Sports

The Juneau Capitals 12U Minor Tier I hockey team pose after play in the Alaska State 2025 12U Minors hockey tournament in Fairbanks February 28-March 2. (Photo courtesy JDIA Capitals)

JDIA youth hockey team skates in Fairbanks

Capitals 12-and-under moves up a class in tournament.

The Juneau Capitals 12U Minor Tier I hockey team pose after play in the Alaska State 2025 12U Minors hockey tournament in Fairbanks February 28-March 2. (Photo courtesy JDIA Capitals)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka drives against Wasilla senior Mylee Anderson during a Feb. 7, 2025, game at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast teams prepare for the state basketball tournament

Juneau-Douglas, Ketchikan, Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka have hearty tasks

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka drives against Wasilla senior Mylee Anderson during a Feb. 7, 2025, game at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A male peacock showing off its colors. (Jatin Sindhu / CC BY-SA 4.0)

On the Trails: Three observations to ponder

While we are waiting (?patiently?) for spring to really get rolling, here are a few things to think about. • Sexual dimorphism in bird plumage:… Continue reading

A male peacock showing off its colors. (Jatin Sindhu / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wrangell senior Lucas Schneider (15) fights for a loose ball with Susitna Valley’s Earl Davidson during the Wolves 53-50 loss to the Rams in the 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wolves battle Rams in 2A state tournament’s final day

Wrangell falls to Susitna Valley in 4th/6th-place game.

Wrangell senior Lucas Schneider (15) fights for a loose ball with Susitna Valley’s Earl Davidson during the Wolves 53-50 loss to the Rams in the 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kake’s Aiden Clark (25) puts up a shot against Tri-Valley’s Kole Lucas (33), Reid Williams (2) and Henry Miner (34) during their 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kake boys fourth at state, Clark and Jackson tally double-doubles

Skagway Panthers win consolation final for seventh place over Nunamiut.

Kake’s Aiden Clark (25) puts up a shot against Tri-Valley’s Kole Lucas (33), Reid Williams (2) and Henry Miner (34) during their 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Haines’ Ari’el Godinez-Long (3) scores over Metlakatla’s Saahdia Buffalo during the Glacier Bears 58-34 loss to the MisChiefs on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla girls earn fourth place game at state

Hoonah and Klawock girls lose final state games.

Haines’ Ari’el Godinez-Long (3) scores over Metlakatla’s Saahdia Buffalo during the Glacier Bears 58-34 loss to the MisChiefs on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell’s Trevyn Gillen (22), Jackson Powers and Boomchaine Loucks (4) contain Effie Kokrine ball handler Ryan Strom in the Wolves 75-40 win over the Warriors on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys advance to state’s 2A fourth-place game

Kake boys advance to 1A fourth-place game, Skagway boys to seventh.

Wrangell’s Trevyn Gillen (22), Jackson Powers and Boomchaine Loucks (4) contain Effie Kokrine ball handler Ryan Strom in the Wolves 75-40 win over the Warriors on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
Metlakatla’s Brody Booth scores over Chevak’s Anthony Martins (21) in the Chiefs 63-33 win over the Comets in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center

Metlakatla boys win, girls lose, in state opening 2A games

Chiefs cruise past Comets, MisChiefs falter to the Comets’ girls.

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
Metlakatla’s Brody Booth scores over Chevak’s Anthony Martins (21) in the Chiefs 63-33 win over the Comets in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center
(Getty Images)

Jessie Holmes, former reality TV star, wins longest-ever Iditarod dog race: ‘It’s a magical feeling’

Jessie Holmes, a former reality television star on “Life Below Zero,” won the longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Friday morning, crossing under the… Continue reading

  • Mar 14, 2025
  • By Lauren Merola ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • Iditarod
(Getty Images)
Kake’s Deontay Jackson (33) is fouled by Shishmaref’s Frederick Olana (11) during the Thunderbirds 68-67 loss to the Northern Lights in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kake state championship hopes fall by a point

Klawock girls, Skagway boys stay alive; Hoonah, Haines girls lose first games.

