Building Ram hockey

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Sports Editor

TALKEETNA -- For the last several years, longtime Talkeetna-area coach Jack McDonald has worked to create a Susitna Valley High School hockey squad.

Now the list of Ram extra-curricular activities that features basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross-country running and cross-country skiing, finally includes hockey.

In October the new Su Valley hockey squad started a schedule that includes a full slate of games. The Rams' schedule features several junior varsity teams from the Interior and Mat-Su area, as well as a few varsity squads sprinkled in. Last month Su Valley took on the Palmer varsity squad at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, and according to McDonald, Su Valley also has scheduled games against the Kenny Lake and Tri Valley varsity teams.

Last season McDonald brought a group of players together in the high school age group and organized a pair of scrimmages and that was the foundation of the Rams.

McDonald said the Rams have yet to move into a conference but are recognized as a high school team.

"Su Valley wanted us to play for a year before we moved into a conference," McDonald said.

When the Rams do get approval to move into the conference, it would almost undoubtedly be to the Great Land Conference at the 3A level.

"We're hoping next year," McDonald said. "They thought it would be better that way, keep it at eight teams. That would be a good time for us to move in."

Houston and Homer have each expressed interest to move from the 3A Great Land Conference into the 4A Region III. At this time, Homer is said to be the most likely team to make the jump, McDonald said.

McDonald, who has coached hockey in the area for the past 14 years, said Talkeetna has a strong youth hockey association, but the hardest part of the transition will be learning the rules that go along with high school activities.

"We've got a lot of enthusiasm at the youth level. That's what we need," McDonald said. "For me it is learning all the new high school rules."

McDonald said he and Su Valley activities director Bruce Gunderson have worked together, learning the basics of maintaining a high school team. McDonald also said Houston activities director and head hockey coach Jamie Smith has been a big help.

While McDonald admits he has not got the financial support from the school district he had hoped, he said the community has been instrumental in keeping the Rams on the ice.

"The community is kind of fronting the whole team," McDonald said.

The Talkeetna area now has a new ice rink largely due to help from the community. A $50,000 grant helped fund the cost to build the outdoor facility. A group of local carpenters worked for nothing to help keep costs to a minimum. Only $40,000 of the grant was needed, so there is still money left over for maintenance and improvement of the rink. The Rams play mostly on the outdoor ice of the Talkeetna rink, but occasionally gather the resources to take the Rams to either the Menard Arena or Brett Arena in Wasilla.

In addition to the games already scheduled, McDonald said he hopes to bring the Palmer varsity squad to Talkeetna for a scrimmage during the 2004-05 season.

"That would generate more interest in the community," McDonald said.

Now getting recognition for his team and building Talkeetna hockey from the youth level up are McDonald's two main priorities.

"We have a very strong hockey association. I think all of our kids, especially our peewees, want to play hockey. Kids in the past, they had to give it up and play basketball if they wanted to do anything in high school," McDonald said. "I think we'll be fine; we're going to take our lumps."