Sports

Service's Smelker earns top honor for girls

Jordan Smelker of Service-East was the overwhelming favorite for this season's Anchorage Daily News player of year in girls hockey.

The junior forward who attends Service High dominated the voting to claim the award for the second straight year. The captain helped give Service-East back-to-back league titles earlier this month.

"She had an outstanding season," Service-East coach Reg Slocombe said.

Also receiving votes were Service-East's Cory Jackson and Chugiak-Eagle River's Rachel Russell.

Smelker finished with a career-best 47 points this season. In three years, she's averaged 36.7 points a season.

This year she was second behind Kaitlyn Harding in Service-East goal scoring with 22 and second in assists with 25 -- one less than her older sister, senior Libby Smelker.

Slocombe said it was a difficult vote between Smelker, Harding and Jackson.

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All three played key roles in helping Service-East set a single-season record for most victories (21) by an Anchorage girls hockey team.

But Smelker's all-around game stood out the most, Slocombe said. She makes players around her better.

"Jordan's the consummate playmaker," he said.

-- Kevin Klott

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