Holiday hiatus a hazard for high school hockey

MAT-SU — While the actual holidays of the holiday season have come and gone, the after effects of the season are still evident.

Remnants of large meals are still sitting in refrigerators, along with a year’s worth of cookies that have been received over the past few weeks.

For most people, a little over indulgence around the holiday times is normal, and with New Year here everybody knows those few gained pounds can be remedied by a simple resolution.

This can all be rather problematic for local high school athletes, however, especially hockey players.

While local prep basketball teams travel to tournaments and are still allowed to practice, the high school pucks season takes a two-week hiatus for the holiday break.

This means two full weeks with no practice, no games, no commitments and plenty of food. The break also happens to come at a time of the season when teams are getting ready for a final run before regional tournaments.

Wasilla High School head coach Bill Studervant said that it’s important for high school players to skate over the break, as there is no easing in process once the break ends.

“When school starts back up we go right into a game with South,” Studervant said.

Wasilla takes on the four-time defending state champions on Tuesday, only one day after returning from break.

“It’s especially important for kids to skate when you jump right back in,” he said.

Studervant said that most of the local high school players play on local comp club teams, such as the Mat-Su Amateur Hockey Association U-16 B team that he coaches.

The MAHA 16-B team just returned from a tournament held in Richmond, British Columbia.

Over the holidays, Studervant said that many of the local comp teams go out of state to compete in tournaments.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to play against some tougher competition,” Studervant said.

Palmer High School captain Zack Richards, whose Alaska Avalanche U18-AAA team also competed in the Richmond tournament, echoed Studervant.

“It’s a chance to play at a higher level,” Richards said. “It’s an opportunity to see what the nation has to offer as far as hockey players have to go.”

It’s also an alternative to two weeks of inactivity and munching on sweets.

Richards said his squad played against teams from Canada, San Jose, Connecticut and Seattle.

While Richards said his team didn’t place very well in the tournament, it was fun to play against teams from places other than Alaska.

“The Canadians seemed to hit a lot more than were used to,” he said.

Studervant added that playing in outside tournaments over holiday breaks can provide players with some needed exposure.

“There are certainly a few kids on the team looking to play hockey after high school,” Studervant said. “The Richmond tournament is huge, and the kids know that there will be some coaches and scouts watching.”

Along with the chance of being seen by scouts, Studervant said the most beneficial result of high schoolers playing comp hockey over the break is staying in shape before the final push of the high school season.

“Playing on the comp teams keeps them from getting stale,” Studervant said. “It keeps them on the ice. Taking two weeks off from hockey would be tough.”

Contact Tyson Alger at sports@frontiersman.com or 352-2273.