Alaska
The Rewind: UAA hockey beats UAF in OT, Alaskan pro athletes reach major milestones
Welcome back to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.
Last week featured several notable individual and team performances across the Alaska sports landscape at the high school and professional levels, as well as new developments on the college front. The high school basketball regular season saw a shocking upset and exciting tournament action. On the college scene, the University of Alaska Anchorage basketball teams were recognized for some impressive individual and collective performances. Outside the state, several Alaskans had impressive performances and career achievements worth recognizing and celebrating in their respective arenas.
Headlines and highlights
The premier in-season tournament for girls basketball in the state took place in town this past week with the annual Lady Lynx tournament, hosted by Dimond. After three days of exciting action that was capped off by a 70-66 overtime win over Bartlett on Saturday night, this year’s champion was Mountain City Christian Academy.
“Us MCCA coaches demand a lot out of our ladies,” head coach Lonnie Ridgeway said. “It’s not easy playing as hard as they do every possession knowing they aren’t going to get a sub. But that is the demand and expectation in our program and they rose to that challenge. The three games of the tournament gave us new situations and circumstances that we cherish as a team.”
After a couple of double-digit blowouts of South Anchorage and host Dimond, the Lions had their hands full with the Golden Bears and reigning Cook Inlet Conference Player of the Year sophomore Kennedi Gaines, who dropped 28 points in the title game. MCCA had star power of its own with senior Keelie Kronberger who scored a game-high 38 points.
“Prior to the championship game, we told our girls it was going to be a battle until the very end, and it was. I was proud of how our girls kept their composure and responded to adversity down the stretch,” Ridgeway said. “Coach Darian (Lawson) and his coaching staff have an incredible program and I know we both hope to see each other again.”
The second annual Anchorage-Fairbanks challenge between a pair of the top high school boys basketball teams in Anchorage and Fairbanks took place at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School over the weekend. A pair of games took place on Friday and Saturday, during which both Lathrop and West Valley emerged victorious on Day 1 but both the Thunderbirds and Grace Christian bounced back with impressive wins Saturday.
After getting blown out by Lathrop by nearly 20 points Friday, the Grizzlies rebounded with a 41-38 win over West Valley despite going the entire third quarter without a bucket.
“We have good players, we have good shooters and sometimes you just have to stick with it,” Grizzlies head coach Jason Boerger said. “Despite the adversity of not scoring in the third quarter, I’m glad our guys were able to get it done in the fourth.”
The three-time defending Division I state champion Thunderbirds defended their home court on Day 2 much better than they did the night before and handed the Malemutes just their second loss of the season. After trailing 31-28 at halftime, they went on a 19-4 run in the third quarter and stayed ahead the rest of the way even as Lathrop tried to mount a late rally but fell short as East prevailed 59-52.
“They’re a really talented team and I feel like they’re one of the better teams that people don’t really think about,” said East sophomore Baba Sabally, who tied for the team lead with 16 points, half of which came in the pivotal third period. “We started rebounding better, we started pushing the ball in transition, getting easy baskets over the top and we just played together.”
In Division II prep hockey action, North Pole claimed the first state title in program history on Saturday night out in Palmer. The Patriots defeated perennial powerhouse Houston 3-1 thanks to goals from three upperclassmen and 34 saves from junior goaltender Kieran Olson.
[South hockey claims second CIC region title in 3 years with comeback win over Dimond]
On the college hoops scene, the UAA men’s team established a three-game win streak by winning both home tilts against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes last week. The Seawolves were powered to a 77-70 victory over Central Washington on Thursday by a pair of career days by two Anchorage products. Senior forward Bishop Tosi led the team with a career-high 30 points and fellow senior, guard Hasaan Herrington finished with a double-double by leading the team with a career-high 14 assists and was third in scoring with 13 points.
“Bishop made some great shots and Hasaan fought through cramps in the second half to give us huge performances,” UAA head coach Rusty Osborne said in a statement.
