JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A skier died after being caught in an avalanche on North America's tallest peak, officials said Wednesday — the second death of this year's climbing season on Alaska's Mount McKinley.
Nicholas Vizzini, 29, of Washington state and his climbing partner, a snowboarder, triggered the avalanche high on the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak Tuesday while descending a slope, according to a statement from Denali National Park and Preserve.
The top of where the avalanche released was at approximately 16,600 feet (5,060 meters) and ran down to about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the park said.
Two mountaineering rangers on the mountain responded within minutes after spotting Vizzini's partner amid the avalanche debris, the park statement said. They were able to detect a beacon signal and find Vizzini, who was mostly buried in debris. The rangers tried lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead early Tuesday evening, the statement said.
Vizzini's body was recovered and transferred to the state medical examiner's office. His partner sustained minor injuries and was scheduled to leave the mountain Wednesday, according to the statement.
Earlier this month, Alex Chiu, a ski mountaineer from Seattle, died from a 3,000-foot (about 900-meter) fall on the mountain's West Buttress climbing route.
The climbing season typically runs from early May to early July. There are about 500 climbers on Mount McKinley currently, the park said.
FILE - A view of one of the faces of North America's tallest peak, then-named Mount McKinley, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Aug. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — John Marino scored at 4:03 of the third period to break a tie and give the Utah Mammoth a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Marino also assisted on Nick Schmaltz's 17th goal of the season and Karel Vejmelka made 26 stops as the Mammoth won for the fifth time in six games.
Mikko Rantanen scored and Jake Oettinger had 25 saves for Dallas, which has lost nine of its last 11 games.
Schmaltz broke a scoreless deadlock with 7 seconds left in the second period, tipping in a feed from Marino. It was the fourth latest goal in any regulation period in Utah's short franchise history.
The Mammoth nearly made it 2-0 just 38 seconds into the third, but Lawson Crouse had his goal wiped off the board for high-sticking.
Rantanen leveled the score with a power-play goal at the 2:04 of the third.
Marino answered two minutes later, snapping the puck home from long distance to put the Mammoth up 2-1 with his second winning goal of the season.
Utah improved to 16-1-1 this season when leading after two periods.
Stars: host Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Mammoth: host Seattle on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Dallas Stars defenseman Kyle Capobianco, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) shoots the puck against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston, right, moves the puck against Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, center left, fights for the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)