Anchorage Wolverines
The Anchorage Wolverines are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Anchorage, Alaska, that competes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).[1][2] Founded in 2021, the Wolverines entered the NAHL as an expansion franchise in the Midwest Division, marking the return of Tier II junior hockey to Anchorage after a period without a team in the league.[3][4] The team quickly established itself as a competitive force, posting a 33-19-8 record in its inaugural 2021–22 season and advancing to the playoffs, where it reached the NAHL Robertson Cup final.[3] The Wolverines play their home games at the George M. Sullivan Arena, a 6,399-seat venue built in 1983 that has hosted various hockey and sports events in the city.[2] In the 2023–24 season, the team achieved its best performance to date with a 39-14-7 record, earning 85 points and advancing to the NAHL playoffs, where it lost to the Lone Star Brahmas in the Robertson Cup semifinals; the Brahmas went on to win the championship.[3][5] In 2024–25, the Wolverines finished with a 36-17-6 record (78 points) and exited in the quarterfinals. In the ongoing 2025–26 season (as of November 2025), the team has compiled a 9-9-3 record and continues to develop talent for higher levels of play, with several alumni advancing to NCAA Division I programs and professional leagues.[6][7][8]Overview
Franchise information
The Anchorage Wolverines were founded on March 22, 2021 as an expansion team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), a Tier II junior ice hockey league dedicated to player development pathways to NCAA Division I programs and professional hockey.[9] The team competes in the NAHL's Midwest Division alongside other franchises such as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears.[10] The franchise's name draws inspiration from the original Anchorage Wolverines, a senior amateur team active in the 1970s.[11] Ownership is held by a six-person group of Anchorage-area investors with deep ties to the community, including co-owner Aaron Schutt.[12][4] They spearheaded the team's establishment to expand junior hockey access in Alaska, emphasizing local youth programs, fan engagement, and partnerships with regional businesses to build a sustainable presence.[13] Aaron Schutt, a co-owner and prominent local executive, has been instrumental in operations and was recognized as the NAHL Executive of the Year in 2025 for his leadership.[14] As of July 2025, Isaiah Vreeman serves as president of the organization.[15] The team's official colors are navy, teal, and red-orange, with the blues a nod to favorite professional teams and the red-orange highlighting the state fish, salmon.[16] As of the 2025–26 season, Mike Aikens serves as head coach, marking his return to the franchise after initially guiding the team during its 2021–22 debut campaign.[17] The organization earned the NAHL Organization of the Year award in its inaugural 2021–22 season, commended for exemplary administration, community outreach, and rapid establishment of professional standards.[18]Home arena
The Anchorage Wolverines' current home arena is the George M. Sullivan Arena, a multi-purpose venue in Anchorage, Alaska, that opened in 1983 with a seating capacity of 6,399 for hockey games.[2] The team relocated to the Sullivan Arena for the 2024–25 season following its reopening as an entertainment facility, marking a significant upgrade in infrastructure after extensive renovations to restore its event-hosting capabilities.[19] Historically, the arena served as the primary home for the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) from 1986 to 2017, establishing it as a cornerstone of professional hockey in the state.[19] Prior to this move, the Wolverines played their inaugural three seasons (2021–2024) at the adjacent Ben Boeke Ice Rink, a facility opened in 1974 with a capacity of approximately 1,000 spectators.[20] The smaller venue limited attendance and overall fan engagement, prompting the franchise to seek a larger space to accommodate growing interest and expand its community reach.[21] The Sullivan Arena's transition back to full operations played a key role in enabling the Wolverines' relocation; it had been repurposed as an emergency homeless shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic from late 2021 through early 2023, after which it reopened for public events on July 31, 2023.[22] This revival directly facilitated the team's move, with the inaugural home game on October 11, 2024, against the Kenai River Brown Bears drawing a North American Hockey League season-high attendance of 3,953 fans.[23] Key features of the Sullivan Arena include a standard NHL-sized ice surface measuring 200 by 85 feet, supporting professional-level play while allowing for versatile event configurations.[24] Beyond hockey, the arena hosts basketball games, concerts, trade shows, and community events, enhancing its role in Anchorage's midtown area with convenient accessibility via public transit and ample parking.[24]History
Pre-NAHL history