Two days later on Saturday, his team blew out Northwest Nazarene 71-53 in a game where four Seawolves reached double figures in scoring. Junior forward Sylas Williams recorded his seventh double-double of the season by leading the team with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Tosi was second in scoring with 14 points and was named GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the second time in his career.
“Bishop was outstanding for us this weekend on both ends of the floor,” Osborne said. “He continued his excellent play since we came back from winter break. He has been efficient offensively and continues to be tremendous for us on the defensive end as well.”
The UAA women’s basketball team got nearly a third of its points in a 79-69 road win over rival University of Alaska Fairbanks from senior guard Elaina Mack, who led the team with 25. The King Cove product knocked down five 3-pointers and led the team with four steals as well.
“We did a nice job on the boards and withstood an impressive 3-point barrage by Fairbanks, and Elaina kept coming up with big shots at the most opportune times,” UAA head coach Matt Thune said in a statement. “Elaina was coming off a couple tough games, but she showed her character, skill and overall leadership today to lift us to a critical win.”
After coming up short Friday night in the program’s first game at Sullivan Arena in nearly six years, the UAA hockey team bounced back with a vengeance on Saturday to beat in-state rival UAF 3-2 in overtime.
“Saturday’s win was big for our program for a lot of reasons,” head coach Matt Shasby said. “After a tough night before, our group showed real character and resiliency, which speaks to the culture our players are building every day. The results haven’t been there often enough this year but this team refuses to quit on each other, and that’s what pack mentality is all about — sticking together and responding the right way when things don’t go your way.”
A crowd of more than 4,800 fans was treated to a thrilling back-and-forth game in which the game-winning goal was scored by local product, junior forward Aiden Westin of Anchorage.
“To see an Anchorage kid score the overtime winner made it even more special,” Shasby said. “Our players understand what it means to represent this city and this state, and moments like that show young players in Alaska that you can grow up here, play in front of your hometown fans, and make a huge impact at this level. It was a great night for our team and a great night for Anchorage hockey.”
[UAA hockey falls to rival UAF in bittersweet return to Sullivan Arena for Governor’s Cup]
The UAA track and field team saw a pair of program records fall Saturday in Reno at the Wolf Pack Classic. Junior hurdler Liv Heite and sophomore distance runner Hunter Taddy each lowered their own school records. Heite‘s mark of 8.61 seconds in the 60 hurdles was a record and tied for seventh all-time in GNAC history while Taddy recorded a record time of 1:23.66 in the 600 and 1:57.76 in the 800.
The UAA ski team had a strong showing at the Denver University Invite over the weekend. On Saturday, junior Corbin Carpenter led the Seawolves with a third-place finish in the 10-kilometer classic with a mark of 25:09. The following day, sophomore Marit Flora of Anchorage came in fifth in the 7.5-kilometer freestyle race Sunday with a time of 22:22.
The UAA gymnastics team came in third at the Air Force tri-meet Friday but had several impressive individual performances. Junior Claudia Lessig produced a season-best score of 38.250 in all-around while senior Madelyn Gomez led the Seawolves with a 9.65 vault and a 9.5 on uneven bars.
“We had some nice highlights during a tough meet, and our best scores fortunately were good enough to earn a season high,” UAA head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch said in a statement. “Claudia continues to be rewarded for her hard work in the gym.”
The Anchorage Wolverines lost their lead in the AK 49 Cup standings after getting swept by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on the road over the weekend. They lost 7-1 and 5-1. Their lone goals came from forwards Harout Arutyunyan and Balint Lobenwein. With the two losses, they narrowly trail the Ice Dogs by a point in the Cup standings 20-19.
Alaska stars shining Outside
Anchorage’s Obed Vargas had his dreams come true in more ways than one this past week. Coming off a breakout season for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, the 20-year-old signed a 4.5 year contract with Athletico de Madrid last Sunday and made his LaLiga debut on Thursday in the 79th minute of a 5-0 semifinal win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey.
