Prep hockey preview: Valley boasts young squads

PALMER — The offseason was particularly tough on prep hockey programs across the state in the past year. Graduation made its typical impact. But there’s also a growing trend of athletes forgoing the opportunity to play high school hockey in favor of higher levels of the sport outside of Alaska.

While many teams in the Alaska, and a handful in the Valley, boast younger squads this season, at least one Mat-Su program welcomed back the bulk of its veteran talent. The Palmer Moose return 11 upperclassmen who competed on last year’s varsity squad.

“We have a lot of potential,” Palmer head coach Eric Troisi said. “We’re definitely a lot stronger than we were last year.”

That group includes a strong junior class. There are eight juniors. Many of those players have been regulars in the varsity lineup.

“There’s a lot of depth in that junior class, good leadership,” Troisi said.

That group includes forwards Darren Fish and Chris Dojka, and defensemen Noah Richards and Nathaniel Savel. Junior Josh Meyer can play forward and defense.

The Moose also have a strong sophomore class, which includes forwards Matthew Bembenek and Taylor Foster, defenseman Valary Dietz and goalie Cody Grogan.

Meyer was named second-team All-North Star Conference last season. Fish and Grogan were both named honorable mention all-conference.

Overall, Troisi said the Moose have the pieces. The coaching staff has still been experimenting with different combinations, but is excited about the potential.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for this team,” Troisi said.

The big thing is eliminating mistakes, he said.

“If we don’t give up any easy goals, easy power plays, it should be really hard for teams to score against us,” Troisi said. “We preach to the kids, we need to take care of our own end, and the other things will fall into place.”

Palmer got off to a strong start in its conference season, beating rival Wasilla 6-2 last Friday at the MTA Events Center in Palmer. It marked Palmer’s first win over Wasilla since the Moose beat the Warriors in the NSC title game in February of 2011. Troisi said another things that stands out about the win over Wasilla is the fact Palmer was missing four of its better players.

“That gives me some encouragement,” Troisi said.

Colony Knights

The Colony Knights are off to the best start among the Valley’s four prep hockey programs. Colony is currently undefeated, sporting a 4-0-1 mark.

The tie came in a 2-2 draw with Wasilla.

Overall, Colony sports a younger team, with a combined 15 freshmen and sophomores on the varsity squad.

“We have a plethora of young guys. We have a lot of freshmen coming in and seeing a lot of time,” Colony head coach Jamie Smith said recently.

Half of Colony’s senior class is on the blue line.

“We’re young, but we have veteran (defensemen) on the back end. That’s going to be key for us early,” Smith said.

Leading the way on the Colony blue line are senior defensemen Logan Sanders, Curtis Foster and Stephen Kempenski. Smith said sophomore Shawn Mitchell rounds out the group of four on the Colony defense. He said that group will see a ton of ice time.

Smith said he expects Colony’s three senior forwards (Jacob Link, Isaac Vincent and Cole Bloemer) to be leaders as well.

“We’re really counting on those guys up front,” Smitih said. “They’re big and strong, the hard hat guys.”

The Knights are also looking for some of their younger forwards to make an impact on the offensive side. That group includes sophomores Josh Boyer, Otto Thiele and Jacob Kirsch, and freshman Cooper Smith.

Sophomore Joey Diltz has inherited the starting goaltender duties, a spot left by the graduated Colton Beebe, the 2013-14 NSC Player of the Year.

Sanders was named first-team All-NSC last year. Boyer and Foster both earned second-team nods.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla, which finished second in the NSC and third in the 4A state tournament last season, was one of the teams hit hard during the offseason.

Wasilla lost a number of key players to graduation, but a handful of athletes eligible to return also took advantage to play hockey at a higher level.

The Warriors are looking to a new cast of talent to fill the void. Head coach Trent Schachle said he’s been impressed with the work so far.

“There are a lot of new faces, but the kids are willing to learn and they’re working hard,” Schachle said recently.

Schachle said the positive part to having a number of new players or young players, is the amount of potential there is to improve.

“We’ve got a great bunch of kids, as far as work ethic and working hard,” Schachle said.

Schachle said senior forward Luke Schruf and junior forward Cody Butcher are expected to be leaders on this edition of the Warriors.

“Luke Schruf has never been called on to be a leader, but him and Cody Butcher, we’re looking for them to lead,” Schachle said. “They’re working hard, staying postitive.”

Wasilla’s senior group also includes forward Blake Marks, defensemen Austen Park and Layne Morrison, and goaltender Kiana Verplancke.

“All of our seniors are capable of leading,” Schachle said.

Junior forward Larsen Tubbs, and sophomore forwards Russell Harren, Garrett Conroy and Braden Brunnhoelzl are also expected to play big roles for the Warriors.

Wasilla, which plays Houston Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Big Lake Recreation Center, is currently 2-4-1.

Houston Hawks

The Houston Hawks, the lone Greatland Conference team in the Valley, are in search of their third straight trip to the 3A state title game. But the Hawks are also sporting a younger team this year.

“We’re definitely rebuilding,” Houston head coach Mike Styers said recently.

Houston has five seniors on the squad: forwards Sam Fonov and Brad Fortin, defensemen Kyle Quincy and Mike Spidal, and goaltender Aaron Allred.

Styers said the Hawks are expecting a lot out of all of the seniors. Allred has a lot of experience for the Hawks in his career. He’s already come up big for the Hawks this season. Allred made 65 saves during a loss to Colony.

“Our goaltending is pretty solid. We’ve got to get a lot of out his this year,” Styers said.

The play of Spidal and Quincy on the blue line will also be key, Styers said. The Hawks defense will also include its top younger player, freshman Reed Humphreys.

“He’s big, strong, fast,” Styers said.

Fonov, Fortin and junior Tristan Hracha make up the top offensive line for the Hawks. Styers also noted a second line made up by sophomores Isaac Smolden, Yuriy Natekin and Andrew Natekin.

Houston is off to a 1-3 start.