Local youth hockey associations combine forces to improve Valley hockey

MAT-SU — Those involved with the Valley Thunder hope a cooperative effort can improve local youth hockey and keep players in the Valley.

Prior to the 2017-18 youth season, representatives of the Valley’s three major hockey associations ¬— Mat-Su Amateur Hockey Association, Junior Avalanche and Pioneer Amateur Hockey Association — joined forces to create a series of teams ranging from the 10U level to the 18U level.

“The long-term goal is to develop the local kids, kids who live in the Valley,” Matt Ketchum, a Junior Avalanche representative for the Thunder, said recently.

Ketchum said the drive to create the Thunder came from seeing Valley players make the drive into Anchorage to skate for other comp hockey programs.

“At the end of the day, what’s most beneficial of all is kids not having to spend two-and-a-half hours a day commuting in and out of Anchorage,” Ketchum said. “They’re playing more, paying more attention to school with less time traveling. Logistically, financially, it makes sense.”

Ketchum said local coaches wanted to come together to try to keep players in the Valley, and give Valley skaters the most opportunity for ice time.

“One thing that’s unique about the Valley Thunder is we’re not rostering any kids not living in the Mat-Su,” Ketchum said. “The idea of that is to develop kids for our high schools.”

Ketchum said the Thunder experienced their share of growing pains during the inaugural year, but this year, their second year, has been promising.

“We made some adjustments in year two,” Ketchum said.

During the first year, Ketchum said players were still going into Anchorage. But that’s changing, he said.

Ketchum said there are currently about 150 players wearing the Thunder colors. There are six teams ranging from 10U minor and major to 18U Tier II. There is also a girls’ 16U Tier II squad.

Ketchum said, in his opinion, a roster ranging from 13 to 16 players is appropriate for the 10U and 12U levels, with about 20 skaters on the teams with older players. Ketchum said he believes 150 is a good number for the Thunder this season, but hopes to see an increased turnout in girls’ hockey.

Ketchum said another goal for the Thunder is to ensure players are skating at age-appropriate levels. The Thunder are following the lead of recommendations by USA Hockey.

“They strongly promote kids skating at an age-appropriate level as opposed to a really good 10-year-old playing in the 12U division. They might have the skill level, but emotionally, psychologically and sometimes physically, they’re not ready,” Ketchum said.

With the addition of seven Thunder teams, opportunities to skate have opened for more players in the Valley, Ketchum said. That also aids in the growth and development of Valley hockey, he said. More teams also provide more business for local rinks, Ketchum said.

Since the Thunder is not a registered association and essentially a series of co-op teams, Ketchum said the Thunder teams are split among the cooperating associations. A specific association hosts a Thunder team as a part of its sanctioned group at its home ice. For example, the Thunder 12U team is registered as a Mat-Su Eagles squad.

Ketchum said the addition of the Thunder to the Valley hockey community will also benefit the four high school programs in the area.

“I think it will raise the level of high school hockey, bar none,” Ketchum said.

Three of the Valley’s teams — Wasilla, Colony and Palmer — recently qualifed for the ASAA Division I state tournament. Colony finished fourth in the bracket. Palmer earned the Division II state title in January, its first hockey state championship in 30 years.

This weekend, Thunder teams will skate in the Alaska State Hockey Tournament in four divisions, 10U major, 10U minor, 16U Tier II and 18U Tier II.

For more on the Thunder, see valleythunderhockey.com.

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