Even though he was among the Seattle Seahawks game-day inactives Sunday, Anchorage’s Brandon Pili still became the third born-and-raised Alaskan NFL player, and fourth overall to become a Super Bowl champion following the team’s 29-13 blowout of the New England Patriots. The former Dimond standout joins an elite fraternity that includes North Pole’s Daryn Colledge (2010) and Anchorage’s Mark Schlereth, who is a three-time champion. Steve Smith II was born in Anchorage but grew up primarily in California and won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007.
Anchorage’s Chris Kuper has big shoes to fill in the City of Brotherly Love as he is slated to replace renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland as the new offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He most recently spent the past four years with the Minnesota Vikings serving in the same role under Kevin O’Connell where his path previously crossed with his new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent time on the team’s practice squad in his last year as a player during the 2023 season.
The Eagles are hiring Chris Kuper as their offensive line coach, sources tell The Insiders.
Kuper spent the past four seasons in the same role in Minnesota, where he crossed paths with new Eagles OC Sean Mannion. Now, they’re teaming up in Philly. pic.twitter.com/N6Ap2NRwCN
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 9, 2026
Anchorage’s Daishen Nix helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers improve their winning streak to three last week in the NBA G-League. He recorded scoring performances of 20-plus points in both of the team’s wins. In a 130-116 win over the Valley Suns on Wednesday, he recorded another triple-double by leading the team with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. On Thursday, in a 112-111 win over the Austin Spurs, he led the team in all three categories again and recorded a double-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds and added seven assists.
Two former Gatorade Players of the Year faced off at the collegiate level for the second time this season on Saturday. Isaiah Moses of Dimond helped lead the Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team to a 72-71 win over Montana State University and Patrick McMahon of Colony, who had as many fouls as points with four apiece. Moses tied for the second most points on the Eagles with 11 while McMahon led the Bobcats with six assists and recorded eight points.
Anchorage’s Sayvia Sellers powered the University of Washington women’s basketball team to a 91-86 bounce-back win over Wisconsin on Sunday. The former Anchorage Christian star finished second on the team in scoring with 23 points three days after she dropped 26 points in a loss to Ohio State.
Palmer’s Hallie Clark nearly matched her single-game career-high scoring total for the Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team Thursday. In a 78-48 blowout win over MSU Denver, the former Colony star and Gatorade Player of the Year tied for for the second-most points on the team with 17, just one shy of a personal-best.
Anchorage’s Mikayla Johnson recorded 16 points in back-to-back games for the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team. The former Bartlett standout finished second on the Panthers in scorning and tied for the lead in rebounds with six in an 86-65 loss to Stanford on Thursday and finished second in both Sunday in a loss to the University of California Berkley.
Fairbanks’ Stewart Erhart extended his streak of consecutive games reaching double figures in scoring for the Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team to 17 in a row this past week. In back-to-back narrow losses to N.M. Highlands and Adams State, the former West Valley star and Gatorade Player of the Year recorded 18 points in both outings, totaled nine steals, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Anchorage’s Colin Kessler didn’t just find the back of the net for the second week in a row for the University of Vermont men’s hockey team, he recorded a goal in consecutive games for the first time this season. The sophomore forward scored the first goal and assisted on another in a 6-1 win over Boston College on Friday then recorded the Catamounts lone goal in a 6-1 loss to Providence on Saturday night, bringing his season total to five in 18 games.
Anchorage’s Mac Swanson also recorded his fifth collegiate goal of the season over the weekend for the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team. In a 4-1 win over Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, the sophomore forward found the back of the net for the first time since early November and logged at least one assist for the fourth game in a row with two.
Anchorage’s Emily McCutcheon continued the strong start to her sophomore season on the Western Washington University softball team by recording her first collegiate home run. The former South slugger and two-time Gatorade Player of the year sent the ball over the left center for two of her four RBIs in a 14-4 win over Colorado Christian last Tuesday. She recorded a hit on half of her four at bats.
