The South Wolverines begin defense of their state hockey championship Thursday when the First National Cup state tournament begins at the Menard Center in Wasilla.
On the opposite side of the bracket are the West Eagles, the team that defeated the Wolverines in double overtime in the Cook Inlet Conference championship game Saturday.
West won two double-overtime games en route to the CIC title, an achievement that makes the Eagles the top-seeded team from Anchorage at this week's tournament.
Action begins at noon Thursday with a game between West Valley and Service, the No. 3 team from the CIC.
At 2:30, West takes on North Pole. West Valley is coming off a 7-1 rout of North Pole in the championship game of the Mid-Alaska Conference.
South, the No. 2 seed from the CIC, kicks off the evening session with a 5 p.m. game against Wasilla.
In the late game at 7:30, Dimond, the No. 4 team from the CIC, faces Colony, which is making its first tournament appearance since 2006. The Knights won their first conference title since 2002 by beating Wasilla 5-3 in the North Star Conference championship game.
The championship will be decided Saturday at 7:30 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. that day, Houston and Monroe will meet for the Greatland Conference championship.
First National Cup
Menard Center
Thursday's games
Noon -- West Valley vs. Service
2:30 p.m. -- West vs. North Pole
5 p.m. -- South vs. Wasilla
7:30 p.m. -- Colony vs. Dimond