Colony senior to play hockey on the East Coast

WASILLA — Jake Elwell has two immediate goals for his future. Elwell, who will graduate from Colony High School in May, has his sights set on playing Division III hockey and studying fire science.

Elwell hopes the next stop in his hockey career will allow him to achieve both goals. Elwell, who capped his four-year hockey career at Colony High, will play for the Middlesex Black Bears in Lawrence, Mass., next fall. Elwell was recently been named to squad, and will compete within the Black Bears National Junior Development Program.

“This prepares me for college hockey,” Elwell said of the opportunity.

As opposed to teams in standard junior hockey leagues, the Middlesex program is more similar to a prep school. According to its website, Middlesex attracts about 300 student-athletes from across the country each year. The program includes hockey and lacrosse teams at multiple levels. In addition to playing hockey, Elwell said he will be taking college courses at nearby Merrimack College.

“It makes it more well-rounded for me,” Elwell said.

Elwell said he’ll begin the season as the team’s second-line center. As a senior, Elwell played 19 games for the Knights. He bagged two goals and five assists, and finished the season with 28 penalty minutes. In addition to play at Colony, Elwell played for both the Mat-Su Amateur Hockey Association and the Junior Avalanche Hockey Association.