Hawks look to fly to next level

After two hockey state titles and four trips to the state championship game at the 3A level, Houston is looking for the opportunity to go to the next level.

Houston athletic director and head hockey coach Jamie Smith has formerly applied on behalf of his hockey team for admission to the 4A class and the Region III conference.

Approval would pit Houston with Valley foes Wasilla, Palmer and Colony, in addition to Peninsula programs Kenai, Soldotna and Skyview.

Smith, who has coached his team to a 6-2-1 record against 4A opponents this season, believes it is a natural move for his program.

"We looked at the success we have had in games against 4A teams, and next year we should be even better," Smith said. "Our league is down right now and we have kind of progressed above and beyond."

Houston is 7-0 already this season in the Greatland Conference, the only region in 3A hockey. Last year the Hawks did not lose a game against small school competition until being upset in the state title game. Monroe Catholic prevented Houston from walking away with its third 3A title in four years.

Smith and the Hawks hope to be playing a full Region III schedule as soon as next season, but according to John Andrews of the Alaska School Activities Association the likelihood of that is slim to none.

The problem lies with scheduling. Smith submitted the proposal through Region III representative Doug Bean, the athletic director of Wasilla High School, and the request has been placed on the agenda for discussion during Monday's ASAA meeting. The Region III directors also meet next week to compose next season's hockey schedule.

Andrews said the request has been made, but the board will not act, or approve, during the first meeting.

"This is the first time they have brought it up," Andrews said. "It is their fault for bringing it to us late."

Andrews added that the soonest Houston may gain approval is February.

If the Houston hockey program is granted approval to compete at the 4A level, it will be a first for Alaska. Individual programs in the state, such as the Kenai, Soldotna and Eielson football squads, have dropped to a lower level, but ASAA has yet to allow an individual program to jump to the next class.

"It is understandable, Houston has an outstanding (hockey) program," Andrews said. "This would be an exception for the board to grant just one sport without moving everything, even though other states allow it.

"We just haven't done this in our state," Andrews added. "Once a school is at the 4A or 3A class, it has to play all of their sports there. This would be a whole new change."

Though Houston may not be allowed full membership in the Region III level, due to poor timing, the Hawks seem to have a good chance to gain 4A status for the 2005-06 campaign.

"It is hard to believe why they wouldn't allow us to go up," Smith said.

Judging by the reaction of other Region III programs, there would be a warm reception for Houston.

"It is a good idea. They have been certainly able to compete at this level for the last four to five years or so," Palmer head coach Brian Fish said.

"Houston is a growing school and they have one of the better programs," Bean said. "Smith has done a great job,"

Proponents of the move cite several positives, including travel and a natural rivalry with the three other Valley schools in Region III.

"The four schools all have a great rivalry," Bean said.

"It would be great for the Valley," Fish added. "We would get a couple more home games."

Part of the current criteria for programs competing in a certain class is the number of students enrolled in the school. The breaking point where programs are bumped up to the 4A level is 401 students. There are 380 students currently attending Houston High. Smith said Houston projects to have about 430 students enrolled at the beginning of the next school year.

The Hawks have played nine games against large school competition this season. Six of those games have come against Palmer, Wasilla, Colony and Kenai, schools that hover around the 1,000-student mark. The Hawks have also played three Anchorage opponents, Chugiak, Bartlett and East. Each Anchorage school has well over 2,000 students. Last weekend Houston defeated Bartlett 2-1.

Houston's only two losses to 4A foes have come by just one goal, a 5-4 overtime loss to East and a 2-1 loss to Chugiak. Both schools are considered perennial powers in the state of Alaska.

The Hawks have rolled through their 3A competition this season outscoring opponents 57-11 in seven games.

"(This move) is for the long term success of my players, Smith said. "I don't want to hold them back. You play at a higher level, you become a better player."

Smith currently tries to schedule as many 4A opponents as possible, but is locked into a at least 14 3A games per year. Smith said below his team's total talent level can help his younger players, but can hurt his more established talent such as phenoms Wade Williams and Rick Morlock.

"It provides more playing time for the other kids, but guys like Wade and Rick see less time," Smith said. "They don't develop."

With the help of a very deep and successful youth hockey programs in the Big Lake area, the Hawks have produced talent consistently. Smith said it is natural for the level of talent to fluctuate, but Houston's has been consistent.

"There is not a lot of change," Smith said.

The Hawks are poised to field an even a better team next year, with five juniors and 11 sophomores on this year's roster.

Houston's top four scorers, each of whom has more than 30 points will return next season. Larry Kincaid, Houston's fourth leading scorer with 13 goals and 17 assists is only a sophomore. Goaltender Paul Sutton-Jones, who has stopped nearly 92 percent of the shots he has faced this season, is also just a sophomore.

Freshman Kaleb Westfall was named to the Alaska select team during the fall.

"As good as they have been in the last two years, I am surprised they didn't push for it sooner," Fish said.