Anchorage’s James Reinbold was recently revealed as one of only 26 NCAA Division I football players to be named First Team Academic All American. The former Dimond standout starred on the gridiron and in the class room at Cornell University, recording 45 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks while maintaining a GPA of over 4.0 with a dual major in Government and Performing & Media Arts.
(If you know of an Alaska athlete who has achieved a standout performance or reached a noteworthy milestone Outside, emailsports@adn.comorjreed@adn.comwith the details.)
Fast Forward
Prep
Hockey
Division I state tournament at Sullivan Arena, Thursday-Saturday
The postseason for the 2025-26 high school season will officially come to a close this week in town. Action gets going on Thursday with the opening round, followed by semifinals Friday and the title tilt will be played Saturday at 5 p.m.
Girls hockey
State tournament at Ben Boeke, Thursday-Saturday
Next door, the 2025-26 girls high school season will also be wrapping up this week on the same days. Dimond-West and South-Bartlett have first-round byes and will face the winners of Service-East versus Palmer-Wasilla and Chugiak-Eagle River versus Kodiak-Tok (Friday 3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.) and the championship will be Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Grace Christian at Mountain City Christian, Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The best matchup in town will pit the three-time defending 3A state champion Grizzlies against the powerhouse Lions who are looking like the cream of the crop in the entire state this year.
Boys basketball
Service at West, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The top matchup in town on the boys side will feature the second-seeded Cougars traveling to play the third-seeded Eagles, according to the MaxPreps CIC standings. In the first meeting between these two teams last month, Service successfully defended its homecourt with a 10-point win.
College
Women’s Basketball
UAA vs. Western Washington at Alaska Airlines Center, 7 p.m., Thursday
The Seawolves will be back in town to take on a pair of GNAC foes with a chance to avenge their road loss to the second-seeded Vikings to split the season series on and sweep Simon Fraser on Saturday with a tip-off time of 5:15 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
UAA vs. UAF at Alaska Airlines Center, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
The Seawolves will be taking the court just once this week and will put their winning streak on the line at home against their instate rival Nanooks, who are looking at establishing a winning streak of their own.
• • •
Last week’s results
High school
Boys hockey
Monday
Service 7, Bartlett 1
Tuesday
Dimond 3, Service 1
Eagle River 4, Chugiak 2
Thursday
North Pole 11, Kodiak 0
Soldotna 2, Juneau-Douglas 1
Houston 2, Monroe Catholic 1
Wasilla 6, Colony 1
South 5, Eagle River 0
Palmer 2, Delta 1
West Valley 4, Lathrop 0
Dimond 4, West 3
Friday
Juneau-Douglas 3, Kodiak 1
Delta 5, Monroe Catholic 4
North Pole 2, Soldonta 0
Colony 6, Lathrop 0
Houston 7, Palmer 1
Eagle River 3, West 2
Wasilla 4, West Valley 3
Service 4, Chugiak 3
Saturday
Juneau-Douglas 7, Delta 2
West Valley 5, Colony 3
Palmer 3, Soldotna 1
• • •
Basketball
Girls
Sunday
Craig 35, Petersburg 15
Monday
East 49, Eagle River 35
Tuesday
Susitna Valley 45, Tikigaq 32
Seward 68, Ninilchik 5
Mt. Edgecumbe 57, Sitka 49
Redington 48, Houston 28
Wasilla 72, Palmer 18
Bartlett 76, South 18
Chugiak 58, East 13
Service 66, West 34
North Pole 55, West Valley 31
Kenai Central 61, Homer 26
