When the Anchorage Wolverines host the U.S. National Team Development Program U17 team for a pair of games this weekend, it will unite Alaska hockey’s past, present and future.

For Carter Morris, the exhibition series will be especially meaningful.

Morris, who grew up playing hockey in Anchorage, recently joined the U.S. NTDP after being named to the team in April.

“It’s super exciting,” Morris said. “I’m excited to get back and play in front of everybody that helped me on the way out.”

Morris will take the ice Friday at 7 p.m. at Sullivan Arena for his first game wearing the USA jersey. The two teams play again Saturday at 7 p.m.

He’ll face off with the Wolverines, who have multiple connections to the Morris family.

Carter’s dad Keith spent two seasons as general manager and director of hockey operations for the Wolverines. Brothers Cameron and Cooper Morris are former Wolverines players.

Carter Morris, 16, has been a Wolverines fan since his younger days playing hockey with the South Anchorage Hockey Association and the Alaska Oilers.

“It’s going to be fun for my family to watch,” he said. “I mean, I grew up watching the Wolverines since I’ve been like, 10. So finally getting to play them is going to be awesome.”

Morris also played with Team Alaska but is coming off two fabulous seasons for Minnesota-based Shattuck St. Mary’s. He played 107 games, recording 83 goals and 109 assists for 192 points.

The transition has been fairly easy, according to Morris. Many of his teammates have played together prior to assembling on Team USA.

“We got in touch over the summer,” he said. “And everybody on the team has played with each other or played against each other throughout the years, so we really have a close bond.”

Morris and his teammates will face off against a Wolverines team that hopes to make another deep playoff run in the 2026-27 season after falling in the first round of the NAHL playoffs last spring.

“It’s a new season to figure out what kind of team we are,” Wolverines GM Merit Waldrop said. “It’ll be a good test for us as well, playing some of the best kids in the country.”

The plan for the series came together with the help of connections between Alaska, the Wolverines and USA Hockey.

Anchorage’s Kristopher Knauss has been involved in USA Hockey for more than a decade and in 2025 was elected vice president and chair of USA Hockey’s International Council.

Aaron Schutt, part of the Wolverines ownership team, and Waldrop connected with Knauss as a trio and worked out the logistics.

It’s been two decades since the team has competed in Alaska.

Waldrop, who was born in Anchorage, played for UAA for four seasons, wrapping up his career in 2007-08. “I don’t know the exact date, but I was playing for UAA,” he said. “It was probably in 2004, 20-plus years ago.”

The national team has produced a who’s who of American hockey players in the past decade — including Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack and Quinn Hughes and Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, who in addition to other alums were on the U.S. men’s hockey team that won Olympic gold in February.

“You just go down the list, these guys are winning Olympic medals and Stanley Cups,” Waldrop said.

The Alaska State Hockey Hall of Fame is also inducting its 2026 class this weekend. Several other Alaskans have competed on the U.S. NTDP over the years, including former NHL player Matt Carle.

“It’s a pretty cool moment for just Alaska hockey,” Waldrop said. “For us to host that team up here with all the connections, it’s just full circle for the hockey world.”

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight bound for Vancouver, Canada, was diverted to Anchorage, Alaska due to a cabin pressurization system issue, the airline said.

In a statement on Sept. 9, PAL confirmed that Flight PR116, which departed from Manila on Sept. 8, was diverted to Anchorage.

“As safety comes before everything else, the flight crew followed established safety procedures and diverted the aircraft to Anchorage. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew on board are safe,” the airline said.

According to PAL, while the aircraft underwent technical assessment, assistance was extended to the affected passengers and crew.

“Our teams are working closely with those affected to provide the assistance they need and to get them to Vancouver as soon as practicable,” PAL said in the same statement.

Meanwhile, in a correspondence with PAL on Thursday, Sept. 10, the airline confirmed with the INQUIRER that the passengers were accommodated on flight PR5116 from Anchorage to Vancouver.

The flight took off at 5:30 p.m., Anchorage time, and landed to the original destination at Sept. 9, 9:30 p.m., Vancouver time.

“PAL arranged hotel accommodation, meals, and transportation to the airport,” it added. /gsg