JUST FOR FUN

WASILLA — Jacob Barber came to Wasilla to play for the Alaska Avalanche Junior A hockey team. Since he’s been here, the Dardenne Prairie, Mo., native thought he’d play a little soccer too.

Barber, who is completing his senior year at Wasilla High School while away from his home state of Missouri, decided to play soccer for the Warriors during his final spring of high school.

“I used to play back home,” Barber said after helping the Warriors post a 7-2 win over Seward on Saturday at Wasilla High. “It’ll give me something to do. I’ll have a little fun until I get home.”

The 5-foot-8 senior, who played in 38 games during his first season with the North American Hockey League’s Avalanche, has made an instant impact for the Warriors. Barber recorded a goal and an assist last week during a 2-0 win over Palmer. On Saturday, he scored during the first minute of the win over Seward.

“He’s very skilled, very explosive,” Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said of Barber, who moved right into a starting striker position for WHS.

Barber is one of two Avalanche players on the soccer team and five who attend Wasilla High. Senior Matthew Friese, a former WHS hockey standout, is back in his fourth season with the Warriors soccer team.

While Friese has attended Wasilla High since his freshman season, Barber is among four first-year Avalanche players who transferred to WHS after making the Alaska roster. That group also includes forward Tyler Svoboda of O’Fallon, Mo., forward Beau Walker of West Richland, Wash., and defenseman Chase Van Allen, who went to Service High School last year. The players live with host families while playing for the Avalanche and attending WHS.

Barber posted five goals and three assists during his first season with the Avalanche, and is expected to be part of the team’s core of young players returning next season. Barber’s future in athletics will likely come on the rink, but he said he’s enjoying his time on the field.

“I’m just out there having fun,” Barber said. “Hockey’s my main focus. Now that’s over (for the year), I’m getting ready to graduate and having some fun.”

There was a time when soccer was actually Barber’s priority.

“I started playing soccer when I was real little,” Barber said. “I didn’t start playing hockey until five years ago. It just took off and got in the way of soccer.”

Barber’s move to Alaska was unexpected, he said. He started playing on his high school team in Missouri and occasional participated in select camps. During the offseason he got a call from Avalanche assistant coach Sean Fish with an invitation to try out.

“He saw me at a camp,” Barber said. “I didn’t go to a ton of camps.”

Barber said, at first, he was a little hesitant to make the move, but is glad he did.

“It’s been a great opportunity,” Barber said. “I’m just looking forward to next year. I just can’t wait.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.