Dimond hockey had fallen on hard times at the start of the 1990s. After the Lynx went 1-14 in the 1990-91 season, the school decided it was time to shake things up.
The hiring of Dennis Sorenson made a seismic impression on Alaska high school hockey.
Sorenson, 56, went on to become the first to win 300 games, then 400 games and now he's on the verge of creating his own 500-win club.
Going into this week's Cook Inlet Conference tournament, Sorenson has 497 career victories. The tournament's first round includes games Monday and Tuesday, and the Lynx are scheduled to play Tuesday against East.
Through the years Sorenson has influenced hundreds of teenagers who went on to become productive adults, family men and everyday professionals.
Those are the victories that make him the most proud.
"I guess when I retire from coaching and teaching I can look back and smile, feeling like I accomplished something," Sorenson said. "But I really hope it means I have spent a lifetime helping young athletes become better at their sport and their life choices."
In nearly 25 seasons Sorenson has turned Dimond into one of Alaska's most decorated programs with four state championships and nine region titles.
Despite all those wins, some defeats still haunt him.
Nine state titles have eluded him in the championship game.
"It really drives me crazy the years we let the state title slip by," he said. "Some of those losses stay with you and you look back and analyze what happened and why did it happen."
Compared to other Alaska high school coaches his numbers are Gretzky-esque. His active win total nearly equals the combined total of No. 2 Mike Ashley (268) and No. 3 Dick Thompson (246), neither of whom are still coaching high school hockey.
"Dick Thompson and Bernie Simon were the two guys I watched coaching," Sorenson said. "But I owe a lot to Harry McDonald for getting me started and mentoring me."
Sorenson got involved with coaching in 1984 after a stellar playing career at UAA, where he scored 197 career points – a total that ranks No. 2 in the school's record book.
"I wanted to play pro," said Sorenson, who graduated with a degree in management. "But life happened and I needed a job after college that could pay the bills."
McDonald asked him to help him coach a team of 10-year-olds. The job paid $2,500. Sorenson was hooked.
"We had a great group of players and families and over the next several seasons we built and molded them into the first Alaska team to win a USA Hockey Tier I national championship," Sorenson said. "I felt lucky to have fallen into such a great mentorship with Coach Mac.
"I also was lucky enough to work several summer hockey camps with Dempsey Anderson, Harry McDonald and Paul Brauneis that helped me refine the teaching aspect of skill development and my love for coaching."
Those coaches are legends of Alaska youth hockey, and Sorenson has earned his place beside them.
"He's done so much for hockey and in the community that we are lucky to have Dennis Sorenson in our town," said Anaheim Ducks forward Nate Thompson, a former Dimond skater in his 10th NHL season.
Thompson, who played for the Lynx from 1999 to 2001, turned pro in 2006 and said he couldn't have done it without Sorenson's help.
"I owe a lot of where I am today to Denny," Thompson said. "He pushed me to make me a better player, but even more a better person."
Other former Dimond players echoed those same sentiments, praising Sorenson for helping them become adults.
"I was never the best player on my team but Coach Sorenson always played me to my strengths and always pushed me to improve in every aspect of my game," said Tyler Currier, who played from 2004 to 2006.
Currier, who is currently playing in the ECHL, responded to Sorenson's tough love like many others because Sorenson develops strong relationships and lasting friendships with his players. They trust him. They respect him. They follow him.
"Coach was hard on most of his players, but that's only because he expected the best," Currier said.
Sorenson has been like that his whole hockey life.
"I'm not sure what really drives me. I always just loved to play and wanted to win at everything I did," he said. "I remember my high school wrestling coach telling me I would never play college hockey, and it helped drive me to achieve that goal."
Van Williams writes about Alaska high school sports for the Alaska School Activities Association.
Alaska high school hockey
All-time coaching wins
W L T
*Dennis Sorenson 497 139 19
Mike Ashley 268 52 9
Dick Thompson 246 80 27
*Rodney Wild 236 176 19
Bernie Simon 195 94 31
Wayne Sawchuk 165 93 6
Paul Brauneis 149 100 5
Rich Tarkianen 134 61 6
Bob Froehle 127 123 8
Denny Anderson 123 129 19
*Active
Cook Inlet Conference tournament
(Seeding in parenthesis)
Monday's games
6:30 p.m. -- Bartlett (8) vs. West (1), Ben Boeke Arena
7:15 p.m. -- Chugiak (4) vs. Service (5), McDonald Center
Tuesday's games
6:30 p.m. -- Eagle River (3) vs. South (6), Ben Boeke Arena
7:15 p.m. -- Dimond (2) vs. East (7), McDonald Center