Athlete of the Week: Henry Sholton’s MVP performance leads West to state hockey title

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - For many teams looking over their upcoming season schedule, it’s common to highlight a few dates on the calendar that mean a little something extra, whether it’s a game against a heated rival or an important conference matchup.

For the West Anchorage High School hockey team, they only needed to look to Feb. 10.

Just a year earlier on that same date, the Eagles had found themselves one win away from bringing the Division I First National Cup back to their trophy case.

Yet, that hurdle — a matchup against the undefeated Chugiak Mustangs — proved a bit too high. West lost the championship bout 5-2 and would have to settle for being the runner-up.

“We had to get our revenge somehow, this is the best way to do it,” West senior forward Henry Sholton said. “It didn’t feel too good losing last year.”

Sholton and the top-seeded Eagles found themselves in the championship once again on Saturday, this time taking on Dimond.

“As a team, we’re really close, so it was kind of easy to build chemistry and start working as one unit,” he said.

In the championship, Sholton scored two goals and was about an inch away from a third before teammate Joey Dittrich snapped in the rebound, leading West to a 3-2 win over Dimond.

“Me, Sholton, and my brother, all on the same line, we work really well together,” Dittrich said. “The entire year it’s just been really fun being with those two guys.”

For West coach Rob Larkey, the game was the culmination of Sholton’s four years of grinding.

“He played varsity as a freshman, getting a spot and playing time,” Larkey said. “His sophomore year, started getting a little bit more. [As a] junior, played a big role, of course, last year. And then all of his experience for this year and the taste and the hunger that he had from not making it last year, really proved what he was this time.”

But despite a true curtain call performance and being named game MVP, Sholton kept it simple in what it all meant.

“I feel great. I’m glad we got to win,” he said.

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