Coach Alec Venechuk shares a laugh with a group of players during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Alec Venechuk shares a laugh with a group of players during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Students of the game: Intro hockey classes in full swing

Future Gretzkys.

  • Steve Quinn For the Juneau Empire
  • Saturday, February 16, 2019 5:59pm
  • Sportshockey

Each year a new batch of youth hockey players hit the ice at Treadwell Arena.

This season, eight Juneau-Douglas Ice Association coaches work with about 35 to 40 kids each Saturday from October through early March.

Gear is provided and sessions are partly by a Youth Activity Grant provided by the City and Borough of Juneau’s Parks & Recreation Department.


• This is a report by Steve Quinn.


Two of JDIA’s introductory players race toward a puck at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Two of JDIA’s introductory players race toward a puck at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Jim deLabreure helps one of JDIA’s youth players enjoy a break during a recent practice at Treadwell Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Jim deLabreure helps one of JDIA’s youth players enjoy a break during a recent practice at Treadwell Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Heather Brandon helps a few players rehydrate during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Heather Brandon helps a few players rehydrate during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coaches Alec Venechuk and Darryl Tseu share some laughs with a few JDIA youth players during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coaches Alec Venechuk and Darryl Tseu share some laughs with a few JDIA youth players during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Dan Fabrello shoots a quick smile at a JDIA youth player during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Dan Fabrello shoots a quick smile at a JDIA youth player during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Allison Smith watches a player during a stick handling drill at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Allison Smith watches a player during a stick handling drill at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Eliza Dorn works closely with a young girl during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

Coach Eliza Dorn works closely with a young girl during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

A young JDIA player gets ready to begin a relay race during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

A young JDIA player gets ready to begin a relay race during a recent practice at Treadwell Ice Arena. (Courtesy Photo | Steve Quinn)

More in Sports

Metlakatla’s Drena Hayward (#15) passes the ball to a teammate in their opening game against Yakutat during the 75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament opens with all harboring hopes for week ahead

Winners and losers not reading too much into opening games with some teammates still to arrive.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion girls basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain girls basketball team ready for back-to-back state tournament play

No. 4 Falcons begin school’s final chase for a title against No. 5 Dimond High School on Wednesday.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion boys basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain boys basketball team begins final state tournament play

No. 6 Falcons (19-9) open Wednesday against No. 3 West Valley High School from Fairbanks.

Hoonah’s Mark Prpich (22) drives the lane against Juneau’s Doug Draowski (5) on Saturday during last year’s Gold Medal championship game for M bracket at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on March 25, 2023. Prpich finished the game with 10 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament tips off Sunday

25 regional teams to compete for titles in four brackets; no Juneau teams playing this year.

From left, Lauren Shea, Chantale Bégin, Isabelle Côté and Noelle Helder propel their 28-foot boat Emma off the coast of Florida during a training run for their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo courtesy Noelle Helder)
Alaska Science Forum: Marine scientist rows across the Atlantic

The first days were the hardest days, Noelle Helder said. Imagine being… Continue reading

The author and his wife ride a lift at Eaglecrest over the weekend. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: All you can eat pizza

There are times you’re confronted with the culmination of your career as… Continue reading

Dallas Seavey sits with his lead dogs Sebastian, left, and Aero after his sixth Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race win on Tuesday in Nome. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Dallas Seavey wins 6th Iditarod championship, most ever in the world’s most famous sled dog race

Dallas Seavey’s path to an Iditarod championship was like none he’s faced… Continue reading

The 2024 Alaska Airlines Region V Basketball Tournament mass pep band, a combined musical extravaganza of Southeast high school pep band members, prepare to play during a game between Haines and Craig last week at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (Heather Gluth / MEHS)
Region V Basketball Tournament awards

The conclusion of the Alaska Airlines Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on… Continue reading

A pine grosbeak munches on some old berries. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
On the Trails: Animal tracks and pine grosbeaks

February had an extra day this year, a cold and gusty one.… Continue reading

Most Read