Plans for 2-for-1 hockey admission changed

Frontiersman

WASILLA — There may be no 2-for-1 special. but local pucks fans still have the opportunity to watch a lot of hockey for a low price.

Houston High School and the Alaska Avalanche had joined forces to offer a 2-for-1 admission special for a hockey doubleheader, but those plans have been changed, Houston High activities director Norm Bouchard said on Thursday.

Houston will still host the Colony Knights in prep hockey action at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla at 5 p.m. tonight, and the Junior A Alaska Avalanche will follow with their game against North American Hockey League rival Fairbanks at 8 p.m. But rather than paying once, fans will have to buy separate tickets to each game due to concerns of the Mat-Su Borough School District, Bouchard said.

The primary concern, Bouchard said, is the sale of alcohol at junior hockey games at the Menard Arena. High school sports teams cannot be affiliated with ticket sales that include events where the sale of alcohol is present.

“The district can’t be involved where alcohol is being sold,” Bouchard said. “It totally makes sense. We have to have two separate gates, but that’s fine.”

Admission for the Houston-Colony game is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Fans will have to temporarily leave the ice arena between games, but a discounted admission is being offered by the Avalanche, Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said.

Fans who purchased a ticket for the high school game and are re-entering the arena will be admitted for a lower price. Students with tickets to the high school game will be charged $1 to see the Avs drop the puck against the Dogs, adults will be charged $3.

Those who did not purchase a ticket to the prep game will be charged the normal ticket price — $8 for adults and $6 for students.

When Bouchard put the plan together to feature a doubleheader of high school and junior hockey, he did get the event approved by his superiors. But concerns were voiced within the last 24 hours, and a Plan B had to be developed.

Bouchard praised Boitz and the Avalanche for continuing to work with Houston after hitting a snag.

“It’s nice to find this common ground,” Bouchard said. “It’s positive for everybody.”

Boitz said the Avalanche hope to continue to team up with the high school programs in the future.

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