Email from Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Updates on Alaska athletes making news around the world WEEK IN REVIEW Palmer skier Andrew Kurka earns Alaska Athlete of the Week honors after World Cup medal performance by Alaska Sports Report | Jan 20, 2026 | Alpine Skiing, Athlete of the Week, Paralympics Andrew Kurka was voted our Alaska Athlete of the Week after collecting two medals — silver and bronze — at two World Cup downhill para alpine races in Saalbach, Austria. The sit-skier from Palmer hopes to carry the momentum into his 4th Paralympics in March. Kurka...Read More   Back-to-back: A day after winning World Cup bronze, Schumacher upgrades to silver by Beth Bragg | Jan 24, 2026 | Cover Story, Nordic Skiing Gus Schumacher sprinted back to the World Cup podium Saturday. Schumacher grabbed his second straight medal on the second day of racing in Goms, Switzerland — the final stop for cross-country skiers before next month’s Winter Olympics. He finished second in a classic... Read More   Roundball roundup: No. 7 West girls knock off No. 5 Colony; No. 3 Wasilla girls beat No. 4 Service; Palmer boys heat up in 2nd half by Van Williams | Jan 22, 2026 | Basketball, Cover Story It being Wednesday, it was already her day. But then West guard Wednesday Bithow made it her night. The junior playmaker pumped in a team-high 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting to make girls tournament history and lead the seventh-ranked Eagles to a 46-36 victory over... Read More   Pili punches ticket to Super Bowl with Seahawks, will be first Alaskan to play in big game since 2014 by Van Williams | Jan 26, 2026 | Cover Story, Football From undrafted to unflinching, Brandon Pili of Anchorage has had quite the journey in the NFL, and it's been only three years. In that time, however, the 26-year-old has pieced together several key performances to fuel his rapid rise in the pecking order among the 14...Read More   In a CIC classic, Dimond and West skate to 3-3 tie before enthusiastic crowd, Floridian guests by Matt Nevala | Jan 21, 2026 | Cover Story, Hockey Whether or not it was intended, the high school hockey teams from Dimond and West certainly showed freshly arrived visitors from out of town an extraordinarily good time Tuesday night. Simultaneously, the Lynx and Eagles also offered a glimpse of how competitive the...Read More   Forest rallies to deny West in Alaska Airlines Classic as Florida teams improve to 4-0 in title game all-time by Van Williams | Jan 25, 2026 | Basketball, Cover Story, Prep Spotlight There’s something about the Sunshine State when it comes to the Alaska Airlines Classic. Teams from Florida continued their undefeated streak in the tournament title game after the Forest Wildcats rallied in the second half to beat the West Anchorage Eagles 57-49 at...Read More   Readers, The Alaska Sports Report would not exist without your support. Your tax-deductible sponsorship is an investment in quality sports journalism in Alaska. Donate at a level that that fits your budget and help us make sure Alaskan athletes are getting the coverage they deserve. Click "Become a Sponsor" to join our family of partners! Visit our Website Become a Sponsor   Hodes plays hero, wins it for Dimond-West girls hockey team in final two minutes by Chanda File | Jan 24, 2026 | Hockey The Dimond-West girls hockey team found itself in an unusual spot on Wednesday – with 0-0 on the scoreboard for the first time this season heading into the third period against Service-East. With just under two minutes remaining, Riley Hodes came up with a steal to... Read More   Roundball roundup: Resentment Tour continues for Service boys; West advances to Alaska Airlines Classic title game, will face Florida by Van Williams | Jan 24, 2026 | Basketball, Hockey The resentment tour continued for the Service boys basketball team, which beat its second ranked team this week on Friday night. Still steamed after being snubbed in the Alaska Sports Report Coaches Poll, the Cougars have taken out their frustration on the Cook Inlet... Read More     Eight Alaska cross-country skiers named to the US Olympic team by Beth Bragg | Jan 22, 2026 | Cover Story, Nordic Skiing Call them the Super 8. Alaska will send eight cross-country skiers to next month’s Winter Olympics in Italy, a group that makes up exactly one-half of Team USA’s 16-skier contingent. Four men and four women, all of them members of Alaska Pacific University’s elite... Read More   Parker’s gamble pays off in junior college as defensive back from Fairbanks signs with Utah by Van Williams | Jan 20, 2026 | Cover Story, Football Junior college isn’t for everyone. It’s an arduous route, which demands sacrifice and tests a player’s love for the game, no matter the sport. Fairbanks football standout Earl Parker threw himself into the fire after graduating from Lathrop High School and picked one... Read More   Roundball roundup: No. 2 MCCA girls humble top-ranked Bears; East boys beat New York team at Alaska Airlines Classic, will face West in Friday’s semifinals by Van Williams | Jan 23, 2026 | Basketball, Cover Story Voters in this week's Alaska Sports Report Coaches Poll were slightly split on who was the No. 1 girls team, but that question was to put to bed Thursday. At least for one night. Second-ranked Mountain City Christian Academy used a dominating second-half effort to... Read More   Wolverines have NAHL work to do; UAA meets Long Island at home Tuesday night by Matt Nevala | Jan 26, 2026 | Hockey With 22 games remaining spread out over the next 10 weekends, the Anchorage Wolverines sole purpose is obvious. The five-year-old North American Hockey League team must string wins together if it hopes to make a fourth postseason appearance. Benjamin Tauscher...Read More   In final mixed-relay race before Olympics, Germain is part of a thrilling finish by Beth Bragg | Jan 26, 2026 | Biathlon With a frenzied crowd of 25,000 packing the stadium, Anchorage biathlete Maxime Germain and his American teammates matched the best mixed-relay finish in U.S. history. The performance came on the final weekend of competition before the Winter Olympics. The 24-year-old....Read More   Bartlett girls, West Valley boys claim No. 1 spots, both Barrow teams ranked in expanded prep poll (plus statewide scoring leaders) by Van Williams | Jan 20, 2026 | Basketball, Prep Spotlight Although the West Valley boys were the overwhelming choice for the top spot in this week’s prep hoops poll, the No. 1 slot on the girls side was a little more complicated. Three teams received first-place votes, with Bartlett leading the pack with 12 of 20 to beat out... Read More   Goal scorers, assemble: Service, South and West post wins in Boeke Saturday tripleheader by Matt Nevala | Jan 25, 2026 | Cover Story, Hockey Saturdays are for goal scorers. Or at least this one went that way for a bevy of Cook Inlet Conference snipes. In succession, Service, unbeaten South and two-time defending First National Cup Division I state champion West posted wins inside Ben Boeke Arena during a... 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