Talkeetna team makes history

WASILLA -- A group of local skaters made history Saturday.

For the first time in the history of the school, a Susitna Valley hockey team took the ice. While it is not yet an official ASAA squad, the Rams took their first step toward competing at the varsity level with an exhibition game against Houston.

Jack McDonald, a youth coach in the Talkeetna area for the last 13 years, has spearheaded the effort to bring ice hockey to Su Valley High School. It has been his goal since he first started coaching the sport in the area.

While coaching at multiple levels and advancing to five youth state title games, McDonald has continued to work toward creating the Ram hockey team.

Houston head hockey coach Jamie Smith put together a group of his younger high school and junior high players for the scrimmage.

Although Houston won the exhibition, it was a giant step for the future Su Valley program.

"We took a big step," McDonald said. "The young kids have something to work toward and look forward to now."

According to McDonald, the quest to produce a Su Valley hockey team has produced immense support from the community.

The Talkeetna area now has a new ice rink largely due to help from the community. A $50,000 grant helped fund the cost to build the outdoor facility. A group of local carpenters worked for nothing to help keep costs to a minimum. Only $40,000 of the grant was needed, so there is still money left over for maintenence and improvement of the rink.

The new facility has already been used for practice, games and clinics.

McDonald has been working with the Su Valley High School administration to add the sport to Ram athletics.

"They are supportive, but cautious," McDonald said. "They are afraid of other programs getting hurt."

Currently Su Valley fields teams for boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track and field, boys' and girls' cross-country running, boys' and girls' cross-country skiing and girls' volleyball.

The Rams have another exhibition game planned, taking on the Colony JV on Jan. 4 at the Brett Ice Arena.

McDonald is also looking for teams to play the Rams in Talkeetna.

McDonald's goal is for the Rams to hit the varsity level in two seasons.

"This reminds me a lot of what Jamie (Smith) went through," McDonald said. "They took their lumps, but they were able to build a program. We made history today."