Leading by example

WASILLA — Early on in Colony’s 7-6 win over Houston last week, a Knights player made a sloppy pass that missed its intended target, Knights captain Blake Huppert, who was streaking toward the net. As the Hawks stole possession, Huppert briefly glanced up at his teammate, shooting a stern glare across the ice. He didn’t say a word, but the message was delivered loud and clear.

“I’m more of a lead by example kind of guy,” Huppert explained following the game.

Huppert has been setting a pretty good example from the moment he first laced up the skates for Colony four years ago. He’s leading the team in scoring this season, and is on pace to finish his high school career as one of Colony’s top all-time scorers.

His numbers say it all.

Despite missing nearly all of last year’s disastrous 0-21 season, Huppert has racked up 146 points in his career, including 60 (23 goals, 37 assists) this year through just 20 games.

In 71 career varsity appearances, the playmaker has averaged better than two points per outing.

But stepping into the role of captain this season wasn’t easy for the soft-spoken Huppert. At first, he said he wasn’t really sure how his younger teammates would respond to him in the role of Colony’s leader.

“It was kind of rough,” he said.

Colony coach Dale Mattson said Huppert is the type of player who likes to let his play do the talking.

“He modeled what he expected on the ice by his skating ability,” Mattson said.

As the season has progressed, Mattson said Huppert has taken on a more active role within the Knights team.

“He’s taken on a much greater leadership role and the kids are responding to him, whether it be in practice, on the ice or in the locker room, he’s stepped it up and become a real big leader for me,” he said.

Huppert’s return to the Colony lineup has been a big key to the Knights turnaround this year. Winless a year ago, the Knights are currently 10-10 overall and in position to challenge for one of the North Star Conference’s two state playoff berths. Along with linemates Risto Paastama and Lance Nezaticky, Huppert has led a potent Colony attack that’s averaging just less than five goals per game.

Mattson said much of that success is due to an unselfish attitude that’s been a hallmark of his team this season. In a game against Homer earlier this year, Paastama found the net six times while Huppert racked up a jaw-dropping eight assists.

“They’re thinking about getting the goal regardless of what it takes instead of taking it all for themselves,” Mattson said.

Huppert’s playmaking skills were evident in his Colony career. As a freshman he had eight goals and 17 assists in just 21 games. Huppert really exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, when he teamed with Ryan Pauling and Austin Manelick to form one of Colony’s most productive lines in team history. Huppert racked up 17 goals and 41 assists that year, helping Pauling become Colony’s second all-time leading scorer with 152 points.

Seth Reda holds the Colony career record with 171 points in four seasons for the

Knights.

While it may be difficult to pass Reda on the career list, Huppert may be able to break another Reda record. Reda also holds the single-season mark with 64 points.

Both Reda and Pauling went on to play juniors, a step Huppert said he wants to take once his Colony career is over.

“I want to be progressing and I’d like to go to Canada, that’s my goal,” he said.

Huppert said he hopes a roster spot for a top junior team can help him further his ultimate goal of landing a college scholarship. Once this season is over, Huppert plans on doing some intensive work with local players and coaches to fine-tune his game with an eye on making the jump to the next level.

“It’s a step up, everything’s just that much quicker,” he said.

In spite of his staggering scoring numbers, Huppert is far from cocky about his skills, and knows he’s got a ways to go before making the transition to juniors and beyond.

“I’m not there yet, but I’m hoping to get there soon,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com