Something is happening on the Treadwell Arena Ice.
It usually starts before 6 a.m. with a slow gathering of warriors putting on pads and blades and preparing to become part of a historic battle across a frozen land.
Once gear is donned, it is all action and elbows for the Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team and senior Chase Barnum.
“We have a lot of freshmen so we are a pretty young team,” Barnum said. “I am trying to get them used to the whole varsity situation. I am being a little more tough than usual. Coach knows the kind of player I am. I try and be a team player but I am focused out there and try not to take a lot of (crap).”
That seriousness is contagious as the Crimson Bears are filling the ice with non-stop motion across the blue line, behind the net and along the boards.
A strong development program of last season’s JV players and an influx of talented freshmen will bolster JDHS’ returning maturity.
“The practices are really fast paced,” Barnum said. “The freshmen and underclassmen are all really fast and that is helping the returning varsity players, because they are kicking our butts and making us skate fast.”
JDHS coach Luke Adams likes the early quickness.
“Practices have been fast and competitive,” Adams said. “While we have a large number of younger players on our roster, they have already proven that they are hungry and can compete. It is good to have this type of internal competition and it will only make us better in the long run. Our returning players will be the core of the team. We have lots of talent developing in our program and it will be a weekly competition to see who will be filling slots for varsity time.”
The Crimson Bears will be moving away from separate varsity and junior varsity rosters, instead implementing a “program roster.”
“Our coaching staff is looking for ways to enhance team camaraderie, culture, and commitment amongst our players,” Adams said. “Everyone has the responsibility to push themselves and each other each day. Each player in our program is as critical to JDHS hockey as the next, no matter who they are or what game they play in be it JV or varsity. Going to a program roster is just one way we can display this philosophy.”
According to Adams a varsity letter will be determined based on their commitment, performance and conduct throughout the season.”
The Crimson Bears were 10-11 last season and 2-4 in the Mid Alaska Conference. In the MAC, JDHS split with Lathrop and North Pole and were swept by West Valley.
In the opening round of the conference tournament the Crimson Bears stumbled against No. 2 seed North Pole 8-2 and finished the season with a 1-0 win over No. 4 Lathrop in the consolation game.
Seniors Barnum and Zach Hebert both scored goals in the tourney loss. Hebert added the team’s only goal in the season-ending win the next day.
In a text, Hebert said he expects the team will work hard to get into the championship conference playoff game and give themselves the chance to win the conference title.
Barnum, Hebert, and classmates Oscar Jones, Nick Parise, and Natalie Johansen all had varsity minutes last season. Senior Hunter Pegues also returns to the ice after a season away. Juniors Cahal Morehouse, Niko Hebert, Quin Gist, Ryan Liebelt and sophomores Jacob Dale, Yosef Monsef and Kasey Watts also found minutes on the sheet against top competition.
“I am trying to be the play maker,” Barnum said. “Trying to set people up and trying to score as much as I can to get our team the points that we need. Last year our team played well together because we had been together our whole lives, basically. This is a new team. We are just trying to bring what we got last year and set it up into this season. We have some tough first games but I think we can rise above those and that will get our confidence up. Our team is pretty good this year.”
JDHS has never won a first-round tourney contest, meaning they’ve never reached the state tournament. Adams believed last year’s team was the most cohesive he’d seen and predicted a tourney win in Fairbanks — and an eventual trip to Wasilla for the state tournament.
“Being able to end any season with a win is great,” Adams said. “But it ends there and doesn’t play into this season at all. This is a new start and with many new faces who are ready to make an impact. We want to consistently compete within the MAC conference and we will train with that goal in mind. It will be a challenge for sure but this group is ready and eager to get things going.”
JDHS will open the season Nov. 12 at Soldotna. The Crimson Bears’ first home game is Dec. 4 against West Valley at Treadwell Ice Arena.
JDHS CRIMSON BEARS ROSTER
(name, position, number):
SENIORS – Nick Parise, goalie, #1; Natalie Johansen, forward, #2; Ryan Moritz, defenseman, #5; Oscar Jones, forward, #7; Zach Hebert, forward, #8; Chase Barnum, defenseman, #24; Hunter Pegues, forward, #26.
JUNIORS – Quin Gist, forward, #9; Cahal Morehouse, forward/defenseman, #15; Niko Hebert, defenseman, #18; Ryan Liebelt, forward, #21; Gavin Murphy, forward/defenseman, #25; Cameron Jardell, forward/defenseman, #32; Simon Marks, forward/defenseman, #36.
