Wasilla Spirit junior hockey team looks at changing name

MAT-SU - When the Mat-Su Valley's Junior A hockey squad hits the ice for the first time next season, there is a good chance the team will not be known as the &#8220Wasilla Spirit.”

The franchise is exploring the idea of changing its name, logo and mascot, and wants the community's input.

Now operating under the control of a local ownership group, the hockey franchise is entering a new era in the

Mat-Su Valley.

Late last month a group of investors, led by Mark Lee, a Mat-Su realtor, agreed to purchase the North American Hockey League franchise. The team, which relocated from Springfield, Mo., prior to the start of the 2005-06 season, had been operating under the control of an ownership group made up primarily by investors from the Lower 48.

And now as the franchise tries to cement roots in the Valley, the organization would like to go into its new era with a new name.

Since he became the managing partner of the organization, Lee has put an emphasis on involvement with the community. He feels that a good way to get the community involved, is to give fans the chance to suggest possible names. mascots and logos for the club.

&#8220The best way to do it is to have the community to make some suggestions,” Lee said Monday. &#8220It's absolutely critical to have the community involved. It's their team, not our team.”

If a fan's idea is chosen as the new identity of the club, the reward would be two sets of season tickets, courtesy of the hockey franchise. Lee asks that submissions are sent via e-mail to nameyourhockeyteam@glcr.com, or faxed to 376-4039. Each submission is required to have a specific geographic location reference. Examples include Alaska, Mat-Su and Wasilla.

Friday is the deadline.

When the league initially approved the move of the team from Missouri to the Valley, the club was dubbed the Mat-Su Spirit. There was talk of changing the name, mascot and logo once the Spirit arrived in Alaska. But Jack Tragis, the managing partner of the old ownership group, told the Frontiersman in June there was not enough time to appropriately go through the process of such a change. The Spirit were moved to the Valley just two months before training camp started, and any changes had to be approved by the NAHL.

Ultimately the hockey team took on the name of the Wasilla Spirit, due to a deal with the city of Wasilla.

&#8220The previous contract signed by the previous ownership group did specify that the word Wasilla had to be the first name of the team,” Lee said.

The organization signed a contract with the city of Wasilla to play its home games at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, which sits inside the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. The contract was good for one year.

There is a possibility Wasilla will not be included in the new moniker of the

franchise.

Wasilla mayor Dianne M. Keller is taking a wait and see approach, but is hopeful Wasilla remains a part of the team's name.

&#8220We'll have to wait and see what their name turns out to be,” Keller said Monday afternoon. &#8220I am hoping whatever name they choose, Wasilla is a part of that name. I understand there's no guarantee for that.”

The city of Wasilla has yet to sign a contract with the hockey franchise for the 2006-07 season. Keller would give no indication about whether a potential name change could damage the relationship between the two parties, or change contract terms.

Lee said he wants the entire Valley to identify with the hockey team. Part of the reason to consider replacing Wasilla with another first name, Lee said, is to avoid alienating fans outside Wasilla. Lee also said he sees increased support of the entire Mat-Su Valley as a benefit to both the franchise and the city of Wasilla.

&#8220We're the closest thing (the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex) has to an anchor tenant,” Lee said. &#8220I don't think that the city wants to cut off its nose to spite its face.”

Lee doesn't want a potential name change to be turned into political process.

&#8220We've even kicked around Alaska, as opposed to a city,” Lee said. &#8220Lets see what everybody comes up with.”

Keller said she hopes the franchise will come to the city of Wasilla with a proposed name change before the decision becomes final.