North Stars' national title run ends in OT heartbreak

Alaska's 14U hockey team falls short in national championship game

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:24am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice reduced to sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the raw emotion and intensity of the championship match.The North Stars' national title dream ended in heartbreaking overtime defeat, but their deep tournament run showcased Alaska's growing hockey talent.Plano Today

The Anchorage North Stars' bid to become Alaska's 14th USA Hockey national champion came up just short, as they lost 5-4 in overtime to the New Hampshire Avalanche in the Tier II 14U boys 2A division national title game in Plano, Texas.

Why it matters

The North Stars were aiming to bring home Alaska's 14th USA Hockey national championship, which would have been a major accomplishment for the state's youth hockey program. While they fell just short, their deep tournament run highlights the growing strength of hockey in Alaska.

The details

The North Stars fell behind 2-0 before rallying with three second-period goals, including a pair from defenseman Dempsey Nangle. Dimond freshman Kyle Pascual tied the game late in the third period to force overtime, but New Hampshire's Elijah Bledsoe scored the game-winner 13:05 into the extra session. Colony freshman goaltender Joshua Wood made 23 saves for the North Stars, who outshot the Avalanche 5-4 in OT.

  • The national championship game started at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning.
  • Nangle scored his two power-play goals in a 3:53 span during the second period.
  • Pascual tied the game at 4-4 with his goal at 9:12 of the third period.
  • Bledsoe scored the game-winning goal 13:05 into overtime.

The players

Elijah Bledsoe

A skater for the New Hampshire Avalanche who scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Dempsey Nangle

A defenseman for the Anchorage North Stars who scored two power-play goals in the second period.

Kyle Pascual

A freshman at Dimond High School who scored the game-tying goal for the North Stars in the third period.

Joshua Wood

The freshman goaltender for the Colony High School who made 23 saves for the North Stars.

Blake Kullberg

A West High School freshman who scored seven goals for the North Stars in the six-game tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Before many Alaskans likely woke up Sunday morning, the Anchorage North Stars' title dream ended in hockey heartbreak.”

— Matt Nevala, Author

The takeaway

While the North Stars fell short of the national title, their deep tournament run and impressive performance highlights the growing strength of youth hockey in Alaska. The state continues to produce talented players who can compete at the highest levels of the sport.