Hockey to become a sanctioned sport at Kodiak High

The move will not become official until the board votes and signs the contract at its regular meeting on Sept. 20. However, at the work session, the board eliminated the drama on how it would vote.

“I’m very happy to support this, and I am happy that we can tell you this tonight, so you don’t have to go home and wonder about it for another week,” board member Judy Carstens told the players, coaches and parents in attendance. “Just remember, play hard, play proud and make Kodiak proud.”

For years, the Kodiak Hockey League has been at the forefront of pushing for a high school program. The league — a USA Hockey affiliated club — assumed nearly all responsibilities of funding the team for this season and future seasons. 

KHL raised $40,000 on GoFundMe in just a week’s time. KHL president John Glover said the league had also committed $10,000 to the high school team.  According to a memo to the school board, the upcoming season is estimated to cost $38,000, including giving visiting conference teams — except for Juneau — $3,000 for travel. In addition, the school district would toss in $12,000 for paying coaches and officials.

“Evidence with our recent fundraiser — which we pulled together in rapid fashion — is a testament that we have a lot of community support,” Glover said.

Glover said that the KHL, which has been in existence since 2012 after taking over the program from the City of Kodiak Parks and Recreation department, averages 180 skaters a season. However, he said not having a high school program was one of two limiting factors — the other being not having an enclosed rink — for the growth of hockey on the island.  

“When you have kids who have been playing hockey since they were 5 years old, and they don’t have an opportunity to represent themselves, their family, their community and their high school in the way of high school athletics that is a shame,” Glover said at a previous board of education regular meeting.

Despite not having a school team, high-school age students have competed on the state level. They played on the KHL’s 18-and-under team that competed in off-island tournaments and hosted teams. In 2019, KHL played three games against the Juneau-Douglas High School junior varsity team at the Baranof Park Ice Rink. Glover said there would still be an 18U team, but that season wouldn’t start until February after the high school season.

Having a high school team would provide more competition for the players. In addition, Glover said having a set schedule would elevate skills tremendously.  

“It is much more attainable to fundraise for high school hockey than it is to travel a lot in club hockey,” Glover said.   

KIBSD Superintendent Larry LeDoux said hockey cleared all questions that every new program is asked, like is there gender equity (it will be co-ed), is the feeder program sufficient to maintain a long-term program, is there funding and would a new team be competitive. 

“I believe in activities, and I am really impressed with your coach (Glover). I really do believe he gets it and what it is all about,” LeDoux said. “A good coach once told me that winning is a by-product of doing everything right, and I think we will win, at least from my perspective.” 

Board members Katie Oliver and Dave Johnson supported adding hockey to the winter varsity sports program. 

“I am very excited to support this when it comes time to vote,” Johnson said. “I missed the opportunity to play hockey when we moved to Seward — it is a sore subject to me — and I wouldn’t want to take that from anyone.” 

Oliver’s only concern was how the program would be funded after this season. According to LeDoux, KHL — and student fundraisers — would absorb the cost of the program. Similarly to how the Kodiak Football League funded the high school team when it joined the ranks in 2002. 

“I do believe over time that we will absorb hockey. I can’t tell you when. I can’t tell the people in this room who are going to raise the funds when that is going to happen,” said LeDoux, who noted the funding would be contingent on increased funding from the state. 

Kodiak would be joining the Division II classification and playing in the Railbelt Conference with Homer, Kenai, Soldotna, Houston Juneau and Palmer. The hockey season begins Oct. 14 and runs through Feb. 5. 

Glover estimates about 30 students will be part of the high school team. He hopes that visiting conference teams will bring a junior varsity squad. Glover said the program only has the funds for varsity travel this season. 

“It has been a long process. To finally see it come to fruition is obviously big,” Glover told the KDM on Tuesday. “Personally, I am a little bummed that I wasn’t able to make it happen earlier. There are a lot of people who moved in this direction in trying to make this thing happen. But certainly better late than never. I know a lot of kids who are going to benefit from this. It is awesome.”