Anchorage's girls high school hockey season opens Thursday with a celebration of the sport at Ben Boeke Arena, where two games will be sandwiched around a special announcement related to funding.
The Scotty Gomez Foundation, headed into its third season administrating the sport as an outsourced activity in the Anchorage School District, has invited players from the area to attend. The event is free and anyone who attends has a chance to win a Scott Gomez jersey.
Games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The announcement is set for 6:30 p.m.
Mandy Reale, hockey director for the Scotty Gomez Foundation, which also funds boys and girls youth hockey, said girls high school hockey costs about $100,000 per season. Reale said the foundation funded much of the two previous seasons courtesy of a $150,000 state grant and the foundation's fundraising. Thursday's announcement will reveal funding to keep girls prep hockey going, Reale said.
Reale said high school girls pay a $250 activity fee to play and the Scotty Gomez Foundation funds costs that cover ice time, referees, coaches, jerseys and gear.
"Anything we can do to keep the costs (for girls) down,'' Reale said.
Because not enough girls play for each school to field its own team, schools pair up to form teams. This season there will be three teams representing Anchorage's eight public schools.On Thursday, Dimond/West plays South/Bartlett at 5:30 and Mat-Su faces a team composed of players from Chugiak, Eagle River, Service and East at 7:45 p.m.
Carlos Gomez, who along with his son, veteran NHL center Scott Gomez of Anchorage, created the Scotty Gomez Foundation and serves as the foundation's president, said his group is intent on keeping girls prep hockey viable.
"The satisfaction is we've kept it alive,'' Carlos Gomez said. "It's so they can play for their school, play for their alumni, earn a high school letter and continue playing hockey.
"That's what high school sports is all about. It's all positive.''
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockeyblog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr