ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The NHL Legends Tour stop in Anchorage was a return to form for hockey icons of the past.
Additionally, Sullivan Arena returned to host Anchorage sports on Saturday night for the first time in more than four years. After years of being used as an emergency homeless shelter that was repurposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium's seats were once again filled with excited hockey fans.
“It's good to have hockey coming back to this town,” said former Los Angeles King and Boston Bruin Jay Miller, one of several athletes playing in front of the prominent attendees. .
“This is a hockey town,” said former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. “It was really, really good. It's great to have hockey going big again here in Sullivan. Alaska is a hockey state and is known for really good hockey. We've had a lot of great hockey from our youth group. We produce players and I think this really represents that.”
Saturday's game also featured the return of some of Alaska's most iconic skaters, like former Alaska Aces star Keith Street. His retired No. 8 jersey still hangs in the rafters. The Aces were sold after the 2016-17 season and relocated to the East Coast.
Other key Alaskans in the game were Mike Scott (UAA, 1998-2001; Alaska Aces, 2003-2007); Jeff Carlson (UAA, 1985-89); Ryan McGillivray (Service High, 1996-97; North Stars 18U, 1997-98).
Crossing the line were notable NHL athletes, including Brian Skuldlund and Derian Hatcher, members of the 1999 Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars.
Other notable players include:
- Ron Duguay, 274 goals from 1977 to 1992
- Jay Miller logged 1,723 penalty minutes from 1985 to 1992 and served as a team enforcer for the Los Angeles Kings, protecting Wayne Gretzky.
- Rich Sutter, one of six brothers who played in the NHL
- Darius Kaspartis played a record 28 games as a member of the Russian Olympic hockey team, winning a total of three medals, including one gold medal.
- Bernie Nichols, one of only eight players in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season (1987-88)
The players were the second team to take part in the facility's newly renovated rink this year. The arena will host its first impromptu game on Feb. 1 after a CO2 leak at the adjacent Ben Bouquet Arena forced West Anchorage and South Anchorage to finish their games there. was held.
The arena, which is now fully operational, has a list of other events scheduled for the remainder of 2024, including a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert on September 24th.
Whether UAA hockey intends to return to the complex as its regular home venue and whether Anchorage's newest franchise, the NAHL's Anchorage Wolverines, was scheduled to play at the facility in 2021, will move to this venue. It is unclear whether this is the intention.
Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.
