAF in the mix heading into the final month of the season, with Saturday’s result providing a key lift after the Nanooks stumbled earlier in the week.
Ice Dogs score back-to-back 5 goal games against Anchorage
The Ice Dogs regain the lead in the Alaska Cup 49 Cup race with Anchorage at the Big Dipper. A dominant offensive performance Friday night, scoring early and often to take control. Fairbanks followed with another strong showing Saturday, earning a 5–1 victory to complete the weekend sweep.
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