Avs, Ice Dogs to make history on outdoor ice

WASILLA — Growing up in Oklahoma, Justin Giles probably never thought he’d be playing in an official hockey game on the outdoor ice.

He definitely didn’t think he’d be playing outdoor hockey in the single-digit temperatures of Fairbanks, Alaska.

But that’s exactly what the Alaska Avalanche assistant captain and his teammates will be doing when the Avs participate in the first-ever USA Hockey sanctioned outdoor junior hockey game, tonight at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks.

“It’ll be interesting,” Giles said.

While some may have reservations about playing in temperatures that are expected to hover around 5 degrees, the Avs are excited to participate in the historical event.

“We’re a part of hockey history,” Alaska defenseman Beau Braun said. “It’s a big deal.”

According to accuweather.com, the forecast calls for a temperature of 4 degrees when the puck drops at 7:30 p.m., and the mercury should stay above zero for the game. But not too much above zero. The temperatures are expected to drop to 2 degrees by 10 p.m.

“We hear it’s going to be about 5 degrees when we’re playing, which is better than 30 below,” Giles said.

Braun said the Avs already have gloves and face masks to wear during the game.

“Whatever you need to keep warm,” Braun said.

Even though Braun grew up in the hockey haven known as the state of Minnesota, this will be his first time to officially play on the outdoor ice. In fact, most, if not all, of the Avalanche players will be hitting the outdoor ice in an official game for the first time tonight.

The outdoor ice veteran is Alaska general manager Jamie Smith, who skated in prep games as a member of the Wasilla High School hockey team in the 1980s. Smith, the longtime head coach of the Houston High School program, also coached in outdoor games. A handful of high school hockey teams in Alaska — programs such as Kenny Lake, Glennallen and Susitna Valley — still play their home games on the outdoor ice.

USA Hockey and the North American Hockey League is following the path Zamboni’d by the National Hockey League and NCAA Division I hockey. The NHL hosted its third outdoor game, dubbed the NHL Winter Classic, on New Year’s Day at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill.

At the NCAA ranks, more than 75,000 fans watched Michigan and Michigan State skate to a 3-3 tie at Michigan State’s Spartan Stadium in 2001. Ohio State and Wisconsin hit the outdoor ice at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., in 2006.

Tonight, more than 2,000 fans are expected to witness junior hockey history. The game is the main event of what has evolved into a variable hockey carnival. There will food kiosks, a beer garden and an outdoor barbecue, appropriately called a “BrrrBBQ.”

The event is also garnering some national attention, most notably ESPNU and the History Channel, which is interested in footage for its show “Ice Road Truckers.”

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will also drop the ceremonial first puck.

The outdoor game will have a format a bit different from the average junior hockey contest. There will be four 15-minute quarters, rather than three 20-minute periods. The outdoor rink is adjacent to the Big Dipper Ice Arena, and the Big Dipper will be open throughout to give fans, and players, a temporary shelter from the cold.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.