From the Last Frontier to the Olympics – Alaska Sports Hall of Fame ceremony was one to remember

by Arielle Himelbloom | Jun 6, 2025 | Alaska Sports Report

A capacity crowd filled the Anchorage Museum on Thursday night, united by inspiration, words of wisdom and merriment in celebrating the lasting impact of Alaska’s current and former athletes.

Nine people and two moments were recognized at the 17th annual Alaska Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The star-studded program included two Olympic medalists, a former NHL star and a game-saving 3-pointer, among other legendary standouts.

Anchorage’s Jack Leveque was the youngest athlete of the bunch to be inducted, having recently concluded his sophomore year at Service High.

The rising star has already turned heads on the state and national levels, winning the Skimeister Award and the U20 national championship 10K. He also turned in a 22nd-place finish at World Juniors in the 10K free as the only 15-year-old in the top 30.

Aside from his talent, Leveque gave a light-hearted speech, acknowledging his coaches and family while making the crowd laugh.

“Thanks to my parents for paying for all of my flights since I don’t do much, yet,” said Leveque. “Only workout and race.”

Layla Hays, a recent Wasilla High grad and triple-sport standout, was quick to recognize the magnitude of the Pride of Alaska youth award, showing gratitude towards her coaches and family.

At 6-foot-5, the Iowa-bound baller made a significant impact on the hardwood, averaging 15 points per game this season while filling up the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Hays also helped the Warriors to two consecutive state titles in volleyball, a basketball state championship in 2024 and most recently earned her second state title in the shot put.

While Homer’s Kristen Faulkner was unable to attend in person, her parents — Sara and Jon — accepted the award on her behalf.

“May she celebrate with us in spirit,” said Jon.

The two-time gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics shared a virtual speech because she’s currently competing in the Tour of Britain.

Faulkner’s story is remarkable considering she only began competitive cycling less than ten years ago, while working full-time as a venture capitalist. She recalls dreaming of becoming an Olympian since childhood, but when that dream came to fruition last summer, she struck gold — twice — becoming the first Alaskan to win two gold medals.

“Being from Alaska, I always dared to dream big and be different,” said Faulkner.

David Norris, the Pride of Alaska adult winner, chose “Everything Is AWESOME!!!” from “The Lego Movie” as his hype song, stating that the lyrics resonated with him after a co-worker jokingly suggested it.

The five-time Mt. Marathon winner set the course record last summer in a blistering 40 minutes, 37 seconds to slash 49 seconds from his 2016 record. Norris, who hails from Fairbanks, traded his skis for trail shoes and left the loaded field in his wake, high-fiving fans as he cruised down the home stretch on 4th Avenue, beckoning the question: Is a sub-40-minute time possible?

Homer High’s Jackson Snaric was one of the Trajan Langdon Award recipients, after a game-saving interception helped the Mariners secure the Division III state football championships. The award highlights leadership, sportsmanship and inspiration.

Snaric, who was born with Poland Syndrome, routinely executes plays without the use of his left arm or hand. The junior played defensive back and wide receiver during the state championships and was later named Division III defensive player of the year.

Rebecca McKee, a top-ranked triathlete, also won the prestigious award. Her story of triumph included undergoing a complete hysterectomy and just six months later placed first in her age group at the Hawaii Ironman 70.3. She has been ranked No. 1 in the world during the past two seasons and currently ranks fourth globally among those aged 50-54.

“I leaned on what sport has taught me,” said McKee, who founded the Alaska Triathlon Club. “Resilience, persistence, and the power of just showing up.”

Dane Ferguson, a freestyle snowmachiner and trailblazer, was bestowed the Joe Floyd Award posthumously. Ferguson was honored for his lasting contributions in creating the Alaska State Sno-X Lions Club, in addition to his humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. His teenage daughter accepted the award on his behalf.

The largest crowd by far was for Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage, whose dozens of supporters celebrated his induction into the Class of 2025 with a standing ovation.

The former NHL star is the only Alaskan in history with two seasons of 20 or more goals. Dubinsky, a second-round pick for the Rangers, carved out 13 seasons on the ice before retiring. His grit in the rink proved tenacious, scoring 153 career goals for the Rangers and Blue Jackets while also racking up 905 career penalty minutes.

The hockey player was quick to thank his supporters, naming numerous coaches and family members — including his wife Brenna and three sons — who helped get him to where he is today.

Eagle River’s Alev Kelter walked out to “Foundations” by Kolidescopes (feat. Jasmine Thompson), drawing an analogy between art and sports and its impact on one’s home. A multi-sport athlete at Chugiak High and Wisconsin, it was only fitting that the Olympic bronze medalist in rugby was inducted at the Anchorage Museum, a place of artistic expression.

Former Anchorage Mayor, Rick Mystrom, reminisced on Anchorage Being Named America’s Choice to Host the 1992 Winter Olympics, as the moment was inducted during this year’s class. While the games were ultimately held in France, the city put up a strong campaign to host with a wide array of resources and volunteers, creating a lasting sense of pride for residents even four decades later.

Mario Chalmers’ “shot” was inducted as one of the most memorable moments in Alaska sports history, as he led Kansas to a national title with 2.1 seconds left in regulation. The former Bartlett High standout sunk the game-winning basket to help the Jayhawks win 75-68 over Memphis. Chalmers is one of the few athletes to win a high school state title, an NCAA title and an NBA championship.

2025 Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

17th Annual Induction Ceremony

At the Anchorage Museum

Class Induction

People

Brandon Dubinsky

Alev Kelter

Moments

Mario Chalmers’ game-saving 3-pointer in NCAA title game in 2008

Anchorage named America’s choice to host 1992 Winter Olympics

Directors’ Awards

Pride of Alaska (Youth)

Layla Hays

Jack Leveque

Pride of Alaska (Adult)

Kristen Faulkner

David Norris

Trajan Langdon Award (Youth)

Jackson Snaric

Trajan Langdon Award (Adult)

Rebecca McKee

Joe Floyd Award

Dane Ferguson

HALL OF FAME HITS

• Emcee Bill Bailey did a phenomenal job, as usual, introducing the inductees and bringing a sense of humor to the historic event. Bailey gave a shout-out to mountain runner David Norris for continuing to put Fairbanks — his hometown — on the map.
• Anchorage’s Abriel Northcutt was surprised to see himself on the big screen, as he was one of many athletes who received funding from Healthy Futures. The youth basketball player was the star of the show, thanking the organization for assisting financially in a video campaign, while he sunk a corner three-pointer to close out the clip. Northcutt even got a chance to meet the legendary Mario Chalmers.
• Healthy Futures raised over $20,000 in their inaugural “paddle call” event midway through the program. The nonprofit organization empowers Alaska’s youth to build the habit of daily physical activity and provided 200 shoes to young athletes around the state last year.
• Alaska’s News Source’s Jordan Rodenberger did a remarkable job at putting together the ceremony’s videos. One of the top clips included Service High’s Jack Leveque meeting Gus Schumacher — a former Cougar and 2022 Winter Olympian — for the first time; the two Skimeisters shared a selfie along with a few words.