Houston hockey mentor to step down

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

HOUSTON - For the past 14 years, the players of the Houston High School hockey program have thought of Jamie Smith as more than just a coach.

"He's like our second dad," Houston senior goaltender Paul Sutton-Jones said.

Smith is seen as a mentor, friend and father figure by his players, but fatherhood is a primary reason why the 2005-06 season will be his last as head coach of the Hawk hockey program.

Following the season, Smith will step down from the position in order to devote more time to his 6-year-old son Cooper and 4-year-old daughter Sydney.

Smith said his children are starting school and beginning their own hockey careers, and he wants to be a part of that. He has coached Cooper for the last few years, but wants to be more involved. Sydney is just getting into the sport.

"I've played, coached, and attained the highest goals. Now I want my kids to have those same opportunities" Smith said. "It'd be selfish for me not to take a step away (from coaching)."

Houston's 4-1 win over Homer in the 3A state championship game last February was nearly Smith's last. The majority of his senior class last year were students of his when he first started teaching years ago at Big Lake Elementary. Smith wanted to finish with the group of kids he started with. Earlier this year, Smith had basically decided to step down, and he would do so before the start of the upcoming season.

"I always thought he'd stay for our senior year, so when he said that I was kind of shocked," Sutton-Jones said.

The current group of Houston seniors found out, and they did all they could to convince Smith to stay - one more season.

"We didn't want him to leave before we did," Houston senior forward Larry Kincaid said.

"The senior group I have now - we're pretty tight," Smith said. "I felt like I was walking away from them. It is important to stick it out."

Now Smith has one more season to usher out a senior class he has been with since the beginning. Smith said it is hardest leaving the kids he has known for so long.

"The relationships with the kids is the biggest deal," Smith said. "I've seen them grow, and have been such a big part of what they are right now."

Smith said it is not unusual for seven or eight players to come into his office, just to talk, each day.

"He's more than just a coach. He's helped us along academically, personally," Kincaid said.

Whenever a player needed to talk to someone and couldn't talk to anyone else, Sutton-Jones said, Smith was always there.

"They're excellent kids, and we've bonded. They've put in all of their effort, and I've put a ton of time into what they're doing," Smith said. "That's a big part of coaching, and I attribute my success to that."

Smith started his hockey career in the Big Lake Hockey Association as a 6-year-old Big Lake Elementary student. His career came full circle in 1993 when he helped resurrect the Big Lake youth hockey program. In Smith's first year with the organization there were about 40 skaters. Now more than 160 are in the program.

After graduating from Wasilla High School in 1984, Smith skated for the Penticton Panthers, a junior hockey squad in British Columbia, and later for Northern Arizona University. During Smith's career with the Division II squad, NAU dropped its hockey program, and he transferred to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Following his tenure with the Nanooks, Smith - a right wing - skated on the professional ranks with the Alaska Gold Kings.

When Smith returned to the Valley, he immediately began teaching and coaching. In 1991, he took over the Houston hockey program. During his time at Houston, Smith has led the Hawks to four state titles, and the last six 3A state championship games.

Also the activities director at HHS, Smith is involved in many local organizations. He helps run the Big Lake Hockey Association, is the director of Mat-Su softball and was recently appointed the marketing director of the Wasilla Spirit junior hockey franchise.

Houston assistant coach Dudley Boehm is also leaving at the end of the season. Boehm has been with Smith throughout his tenure with the Hawks.

With Smith and Boehm each leaving after the season, the Houston players want everyone to go out with a championship.

"There's going to be a ton of motivation," Kincaid said.