Kake’s Deontay Jackson (33) is fouled by Shishmaref’s Frederick Olana (11) during the Thunderbirds 68-67 loss to the Northern Lights in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Tolovana Roadhouse, built in 1924, is the only remaining rest stop mushers used in the 1925 Serum Run. Iditarod mushers also used it in 2025. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Traveling through time in the Alaska bush

TOLOVANA ROADHOUSE — On the dark, frozen white plain of the Tanana River, a white dot appeared in the night. It was the headlamp of… Continue reading

Tolovana Roadhouse, built in 1924, is the only remaining rest stop mushers used in the 1925 Serum Run. Iditarod mushers also used it in 2025. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
A troller fishes near Ketchikan last summer. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Fish farm fiasco

I’ve spent almost all of my life searching for and evaluating fish. As a boy, I rode home from the river with wild silver salmon… Continue reading

A troller fishes near Ketchikan last summer. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Wrangell coach Cody Angerman talks in a huddle during the Wolves 57-30 loss to the Seahawks during the opening day of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Wolves wore warmup shirts in honor of coach Angerman’s father Fred Angerman Jr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys fall in emotional first game at state tournament

Wolves honor coach’s father and Southeast legend “Fast Freddy” following his recent death.

Wrangell coach Cody Angerman talks in a huddle during the Wolves 57-30 loss to the Seahawks during the opening day of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Wolves wore warmup shirts in honor of coach Angerman’s father Fred Angerman Jr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kake’s Keontay Jackson (33) attempts a dunk during the Thunderbirds 61-41 win over the King Cove T-Jacks in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast teams open 1A state tournament play

Kake boys, Hoonah girls win; Skagway boys, Klawock girls fall.

Kake’s Keontay Jackson (33) attempts a dunk during the Thunderbirds 61-41 win over the King Cove T-Jacks in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Lebanon Valley College sophomore forward Anna Dale (7) slaps a shot past a Stevenson University defender during Middle Atlantic Conference hockey action this year. (Photo courtesy Lebanon Valley College)

JDHS grad Anna Dale nets Offensive Player of the Year as sophomore at Lebanon Valley College

2023 graduate helps NCAA DIII Dutchmen reach Middle Atlantic Conference semifinals.

Lebanon Valley College sophomore forward Anna Dale (7) slaps a shot past a Stevenson University defender during Middle Atlantic Conference hockey action this year. (Photo courtesy Lebanon Valley College)
A museum visitor mimics pterosaurs flight in the age of the dinosaurs. (Tim Evanson / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

On the Trails: Wings aloft!

When vertebrates moved onto land, long ago, some of them eventually became airborne, way after the insects did. There are three groups of vertebrates that… Continue reading

A museum visitor mimics pterosaurs flight in the age of the dinosaurs. (Tim Evanson / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)
The 4A Girls All Conference players Juneau-Douglas’ Layla Tokuoka, Kerra Baxter, Caiylnn Baxter, Kayhi’s Aspen Bauer, Juneau-Douglas’ Gwen Nizich and Cambry Lockhart stand for a photo at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS players earn all-conference honors at regions

Good Sport, academic, cheer and dance honors given.

The 4A Girls All Conference players Juneau-Douglas’ Layla Tokuoka, Kerra Baxter, Caiylnn Baxter, Kayhi’s Aspen Bauer, Juneau-Douglas’ Gwen Nizich and Cambry Lockhart stand for a photo at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Brandon Casperson runs past defenders during Ketchikan’s 74-54 victory over Juneau-Douglas, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Ketchikan eliminated Juneau-Douglas and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Crimson Bears boys fall 74-54 to region champion Kings

JDHS season ends, Ketchikan advances to the state tournament.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Brandon Casperson runs past defenders during Ketchikan’s 74-54 victory over Juneau-Douglas, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Ketchikan eliminated Juneau-Douglas and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players celebrate their 65-43 victory over Kayhi, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Juneau-Douglas eliminated Kayhi and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Crimson Bears overthrow Lady Kings for region championship

JDHS clinches undefeated Southeast season with 65-43 win over Kayhi.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players celebrate their 65-43 victory over Kayhi, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Juneau-Douglas eliminated Kayhi and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Kerra Baxter makes a layup during JDHS’ 64-36 victory over Ketchikan on the first day of the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Thursday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Crimson Bears girls defeat Kayhi 64-36 to start region tourney

JDHS’ Kerra Baxter scores 21 points, Gwen Nizich 16 in win

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Kerra Baxter makes a layup during JDHS’ 64-36 victory over Ketchikan on the first day of the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Thursday. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)