Hockey players are picking up a different kind of stick and heading to the field this summer, thanks to Anchorage's fledgling lacrosse league.
The four-year-old league still isn't large enough to field full rosters, but what the league players call "hockey crossovers" are bolstering numbers.
The smooth transition from the ice to the field comes from the games' similar strategy and speed, according to longtime lacrosse player Chuck Pratt.
Instead of a bladed stick, players use a netted one to get the small, dense ball past a goalie and into the net.
Some of the hockey players are proficient with a stick their first time on the field, much to the good-natured annoyance of the seasoned lacrosse players.
Anchorage hockey player Jared Baldwin managed to keep up as soon as he took the field the first time.
"He's so wicked fast and has great game sense," said Pratt, breaking into a smile. "It pisses us off."
The skill perhaps most difficult for hockey players to learn is "cradling" -- twisting the stick back and forth quickly to keep the ball from falling out while running down the field.
Another hockey player giveaway is the shot on goal.
"It looks like they're taking a slap shot," said Mike Driscoll, who played lacrosse in high school in California.
But experienced players like Driscoll are using the weekly scrimmages to help the crossovers develop their field skills.
"We definitely teach the new guys," he said. "Everyone's in the coaching mode out here."
With the new recruits, the league sees between 20 and 30 players for the Monday night scrimmages at the YMCA field.
That's enough to play five on five -- a bit different from the official 10-person team size -- especially since two of the players are really plywood boards.
Lacrosse players are difficult enough to come by in Alaska, and a lacrosse goalie is even more rare, partly because in lacrosse -- despite the body pads -- the position absorbs quite a few blows with the ball.
So Pratt crafted two stand-in goalies out of wood and hangs them from the goal crossbar during scrimmages.
Sometimes the hockey players "get volunteered" to play goalie in their lacrosse debut.
"Chuck gives them a hard time. They go (in as) goalie and don't last long," said Driscoll.
Then they re-hang the plywood. Not even the veteran players enjoy filling that roll.
But they don't mind taking a few stick hits.
"It's fair game to hit," said Driscoll. "I mean, you can't chuck somebody, but poking, slapping and jabbing is OK."
Because the league doesn't have a regular referee, Driscoll said the foul game is sort of a gray area.
"If there's a flagrant foul, we'll self-referee," he said.
To cushion the blows, players wear helmets, shoulder pads, arm pads and gloves, pricey items not too common in Anchorage sporting goods stores.
Helmets, shoulder pads and arm guards run at about $100 apiece. Some of the older players get by with their old high school and collegiate gear, which stands out from the newer stuff, but serves as a reminder of past glory, said Pratt.
But a few pieces have provided more pride than protection this season.
"I had these sticks for 25 years," said Driscoll. "I brought them out here and wack-wack! They lasted one practice."
Another player sported his college helmet -- with a bigger gap between the nose and eye area than the new, sleeker models.
"Someone took a shot on goal and all of a sudden there was a big loud crack and we couldn't find the ball," said Driscoll. "He turned around with the ball stuck in his helmet right in front of his eye.
"He showed up at the next game with a new helmet.''
This summer the league is seeing it's biggest turnout yet, and is more organized than previous seasons.
When the snow hits, the league will head indoors to play, hopefully with even more recruits.
"We'd love to have multiple rosters and start keeping stats," said Driscoll. "Maybe even travel around the state. There's definitely an interest."
Heather March can be reached at 257-4335 or at hmarch@adn.com.
By HEATHER MARCH
hmarch@adn.com