Here’s day three of the Rookie Review. All three of the rookies you’ll meet today have a mushing back ground that dates back to childhood. Jody Potts-Joseph was raised with sled dogs as was Kevin Hansen. Sam Paperman grew up near to an active racing kennel and found his way to the runners in his early teen years.
Jody Potts-Joseph and her husband, Jamey Joseph, own and operate Raven Clan Kennel in Eagle Village, Alaska. Both were raised with sled dogs and cherish the opportunity to carry on the tradition of traveling with dogs. Mushing has been a part of their indigenous lifestyle for many generations. Jody and her family lives and trains on the lands of her ancestors – the mountains and valleys of the Upper Yukon, known as the 40 Mile River country. It’s where she was raised in a dog sled. She has experienced adventures around the world but says nothing compares to the joy and peace of being on the trail with her dog team. Jody has done triathlons and has completed an Ironman and several half-Ironmans. Jody is an American Han Gwich’in environmentalist and tattoo practitioner. She’s also appeared on the television reality show, Life Below Zero. Jody travels for speaking engagements and is currently producing a film called Beautiful Resistance. Raven Clan Kennel has been in existence since 2022.
Kevin Hansen, an Inupiaq Alaska Native was born and raised in Kotzebue. Hansen works as a physical therapist at the Maniilaq Health Center in Kotzebue. His parents have owned a small kennel since the early 80’s so Kevin was on the runners at an early age. He ran local sprint races as a junior musher and began distance racing in 2017, the same year his father Paul finished the Iditarod. He’s run the Kobuk 440 out of Kotzebue a number of times with his best finish of 2nd place coming in 2025. Kevin owns and operates Hansen Racing Kennel in Kotzebue, home to 24 dogs. Kevin completed the recent Knik 200 in second place. Kevin says he’s wanted to do Iditarod ever since he was a kid. He and his team are finally ready for the 1,000 race and he’s excited to travel across the state on the great historical trail.
Sam Paperman grew up in Seward across the road from Iditarod veteran Travis Beals. Sam continually found his way over to Beals’ kennel to help with chores and learn about dogs. When in trouble at home, Sam was often found hiding in a dog house at Travis’ kennel. It’s reported that as a kid, Travis did the same thing. At the age of 14, Sam began working as a handler at Turning Heads Kennel which eventually led to standing on the sled runners and running dogs. Sam participated in the Jr. Iditarod, finishing in 8th place in 2020. He’s the latest Jr. Iditarod participant to take on the Iditarod. Sam says dog mushing has become a central part of his life. He will be taking the Turning Heads puppy team on the trail in 2026. Paperman has worked across Alaska as a diesel heavy technician and marine engineer. He serves as an EMT and volunteer with the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department. In that roll he responds to a wide range of emergencies – medical call and house fires as well as search and rescue missions. Sam has worked in the checkpoints of Shaktoolik and Eagle Island as a trail crew volunteer. Paperman recently finished the Kusko 300 in 20th place. He’s also run the T-Dog 200 and the Kobuk 440.
