Back in Alaska

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Sports Editor

It is often likely for a kid from Palmer, Alaska to grow up playing hockey, just as Seth Reda did, but unlikely for a hockey career to take a player to Wichita Falls, Texas, just as Reda's did.

But after a stint in the great plains of Texas, Reda is back in Alaska skating for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

After a four-year career with Colony High School, where he broke the Knights' career scoring mark, Reda skated two season for the Wichita Falls Wranglers of the Junior A National American Hockey League. Though Texas is home of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars, hockey is not exactly the main attraction in the Lone Star state. And the north Texas town, just miles from the Oklahoma border, is the last place many would expect to play hockey.

By the time Fairbanks acquired Reda in a trade, the former Colony standout was ready to pack up his skates and mosey on out of Wichita Falls. Reda said he did well on the Wrangler squad and enjoyed his time in Texas, but it was time to leave.

"It was for the best," Reda said.

Reda said his hockey life was just different from what he was used to in Alaska. A town that may not grasp the sport such as Alaskans do, is the polar opposite of what Reda has come to see in Fairbanks. For each game the ever-rowdy and always loyal Ice Dogs fans pack the Big Dipper Arena in Fairbanks to root on the Ice Dogs. And Reda is giving fans something to cheer about. He is second on the squad in both assists (14) and points (22) and has also scored eight

goals.

Ice Dogs head coach Rob Proffit said he tried to acquire Reda multiple times and was finally able to pull the trigger on a deal midway through the off-season.

"I've seen him play all the way through since midget hockey," Proffit said. "I've always liked the kid."

Proffit said Reda filled an immediate need as a leader and first-line skater. He sees Reda as a player with great potential - potential yet to be met.

"He came in as a leader, no question he has been good. But are we completely satisfied, by no means," Proffit said. "He's got to keep going. We've got to find his name on that score sheet every night."

Though Proffit said Reda has not met all expectations, Proffit sees Reda's potential as a Division I hockey play, not as a disappointment.

"Number one, he's a very aware hockey player," Proffit said. "His skills are good; he can put the puck in the net."

Proffit said it is hard to find a player at that level with a better understanding of the game of hockey.

Eric Troisi, Reda's head coach at Colony, said Reda certainly has the ability to play at the Division I level and sees one of the Alaska schools, either Alaska Anchorage or Alaska Fairbanks, as a great fit for the Palmer native.

"One of those Alaska schools would be foolish not to give him a try," Troisi said.

Troisi sees Reda as a headsey player with good puck skills.

"Seth did it all. He scored big points all the way through (high school)," Troisi said. "He was the reason why we won four championships in a row."

Reda scored 40 or more points in each of his four seasons with the Knights. He also won the Region III player of the year award in his final two seasons with Colony.

Proffit said Reda has received a fair amount of interest from UAF and three or four other Division I colleges are looking at Reda.