Palmer seniors -- Heart of Moose hockey

It has been a long journey for the Palmer hockey squad in the last four years.

Lack of numbers on their squad have caused bumpy roads, but this season it has been much smoother skating for the Moose.

Tonight, as the Moose take on the Warriors, Palmer will celebrate senior night. The team will honor a group of seniors who stuck with it through in both thick and thin.

Dan Borsetti, Dylan McKenzie, Jonah Stewart and Eli Riggs have been the core of the squad and the heart of the Moose for the past four seasons.

When asked why they stuck it out, Borsetti had a very simple answer, heart.

"Heart," Borsetti said. "We all have heart."

As freshman four years ago, the four Palmer players were asked to contribute and play a significant role for the team.

The players, along with head coach Brian Fish, recalled the first games of the group's freshman season. Palmer began the 1999-2000 season with a three-game road trip to Fairbanks. Fish only had 12 players on his squad, 10 position players and two goaltenders. There was only one senior, one junior and a few sophomores.

As freshmen, Borsetti, McKenzie, Stewart and Riggs were thrown right into the mix.

"I was just a little guy playing the whole game," McKenzie said of his first experience in a Palmer High uniform. "It didn't allow me to be scared. They just threw me right into the mix."

"They were asked to contribute even as freshmen," Fish said. "Each year their role became bigger.

"They are bigger and stronger now because of it," Fish added. "In the end they are much better for it. Not in just hockey, but their character."

The early playing time and experience gave the freshmen an opportunity for rapid improvement.

"At that age, playing against the older guys only made us better," Riggs said.

The groups' experience has been an aid to Palmer High's younger players.

"The younger players get down on themselves and we remind them that this isn't bad at all, it could be worse," McKenzie said. "We have gone through the same stuff. We have seen the bottom."

"They have come a long way and that is helping the younger kids," Fish said. "They have a more positive attitude and that has a trickle down effect."

For a variety of reasons Palmer has struggled with getting guys on the ice and keeping them there.

"There are so many variables," Fish said. "There are grades and discipline problems, but that is the case everywhere.

"Unfortunately Palmer does not have an indoor rink, so we have to go to Wasilla and the Brett," Fish added. "It is hard to promote youth hockey."

Palmer has also lost players to other teams.

"We have had kids transfer to other schools. They could not commit to us and it hurt the Palmer program," Fish said. "It is a credit to the guys who stuck around."

Throughout the last four years, the senior class has tried to play a role in keeping players at Palmer.

"There is no reason to go," Riggs said. "There are a lot of good younger kids and we are hoping to form a good trend."

Fish has also played a role.

"Coach (Fish) is a big part of the reason why we stayed," McKenzie said. "If we had someone else, I am not sure if everyone would have stayed. He makes us a better team."

"We are trying to convince people to stay at Palmer," Fish said. "We are letting they guys know that are coming up that we are making a change. Stick with us.

"Houston had a few rough years at the start and now they have won two small school state championships in a row," Fish added. "They have shown a commitment to youth hockey. We need to convince guys that is what we want to do at Palmer."

With the leadership of their senior class, Palmer is enjoying their best season during Fish's five-year tenure. The Moose have 18 players in their program and have been able to field a junior varsity team for the first time since the mid-1990s. Palmer has notched eight wins this season, including victories over Valley rivals Colony and Wasilla. Each senior agrees that wins over the Knights and the Warriors are among the biggest of their four-year

career.

A win over Wasilla tonight would make Borsetti, McKenzie, Riggs and Stewart's' journey complete.