Colony 65, Mountain City Christian Academy 51
Dimond 43, Eagle River 22
Wednesday
Shishmaref 54, Brevig Mission 36
Tok 75, Nenana 22
Shishmaref 67, Gambell 18
Chugiak 51, Dimond 41
Thursday
Nunamiut 64, Meade River 52
Tok 55, Fort Yukon 48
Dimond 61, West Valley 26
Minto 64, Tri-Valley 44
Mountain City Christian Academy 66, South 23
Service 65, Lathrop 39
Scammon Bay 54, Aniak 38
Monroe Catholic 62, Delta 25
West 65, East 34
Bartlett 74, Ketchikan 29
Shishmaref 67, Koyuk Malimiut 39
Hoonah 55, Newhalen 48
Brevig Mission 132, Koyuk Malimiut 20
Chaputnguak 74, Nuniwarmiut 18
Friday
Fort Yukon 72, Meade River 35
Tok 58, Nunamiut 32
Kalskag 48, Akiachak 47
Cook Inlet Academy 43, Birchwood Christian 30
Scammon Bay 34, Hoonah 18
South 35, West Valley 29
Seward 70, Cordova 31
Minto 62, Nenana 37
Newhalen 82, Aniak 32
Barrow 60, Nome-Beltz 16
Mountain City Christian Academy 72, Dimond 55
Saturday
Davis-Romoth 65, Kisimgiugtuq 32
Hoonah 46, Aniak 34
Birchwood Christian 45, Nanwalek 33
Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 39, Kwigillingok 31
Tuluksak 79, Kalskag 54
Newhalen 43, Scammon Bay 34
Lathrop 48, South 37
Seward 57, Cordova 18
Nunamiut 56, Nenana 54
Boys
Monday
Klawock 50, Hydaburg 40
East 86, Eagle River 17
Tuesday
Ninilchik 87, Seward 47
Mt. Edgecumbe 58, Sitka 53
Susitna Valley 57, Tikigaq 54
Redington 54, Houston 53
East 72, Chugiak 42
South 84, Bartlett 48
Delta 34, North Pole 33
Wasilla 61, Palmer 52
Kenai Central 70, Homer 22
Colony 81, Mountain City Christian 38
Dimond 93, Eagle River 28
West Valley 56, Monroe Catholic 43
Wednesday
Shishmaref 88, Brevig Mission 69
East 71, Dimond 42
Tok 77, Nenana 67
Shishmaref 57, Gambell 49
Klawock 56, Angoon 53
Thursday
Walter Northway 98, Nunamiut 65
Tok 80, Fort Yukon 75
Scammon Bay 81, Russian Mission 49
Ninilchik 82, Nikiski 39
Shishmaref 78, Martin L Olson 45
Monroe Catholic 48, Delta 37
Nuniwarmiut 73, Ayaprun 51
Susitna Valley 75, Homer 61
West Valley 66, Bartlett 27
Tanalian 80, Tuluksak 47
Sitka 70, Ketchikan 30
Grace Christian 64, Wasilla 43
West 55, South 50
Scammon Bay 67, Newhalen 47
Chaputnguak 81, Nightmute Elitnaurviat 30
Friday
Fort Yukon 61, Nunamiut 56
Scammon Bay 69, St. Mary’s 45
Soldotna 50, Kodiak 34
Shishmaref 84, Brevig Mission 43
Ket’acik and Aapalluk Memorial 51, Z John Williams 42
Nelson Island 91, Nuniwarmiut 52
Chaputnguak 102, Paul T. Albert Memorial 32
Akiuk Memorial 47, Anna Tobeluk 44
Ninilchik 52, Susitna Valley 48
Z John Williams 74, Joann Alexie Memorial 61
Aniak 91, Tanalian 68
Lathrop 73, Grace Christian 54
Cook Inlet Academy 90, Birchwood Christian 39
Anna Tobeluk 63, Joann Alexie Memorial 59
Juneau-Douglas 56, Sitka 49
Scammon Bay 69, Newhalen 40
Hoonah 61, Yakutat 18
Haines 55, Wrangell 36
West 89, Eagle River 23
West Valley 50, East 47
Service 84, Bartlett 28
Mt. Edgecumbe 72, Ketchikan 62
Valdez 52, Galena 44
Nelson Island 66, Chaputnguak 58
Gambell 63, Shishmaref 54
Akiachak 78, Tanalian 62
Metlakatla 56, Craig 47
Saturday
Ket’acik and Aapalluk Memorial 46, Anna Tobeluk 38
Chaputnguak 96, Nuniwarmiut 70
Nunamiut 69, Merreline A. Kangas 27
Akiachak 93, Akiak 53
Nelson Island 106, Ayaprun 64
Hoonah 67, Yakutat 26
Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 65, Kwigillingok 37
Grace Christian 41, West Valley 38
Nelson Island 105, Nightmute Elitnaurviat 90
East 59, Lathrop 52
College
Hockey
Gymnastics
Friday
1.) Air Force 195.800; 2.) Utah State 195.400; 3.) UAA 190.325
Friday
UAF 4, UAA 1
Saturday
UAA 3, UAF 2 (OT)
Women’s basketball
Saturday
UAA 79, UAF 69
Men’s basketball
Thursday
UAA 77, Central Washington 70
Northwest Nazarene 78, UAF 64
Saturday
UAF 89, Central Washington 81
UAA 71, Northwest Nazarene 53
NAHL