The original Anchorage Wolverines were a senior amateur hockey team based in Anchorage, Alaska, that competed in an independent men's league from 1973 to 1978.[25] Operating without professional affiliation, the team played home games primarily at the Anchorage Sports Arena, a facility that preceded the modern Sullivan Arena.[26][11] Coached by Milan Marcetta, a former NHL player, the Wolverines drew dedicated local crowds with their competitive style, fostering early enthusiasm for organized hockey in the region.[26][11] In their debut 1973–74 season, the team achieved a strong record of 27 wins, 9 losses, and 2 ties across 38 games, establishing themselves as a dominant force in Alaska's nascent senior hockey scene.[27] The Wolverines extended their success internationally by winning the gold medal in ice hockey at the 1974 Arctic Winter Games, highlighting the growing talent and organization of Anchorage hockey.[28] Over the subsequent seasons, they maintained a schedule of exhibition and league games against regional opponents, contributing to the development of local players and fan interest despite the informal league structure.[28] The team ceased operations after the 1977–78 season, primarily due to the instability of sustaining an independent league without broader organizational support; by 1976, the Alaska Hockey Association had relinquished control, leaving the Wolverines to operate autonomously before folding.[26][28] This dissolution created a void in Anchorage's professional and semi-professional hockey landscape, which persisted until the Anchorage Aces—later renamed the Alaska Aces—began play in 1989 as a semi-professional team in the Pacific Southwest Hockey League, eventually joining the ECHL and operating until 2017.[29][30] The "Wolverines" moniker was revived in 2021 for Anchorage's expansion team in the North American Hockey League, selected to evoke Alaska's rugged wildlife and serve as a tribute to the 1970s original, bridging the city's hockey heritage.[11] The team's logo, crafted by a local artist, depicts a fierce wolverine with pronounced facial features to symbolize tenacity and regional pride, marking a revival of junior-level competition in the area following the Aces' departure.[16]NAHL era
The Anchorage Wolverines joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team in the Midwest Division for the 2021–22 season, marking the start of their professional junior era. In their inaugural campaign, the team navigated significant challenges, including ongoing COVID-19 protocols that affected training camps, travel, and roster assembly, as well as the task of building a competitive squad from scratch by recruiting primarily from outside Alaska. Despite these hurdles, the Wolverines earned the NAHL Midwest Division Organization of the Year award for their operational excellence and community engagement in their first year. Additionally, three players—Talon Sigurdson (forward), Campbell Cichosz (defense), and Raythan Robbins (goalie)—were named to the All-Midwest Division Team, highlighting the team's early on-ice talent. Coaching transitions have been a notable aspect of the Wolverines' development. Mike Aikens served as head coach for the 2021–22 season, leading the team to its first playoff berth before departing to join St. Lawrence University. Evan Trupp took over for the 2022–23 season in pursuit of elevated performance standards. Nick Walters was appointed head coach in May 2023, guiding the team through the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons until his departure in June 2025 following back-to-back playoff appearances. Aikens returned as head coach for the 2025–26 season, bringing his prior NAHL experience to refocus on competitive goals. Key milestones include the Wolverines' surprising run to the 2021–22 Robertson Cup championship series, where they swept the St. Cloud Norsemen in the semifinals but fell 0–3 to the New Jersey Titans in the final—their first postseason appearance as a franchise. The team captured the Midwest Division title in 2023–24, securing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. These achievements helped establish intense in-state rivalries with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears, fostering regional competition and excitement within Alaska's hockey landscape. The Wolverines have positively influenced the local community, particularly by boosting youth hockey participation across Alaska through outreach programs and the team's booster club, which supports grassroots development. Their move to Sullivan Arena for the 2024–25 season significantly increased attendance, with crowds regularly surpassing 2,000 fans per game, including sellouts exceeding 5,000 for high-profile matchups. However, as an Alaska-based team, the Wolverines face ongoing challenges such as extensive travel logistics, involving long flights to Midwest Division opponents, and player recruitment, which relies heavily on attracting talent from the lower 48 states and international borders while managing billet family placements.Records and achievements
Season-by-season records
The Anchorage Wolverines compete in the Midwest Division of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), which consists of 8 teams, under a points system awarding 2 points for a regulation or overtime win and 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss.[31][32] The team's regular season records since its inception in 2021 are summarized in the following table:| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF/GA | Division Finish | Overall NAHL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 60 | 33 | 19 | 8 | 74 | 208/166 | 3rd Midwest | 9th |
| 2022–23 | 60 | 28 | 24 | 8 | 64 | 208/218 | 5th Midwest | 19th |
| 2023–24 | 60 | 39 | 14 | 7 | 85 | 233/169 | 1st Midwest | 4th |
| 2024–25 | 59 | 36 | 17 | 6 | 78 | 234/188 | 3rd Midwest | 6th |
| 2025–26* | 21 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 21 | 79/92 | 5th Midwest | — |