All-Star Athletes: 10 Best Players Born In Alaska

I've decided to start a new series that I hope will give people some state pride and spark some debate. This series is a look at the best players from every state. I'm going to go in alphabetical order and do five states a week with today's being Alaska. The only criteria for a player to make the list is that they had to be born in the state and had to be a player. I'm also going to accept players who were born overseas, but spent the majority of their life in a state. So this discounts coaches and players who played their college ball in a certain state. So join me on this journey through the ages and look back on the best players from your home state. Make sure and tell me in the comments if I missed one of your favorite players.

10) Matt Carle

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 11: Matt Carle #25 of the Philadelphia Flyers passes the puck in a hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Wells Fargo Center on October 11, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Hockey

Position: Defense

Notable Stats: 2006-07 NHL All-Rookie Team, 2005-06 Hobey Baker Award (best college player)

Carle has been a force on the rink for as long as he can remember. In 2005 he was selected as the best player in the nation while playing his college hockey at the University of Denver. Since entering the NHL he has been a very solid young player. Currently he's playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

9) Mario Chalmers

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SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 06: Mario Chalmers #6 of the Miami Heat in action during their game against the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena on December 6, 2009 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloa

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Basketball

Position: Point Guard

Notable Stats: 2008 NCAA Final Four Champion, 2009 2nd Team All-Rookie selection

Mario Chalmers was the 4A State Player of the Year three times in high school, a feat that has only happened one other time in Alaska. In college he was known as a rugged defender and helped lead his team to a championship in 2008. With the new arrivals of Lebron James and Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat, Chalmers has a chance to prove he belongs with the big boys.

8) Chad Bentz

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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 3 : Pitcher Chad Bentz of the Florida Marlins pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game on March 3, 2005 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Florida Marlins 8-4. (Ph

Born: Seward, Alaska

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: 2nd player in MLB history to play with a deformed limb

Bentz is on this list because of his determination. He doesn't have very good stats ,but through his hard work he was able to overcome his deformed right hand and become an MLB pitcher. He's the second player to do so, the first being Jim Abbott. He doesn't have the success that Abbott does, but his story can't be denied.

7) Mark Schlereth

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20 Oct 1996: Offensive lineman Mark Schlereth of the Denver Broncos celebrates during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers won the game 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Football

Position: Offensive Line

Notable Stats: 2 time Pro Bowl selection, 3 time Super Bowl Champion

Schlereth is better known for his work in the booth these days, but in his time he was a great fixture on some championship offensive lines. He won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and one with the Washington Redskins. It's possible that he could have had an even better career because he endured 29 surgeries during his career. This probably hurt his career to some point, but he was able to make the most out of it and become a very successful lineman.

6) Scott Gomez

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TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 07: Scott Gomez #11 of the Montreal Canadiens skates up the ice during a regular season NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre October 7, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Ima

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Hockey

Position: Center

Notable Stats: 2 time Stanley Cup winner, 2 time All-Star selection

Scott Gomez is the first player from Alaska to play in the NHL. Not only that, but he has also been immensely successful in doing so. He has over 600 career points and is the alternate captain for the Montreal Canadiens. The most important thing he has done throughout his career is win. With two Stanley Cups to his name Gomez has made his home state very proud throughout his years.

5) George Attla

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15 Mar 1999: Jeff King mushes his dogs during the Iditarod Trail Race in Alaska. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

Born: Huslia, Alaska

Sport: Dog-Mushing

Notable Stats: 10 time Fur Rondy Champ, 8 time North American Open Champion.

I honestly don't know much about dog racing besides that it's a big deal in Alaska. While I was doing my research it seemed to me that George Attla was one of the best Alaska had to offer and had been a mainstay in the sport for quite awhile. I may not know anything about the sport, but I think the stats speak for themselves.

4) Carlos Boozer

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SALT LAKE CITY - MAY 10: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Utah Jazz shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2010 at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USE

Born: West Germany

Sport: Basketball

Position: Forward

Notable Stats: 2 time All-Star, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist

Carlos Boozer's story is the one that forced me to change some of the rules as to how I decide what state a player belongs to. He was born on a military base in West Germany, but was raised for the majority of his life in Alaska. Boozer and his Duke Blue Devils won the NCAA Championship in 2001 and this led to him being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has since become one of the most underrated big men in the game. He is a walking double double and will make his new team, the Chicago Bulls, very happy.

3) Trajan Langdon

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BERLIN - MAY 01: Trajan Langdon of Moscow is seen during the Euroleague Basketball Final Four semi Final game between Regal FC Barcelona and CSKA Moscow at O2 World on May 1, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Kern/Getty Images)

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Basketball

Position: Shooting Guard

Notable Stats: 3 time Euroleague All-Star, 2008 Euroleague Final Four MVP

Langdon was born in California, but a few days after he moved to Anchorage where his dad was a professor at the University of Alaska. He is the only other player to be a three time 4A State Player of the Year in Alaska. At college he set the record for most three pointers by a Duke Blue Devil, which garnered him the nickname, "The Alaskan Assassin". He was drafted by the Cavs with the 11th pick of the 1999 draft, making him the first Canadian in the NBA. He played there for three years and then moved on to a much more successful career in the European Leagues.

2) Joe Redington Sr.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

16Mar 1999: Doug Swingley reaches the finish line in Nome during the Iditarod Trail Race in Nome, Alaska. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

Born: Kingfisher, Oklahoma

Sport: Dog-mushing

Notable Stats: Created the Iditarod dog race

Okay, Redington was not born in Alaska, in fact he didn't come to Alaska until he was about 31 years old. However, if there is one thing people think of when they think of Alaskan sports it's the Iditarod. As the creator of the state's biggest event it was impossible to leave him out. Had he been born in Alaska he would be the sure-fire number one pick, but his innovation of the sport is enough to grab the number two spot.

1) Curt Schiling

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BOSTON - OCTOBER 16: Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox looks on before game five of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 16, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by

Born: Anchorage, Alaska

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Notable Stats: 6 time All-Star selection, 3 time World Series Champion, 2001 World Series MVP

Curt Schilling might be one of the most clutch post season pitchers to play in the MLB. The one thing people will remember about this man is his bloody sock from the 2004 ALCS series against the Yankees. However, he was even more dominate in 2001 when he went 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA and led his Diamondbacks to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. Schilling was simply dominate when the game was on the line and this thirst for victory is what got him the number one spot.

Well, that's all for Alaska. Did I miss any key players? If so tell me about it in the comments. Also check the next page for a link back to the past state's best players.

Past States

Alabama: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/497046-all-time-athletes-alabama-edition