Friday
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7, Anchorage Wolverines 1
Saturday
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5, Anchorage Wolverines 1
WHEREAS, on June 3, 1942, six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, World War II arrived in Alaska when Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island was bombed by Japanese – the first aerial attack by an enemy on the continental United States; and
WHEREAS, the Japanese pilots expected little resistance; but because of an intercepted message three weeks earlier, the installation was on high alert, and Navy and Marine personnel were prepared with anti-aircraft defenses; and
WHEREAS, encountering unexpected resistance at Dutch Harbor, installation, Japanese forces shifted their focus to the Margaret Bay Naval Barracks, where the attack claimed the lives of 25 servicemen; and
WHEREAS, following the initial attack on Dutch Harbor, Japanese forces launched additional assaults on Dutch Harbor, Adak, Kiska, and Attu, resulting in the Aleut people being evacuated and held in internment camps in Southeast Alaska for three years, through which many did not survive; and
WHEREAS, the brave soldiers of the United States Armed Forces and allied Canadian Forces fought valiantly for more than a year to reclaim the remaining Aleutian Islands. The battle of Attu stands as one of the most costly American assaults in the Pacific, with hundreds of servicemen making the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Alaska; and
WHEREAS, on the 84th anniversary of the bombing of Dutch Harbor, we remember and honor all who were affected by the attack, paying tribute both to the military personnel who served and died to defend our Nation and to the Aleut people who died while imprisoned.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim June 3, 2026, as:
Dutch Harbor Remembrance Day
in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to join with the people of Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, and the Aleutian Islands to honor all who were lost in Alaska during World War II, and I order the Alaska State Flag to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of those who perished.
Dated: June 3, 2026
A plane belonging to the Alaska National Guard appears to have been damaged during operations connected to Operation Epic Fury as part of American military efforts against Iran, according to online reports. Defense officials have so far declined to confirm whether Alaska National Guard personnel or equipment are taking part in the campaign.
Last week, defense industry news outlet The War Zone published photos of a KC-135 Stratotanker transiting through a British airbase. In the pictures, made by photographer Andrew McKelvey, the rear bottom of the fuselage and wing stabilizers are “peppered with temporary shrapnel damage repairs‚“ according to The War Zone’s article. The plane also appears to be missing its refueling boom, the proboscis extending from under the tail to pump off fuel to other aircraft.
In the photographs, the Stratotanker’s tail number is visible, identifying the refueling plane as belonging to the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Wing, based at Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks. The wing’s mission includes aerial refueling. That’s the tactic of large planes unloading vast quantities of fuel to aircraft, ranging from fighter jets to rescue helicopters, in midair.
Pictures from a different photographer published last week by another blog, The Aviationist, show the same plane. The tail includes the letters “AK” painted above a white polar bear.
