Back on the ice

DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Growing up on the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minn., hockey has been a part of Reed Lally's life as long for as he can remember.

&#8220It's all I knew as a kid,” Lally said. &#8220It's a way of life in Minnesota. Everyone loves hockey.”

Lally's passion for the sport and ability to create plays on the ice landed him on the roster of the Wasilla Spirit Junior A hockey team - until September 24. Lally went down after a player from the Billings Bulls checked him into the boards behind the goal, injuring his right knee.

What was first thought to be a minor injury, nearly ended the season for the 5-foot-10, 175-pound, left handed center.

That was until Friday when he was back on the home ice of the Curtis C. Menard Arena, having missed 23 games after undergoing knee surgery.

Following the injury Lally, who played with the Spirit in Springfield, Mo., last season, was devastated.

&#8220I was heart broken,” Lally said. &#8220This is my last year of junior hockey and it looked like it was over after six games. And I was off to a good start.”

During the first six games of the season, Lally collected four points. His three assists were a team high at the time, and his lone goal was a game-winning overtime tally against the Billings Bulls back on Sept. 18.

&#8220It was really a blow to what we had planned for this season,” Larsen said. &#8220He was one of the key veterans we were counting on for leadership this year and then he was out of commission.”

After having surgery to remove a loose piece of cartilage from his right knee, Lally chose to stay in Wasilla and with the team during his rehab.

Hurting Lally nearly as much as the injury was not being able to travel with the Spirit to the North American Hockey Showcase held in Blaine, Minn. in October.

The annual Showcase was not only a chance for Lally to impress the 200-plus college scouts who attended the four-day tournament, but was a missed opportunity to spend time with family and friends.

&#8220This is my last year of junior hockey so I was disappointed to miss a chance to skate in front of the scouts,” Lally said. &#8220And then not being able to travel to be with my family made the knee hurt a little more.”

Determined to get back on the ice, Lally worked harder. He spent extra time on the exercise bike to build his endurance, and worked out in the weight room to keep his strength up.

&#8220All that work in the weight room helped his rehab,” Larsen said. &#8220But you can't replace ice time. He's only been able to skate for a couple weeks and hasn't got back into top form.”

&#8220I'm maybe 90-95 percent right now,” Lally admitted. &#8220The remaining 5-10 percent is purely mental. I just need more time on the ice to regain the confidence I had before getting hurt, and to help me stop thinking about the

injury.”

Lally returned to the ice and has skated in the Spirit's last two games, but they were on the road in Fairbanks. After seeing limited on Dec. 16, he assisted Adam Muller in a 4-2 loss to the Ice Dogs on Dec. 17. He also added an assist Saturday in a loss to the Ice Dogs.

&#8220Losing games like we did Friday and Saturday doesn't help the comeback,” Lally said. &#8220But knowing that I can contribute to the team is a real boost to my confidence.”

Back in uniform Lally hopes that he can impress the college coaches who couldn't scout him at the Showcase.

&#8220I hope to get a D-1 scholarship,” he said. &#8220So I have to get back into form and start making things happen.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.