SOPHOMORES – Tim McKenna, forward/defenseman, #3; Jacob Dale, forward, #13; Joseph Monsef, forward, #14; Kasey Watts, forward/defenseman, #16; Kane Ginter, forward/defenseman, #20; Koen Schultz, forward/defenseman, #33.
FRESHMEN – Cameron Smith, forward/defenseman, #4; Cully Corrigan, forward/defenseman, #6; Finn Yerkes, forward/defenseman, #10; Greyson Liebelt, forward/defenseman, #11; Kyler Alderfer, forward/defenseman, #12; Bill Bosse, forward/defenseman, #17; Ronan Lynch, forward/defenseman, #19; Tyler Weldon, forward/defenseman, #22; Logan Ginter, forward/defenseman, #23; Dalton Hoy, forward/defenseman, #27; Blake Bixby, forward/defenseman, #28; Wolf Dostal, goalie, #30; Kyle Farley-Robinson, goalie, #31; Finn Adam, forward/defenseman, #34; Owen Squires, forward/defenseman, #35.
JDHS MAC Playoff History:
2015 – 8-4 loss to No. 2 North Pole, No. 1 West Valley over Lathrop 8-0; West Valley 7-1 over North Pole (consolation JDHS over Lathrop 1-0). STATE CHAMP – West Anchorage 4, West Valley 3 (tie 7th/8th North Pole/Service).
2014 – 3-1 loss to No. 1 seed West Valley; Lathrop over North Pole 2-0; Championship- West Valley 6, Lathrop 0. STATE CHAMP- South 4, West 1 (tie 7th/8th Lathrop, West Valley).
2013 – 4-0 loss to No. 2 Lathrop; West Valley over North Pole 7-0; Championship- West Valley 3, Lathrop 2. STATE CHAMP- Dimond 7, South 3 (Lathrop fourth, tie 7th/8th West Valley/East).
2012 – 7-0 loss to No. 2 Lathrop; Championship- Lathrop 6, West Valley 4. STATE CHAMP- Dimond 6, Service 1 (Lathrop third, West Valley sixth).
2011 – JDHS did not make tourney. Lathrop 7, Houston 0; West Valley 8, North Pole 1; Championship- Lathrop 4, West Valley 3. STATE CHAMP- South 3, Service 2 (West Valley fourth, Lathrop sixth).
2010 – 8-0 loss to West Valley; Lathrop 5, North Pole 0; Championship- Lathrop 5, West Valley 3. STATE CHAMP- West Anchorage 2, Dimond 0 (Lathrop third, West Valley sixth).
2009 – 7-0 loss to No. 1 Lathrop; Championship- Lathrop 3, West Valley 0. LATHROP won state over Dimond 4-2 (West Valley placed sixth).
DEN NOTES:
Treadwell Arena opened in 2003. The first Juneau high school team was organized in 2004-05. Crimson Bears hockey was approved as an activity by the Juneau School District for the 2005-06 season and was not eligible for travel. They posted a 2-8 record. At that time, roughly 220 youths, ages 5-18, played hockey in the Juneau Douglas Ice Association, which funded the Crimson Bears. In 2006-07, the team hosted seven outside squads and posted a 12-10 mark. In 2007-08, the team went 12-9-1. In 2008-09, the Crimson Bears joined the MAC, went 14-8, and played in their first conference tourney. High school hockey state tournaments in Alaska have been sanctioned since 1983; Anchorage High School played an alumni team in 1958 and high school hockey was recognized as a varsity sport in 1959 with AHS playing men’s teams Fort Richardson, Army National Guard and a city team (Hohn Plumbers). In 1960, AHS won the first state title over Fairbanks High School.
JDHS freshmen Logan Ginter and Blake Bixby work for puck control during Wednesday morning practice at Treadwell Arena.
The JDHS Crimson Bears hockey team gather around head coach Luke Adams as practice ends Wednesday morning on the Treadwell Arena ice.
JDHS freshman Bill Bosse and junior Niko Hebert work for a puck during Wednesday morning practice at Treadwell Arena.
JDHS junior Cahal Morehouse, freshman Ronan Lynch and junior Simon Marks go jerseyless during Wednesday morning practice at Treadwell Arena.