In addition to the photographs, the reporting from The War Zone is based on publicly available flight data and social media posts scraped from a variety of sources.
According to information from Flight Radar 24, the Stratotanker left Eielson on March 5, just days after the U.S. and Israeli militaries began bombing Iranian targets on Feb. 28. Through March, according to public flight records, the plane was based at Ben Gurion Airport southeast of Tel Aviv, where, according to The War Zone, dozens of American refueling aircraft were staged as part of Operation Epic Fury.
There are no public flight records connected to the Stratotanker through April and most of May, until it appeared to fly through England on the way to the United States at the end of last month.
It is not clear how many Alaska Air National Guard planes, personnel or units are currently deployed in connection to the war effort against Iran.
A spokesperson for the Alaska National Guard referred all questions about Operation Epic Fury to the U.S. Central Command.
A spokesperson for CENTCOM, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, declined to answer questions on the record or provide any specific information about Alaska National Guard units deployed as part of ongoing military operations, citing the need to protect service members and operational security.
The Alaska National Guard has posted no informational releases or pictures connected to an overseas deployment during the last few months.
Much of Operation Epic Fury has been waged by military aircraft, and aerial refueling is critical to keeping planes supplied during long flights. A May 12 report from the Congressional Research Service composed of public damage reports to U.S. military aircraft noted that among the 42 records of damage or losses were seven KC-135 Stratotankers, though the findings were published before photos emerged of the Alaska-based plane. The report noted that the Defense Department “has not published a comprehensive assessment of combat losses” from Operation Epic Fury.
The tail number is associated with a Stratotanker manufactured in 1964, the year before Boeing ceased making them. All of the nearly 400 KC-135s currently in operation within the American military date back to that era of the Cold War.
The aircraft has the word “Tetlin” painted on the top of its tail. The name is an homage to the Interior Alaska village, one of several selected to honor longstanding bonds between military aviators and Alaska Native communities, according to photographs of a dedication ceremony posted by the Alaska National Guard last summer.
The 168th Wing currently has 12 Stratotankers attached to the unit. That number bumped up in April after a long campaign by Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan to allocate more tankers to the state’s portfolio given its vast geography and high number of advanced fighter jets.
- Alaska Airlines is opening its newest Lounge at Portland International Airport, featuring thoughtfully designed spaces with twice the square footage and seating of the current space
- The new Lounge reflects the airline’s appreciation for its loyal guests and comes as Alaska continues to expand its service in Portland, offering more flights and more options for guests
- The investment to modernize the Portland Lounge is part of Alaska’s growing portfolio to elevate its global guest experience and expand its Lounge footprint, including new spaces in Seattle, San Diego and Honolulu
PORTLAND, Ore., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines is set to welcome guests to its newest Lounge at Portland International Airport (PDX) when it officially opens on June 4, underscoring its continued investment in premium travel and one of the carrier’s key West Coast hubs.
After more than two years of construction, the approximately 14,000-square-foot Lounge will welcome guests with a warm, thoughtfully designed Pacific Northwest aesthetic, featuring an inviting fireplace and a striking wooden Mt. Hood mural by artist Ben Butler. At twice the size of the current Portland Lounge, it offers more than 230 seats, including Alaska’s Signature Loungers, along with high, open ceilings that bring in natural light and views of PDX’s new terminal. Guests can relax, enjoy fresh, regionally inspired food, sip barista-crafted beverages or cocktails from West Coast partners, or take advantage of ample power plugs and privacy booths for calls and meetings.
“Portland guests have chosen Alaska for years and played an important role in our growth in the Pacific Northwest,” said Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet, products and guest experience. “This new Lounge is our way of thanking them and a reflection of our growing portfolio of premium guest experiences. We look forward to opening our doors this week and welcoming guests with the signature hospitality and thoughtful touches Alaska is known for.”
