Cook Inlet Conference playoff champion Chugiak, seeking its first state hockey championship since 2000, will face Soldotna in Thursday's opening round of the 2016 First National Cup at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla.
The Mustangs are one of four CIC teams in the eight-team field. They are joined by CIC regular-season champion West, the defending state champion; Dimond, which seized state titles in 2013 and 2012; and Eagle River, which earned the first state tournament berth in the history of its program.
Dimond plays Juneau-Douglas in the first round, West faces Colony and Eagle River skates against West Valley, last year's runner-up.
Friday's semifinals will pit the winner of Dimond-Juneau against the winner of Colony-West and the winner of West Valley-Eagle River against the winner of Chugiak-Soldotna.
In the Greatland Conference championship game for small schools, set for Saturday, Monroe and Houston clash for the second straight season and second time in the last four years. Houston beat Monroe, 3-0, for the title last season, and Monroe beat Houston in 2013.
2016 First National Cup
State High School Hockey Championship
At Menard Sports Center, Wasilla
Large schools
Thursday's opening round
Noon – Dimond vs. Juneau-Douglas
2:30 p.m. – West Valley vs. Eagle River
5 p.m. – Colony vs. West
7:30 p.m. – Chugiak vs. Soldotna
Greatland Championship
Small schools
Saturday
4:30 p.m. – Monroe vs. Houston