Avs, Church on the Rock team to offer special night at hockey game

PALMER — Ranking high on Jeremy Cotton’s list of passions are hockey and his faith.

Last week, with the help of the Alaska Avalanche Junior A hockey franchise, the former Palmer High School hockey player and current Church on the Rock youth pastor had the chance to combine the two.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Mat-Su Valley Federal Credit Union, the Avs and Church on the Rock cooperativley hosted a faith night at an Avalanche game last week.

“It’s cool coupling together the local faith community and hockey,” Cotton said.

Cotton said hockey was a big part of his life growing up in the Valley and he has been able to combine sports and faith. He said he wants other kids to have the same opportunity.

“I think it’s a definite misconception that God’s not fun,” Cotton said. “You can be involved with your ongoing relationship with God and still be able to do the fun stuff too.”

Cotton said community involvment is also important to his church and youth group.

“We’re all about the community,” Cotton said.

MVFCU donated about 500 tickets, Alaska Avalanche general manager Dave Boitz said, to be used by local church youth groups, including Church on the Rock. Boitz said he’s seen similar events hosted by another North American Hockey League team, and he thought it could be a success in the Valley.

Cotton said he hopes this can be an annual event with the Avalanche, and he’d like to see more youth groups involved.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.