List of athletes from Alaska

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This list indexes notable athletes from Alaska.

• John Baker (b. 1960 or 1961 in Kotzebue), a perennial top 10 finisher at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
• Chad Bentz (born on May 5, 1980 in Seward, Alaska) is a Major League Baseball pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Bentz grew up in Juneau, and he made history in 2004 by becoming the second pitcher, after Jim Abbott, to play the sport after being born without one of his hands. Bentz fields and catches with his glove the same way Abbott did when he played in the 1980s and early 1990s.
• Carlos Boozer (b. 1982), a power forward for the NBA's Utah Jazz. An All-American while playing high school basketball in Juneau, Boozer rose to national fame during his collegiate career at Duke University. He helped lead the team to an NCAA Men's National Championship in 2001. Boozer left Duke prior to his senior year and was selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2002 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the midst of a major controversy with the team surrounding his free agency, Boozer signed with the Utah Jazz in 2004.
• Susan Butcher (1954-2006), dog-musher, second female winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (1986), and four-time overall winner ('86, '87, '88 and '90). She remains arguably the sport's most popular figure in the world as a result of her many accomplishments.
• Matthew Carle (b. 1984 in Anchorage), a defenceman for the NHL's San Jose Sharks.
• Shawn Chacón (b. 1977 in Anchorage), a right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Mario Chalmers (b. 1986 in Anchorage) is a guard for the University of Kansas men's basketball team.
• Ty Conklin (b. 1976 in Anchorage), a backup goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He established several school records during his career with the NCAA's University of New Hampshire. In his final year there in 2001, Conklin was named First Team All-American and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the NCAA's top men's ice hockey player.
• Rosey Fletcher (b. 1975 in Anchorage), snowboarder and U.S. Winter Olympian (1998, '02, and '06). She won the bronze medal for the U.S. in the women's parallel giant slalom event in 2006.
• Scott Gomez (b. 1979 in Anchorage), a center for the New York Rangers. Drafted 27th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he was the first Latino player in the NHL, and won the Calder Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 2000. Gomez helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003. During the 2004-05 NHL lockout he played for the ECHL's Alaska Aces minor league team. He was a member of the U.S. men's hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Brandon Dubinsky (b. 1986 in Anchorage) a center for the NHL New York Rangers. NY Rangers' 2nd round choice, 60th overall, in 2004 NHL Draft. Currently 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) through 74 games of the 2007-2008 season, his first full season in the NHL.
• Sam Hoger (b. 1980 in Eagle River), a mixed martial arts fighter. He is most notable for his appearance on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship and broadcast on Spike TV.
• DeeDee Jonrowe (b. 1953), dog-musher and Iditarod female record-holder for fastest time. She gained fame for her completion of the race in 2003 just three weeks after completing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
• Jeff King (b. 1956), dog-musher, four-time winner of the Iditarod, and one-time winner of the U.S./Canadian Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race.
• Trajan Langdon (b. 1976 in Anchorage), a shooting guard for CSKA Moscow of the Euroleague. A three-time Alaska Player of the Year during his years with East Anchorage High School, Langdon gained fame in the U.S. while playing collegiately at Duke University. There he earned the nickname "the Alaskan Assassin" for his proficiency at three-point shooting. He became the first Alaska-born player in the NBA after being taken 11th overall in the 1999 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After three years with the team, Langdon signed with the Euroleague in 2002.
• Hilary Lindh (b. 1969 in Juneau), alpine skier, four-time National Championship winner, and U.S. Winter Olympian (1988, '92, and '94). She won the silver medal in the women's downhill event in 1992.
• Lance Mackey (b. 1970), dog musher and winner of back to back Yukon Quest and Iditarod Sled Dog races. Selected as #2 on the 2008 Sports Illustrated list of toughest athletes. Mackey also survived a battle with throat cancer.
• Tommy Moe (b. 1970), alpine skier, five-time National Championship winner, and U.S. Winter Olympian (1992, '94, and '98). He won the gold medal in men's downhill skiing and the silver medal in the men's super-G event in 1994, making him the first American male skier to win multiple medals in a single Olympics.
• Josh Phelps (b. 1978 in Anchorage), a first baseman/designated hitter for the New York Yankees.
• Kikkan Randall (b. 1982), nordic skier, seven-time National Champion, and two time U.S. Winter Olympian (2002, '06). She placed 3rd in the indivdual sprint at Rybinsk, Russia on January 21st, 2007, the best American women's finish in a World Cup. She also had the best ever American women's finish in the Olympics (9th place in the 2006 individual sprint).
• Joe Redington, Sr. (1917-1999), dog musher and promoter. Known as the "Father of the Iditarod," he helped establish the event in 1967 and personally competed in it starting in 1974. In 2003, a memorial with a life-size bronze statue was unveiled at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters in Wasilla.
• Libby Riddles (b. 1956), dog-musher and first woman to win the Iditarod.
• Curt Schilling (b. 1966 in Anchorage), a right-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series championship team, and was named co-winner of the World Series MVP Award. Schilling helped lead the Red Sox to a memorable 2004 World Series championship, the team's first since 1918. He pitched a dramatic victory in Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the arch-rival New York Yankees, despite a severe ankle injury.
• Mark Schlereth (b. 1966 in Anchorage), a former NFL guard and current football analyst for ESPN. He is featured on the network's NFL Live show and is a regular fill-in host on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning program. Schlereth was selected in the tenth round (#263 overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played twelve NFL seasons: six with Washington (1989-1994), and six with the Denver Broncos (1995-2000). He was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams.
• Rick Swenson (b. 1950), dog-musher and five-time winner of the Iditarod.
• Dave Williams (b. 1979 in Anchorage), a left-handed relief pitcher for the New York Mets.