Alaska is the largest carrier serving Portland, operating more flights than any other airline, including more than 100 daily departures. Portland is a critical hub in Alaska and Hawaiian’s network with expanding service to over 60 destinations across North America and beyond. This summer, Alaska will launch year-round service to Everett/Paine Field and Pasco–Tri-Cities, along with seasonal service to Jackson Hole. Last month, new service began to Baltimore, Bellingham, Idaho Falls, Philadelphia and St. Louis. By this fall, Alaska will offer 50% more seats in Portland than just two years ago, reflecting strong demand for travel and the airline’s continued investment in the market.
“Our strong partnership with Alaska has helped to elevate the new PDX as a world-class destination that showcases the Pacific Northwest and makes everyone feel at home,” said Chris Czarnecki, PDX business and properties director. “We’re thrilled their new PDX Lounge is here for the long-haul, offering travelers a stunning spot to relax, recharge, and experience a taste of our region.”
The nearly $18 million investment in the Portland Lounge is part of Alaska’s growing Lounge footprint and broader commitment to enhancing the guest experience as it expands globally. Building on this investment, Alaska just announced its plans to open a landmark, more than 41,000-square-foot Lounge in 2027. The Lounge, which will be located in Seattle – home to the airline’s main hub – will be the largest in its network and among the largest airline lounges in the country. The airline is also designing its first Lounge in San Diego along with a new, expanded Lounge in Honolulu, both slated for early 2028.
Alaska Airlines Lounge members can access eight premium Lounges across the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines network, including its largest Lounge in Seattle and additional locations at its hubs in Anchorage, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alaska Lounge+ membership unlocks access to all Alaska Lounges, plus nearly 90 partner Lounges worldwide, including select oneworld and partner Lounges. To learn more or sign up to become an Alaska Lounge member, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Alaska Airlines opening at Portland International Airport?
A: Alaska Airlines is opening a newly redesigned Lounge at Portland International Airport (PDX) on June 4, 2026, offering a larger, more modern space with premium amenities, regional food and beverage options, and enhanced comfort for guests.
How big is the new Alaska Lounge in Portland?
A: The new Lounge is approximately 14,000 square feet—about twice the size of the previous Portland Lounge—and features more than 230 seats.
What amenities are available in the new Alaska Lounge at PDX?
A: Guests can enjoy:
- Barista-crafted coffee and specialty beverages
- West Coast-inspired cocktails
- Fresh, locally inspired food
- Signature Lounge seating and private booths
- Ample power outlets and workspaces
- Relaxation areas with premium finishes
Who can access Alaska Airlines Lounges?
A: Access is available to:
- Alaska Lounge members
- Alaska Lounge+ members
- Eligible First Class guests
- Eligible oneworld and partner airline passengers
What is the difference between Alaska Lounge and Lounge+ membership?
A: Alaska Lounge+ membership includes access to all Alaska Lounges plus nearly 90 partner Lounges worldwide, while standard Alaska Lounge membership provides access to all eight Alaska-operated Lounges.
Why is Portland important to Alaska Airlines?
A: Portland is one of Alaska Airlines’ key West Coast hubs, with more than 100 daily departures and nonstop service to over 60 destinations across North America. By this fall, Alaska will offer 50% more seats in Portland than just two years ago, reflecting strong demand for travel and the airline’s continued investment in the market.
How is Alaska Airlines expanding its Lounge network?
A: Alaska Airlines is investing in multiple new and expanded Lounges, including:
- A 41,000+ square feet landmark Lounge in Seattle opening in 2027
- A new Lounge in San Diego
- An expanded Lounge in Honolulu
How much did Alaska Airlines invest in the new Portland Lounge?
A: Alaska Airlines invested nearly $18 million in the new Portland Lounge as part of its broader investment in premium travel as the airline continues to grow globally.
About Alaska, Hawaiian and Horizon
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska and Hawaiian are members of the oneworld alliance. Members of our Atmos Rewards loyalty program can earn and redeem points with oneworld airlines and our additional global partners that serve over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about what’s happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”
SOURCE Alaska Airlines
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