Wasilla awarded state high school hockey tournament

WASILLA - Impending major repair to the refrigeration system of the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks have sent Interior hockey programs scrambling, and the rippling effects will be felt across the state.

Games must be rescheduled and some special events, including the Alaska Schools Activities Association state hockey championships have to be moved.

With the site of the 2007 state tourney temporarily in limbo, Wasilla High School stepped up and agreed to host the event at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

It will mark the first time the state hockey event will be held at the Menard Arena, which sits inside the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. West Valley High School hosted the tourney at the Big Dipper for the last two seasons.

Interior hockey squads, as well as the Alaska Schools Activities Association, were notified late last month and told the Dipper would be closed during the months of September and October for the repairs.

The Dipper's primary user, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs Junior A hockey squad, were among the first to feel the affects of the closure. The Ice Dogs' season starts in September, and the team was forced to virtually re-write their 2006-07 schedule. Most of their home games had to be scheduled during the second half of the season, and that created a conflict with the scheduling of the state hockey tournament, ASAA special events coordinator John Andrews said.

Once it was determined that the Ice Dogs needed the rink for the weekend of Feb. 8-10, the three days the state tourney is to be held, Andrews began exploring other ideas. Organizers considered hosting the tournament during the week, rather than a weekend, or being creative with the times of the games. But in the end, all parities involved felt it was important to keep the integrity of the tournament in mind.

&#8220The more we talked, the more we realized this really isn't a good thing,” Andrews said. &#8220We don't want to mess this thing up.”

Andrews said he looked at the possibility of keeping the tourney in the Interior and holding the event at Fairbanks' largest facility, the Carlson Center, but that arena is also booked. Ultimately, Andrews settled on looking at locations outside of the Interior.

Andrews contacted Soldotna High School - the tournament was held at the Peninsula Sports Center for the seven years prior to its stay in Fairbanks - and Wasilla High School.

Wasilla was immediately interested.

&#8220We're really excited about it,” Wasilla assistant principal Dan Michael said.

Michael said Bruce Urban, the manager of the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, and Wasilla mayor Dianne Keller have played important roles to ensure this would be financially viable for WHS.

WHS isn't just a last minute suitor. The school and community brings many significant attributes to the table. WHS has successfully hosted a state tournament. The state soccer tournament was at WHS for a three-year period ending in 2004.

The Menard Arena is also one of the newest arenas in the state, and Wasilla is centrally located.

&#8220The Anchorage fans are really excited about it,” Wasilla activities director Paul Cossette said. &#8220It's a great facility in a great community. We really want to showcase it.”

Currently this is a one-year deal, Andrews said. After the conclusion of the upcoming season, the state tournament will go to a bidding process. Michael said WHS will use this year as sort of a trial run.

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