Alaskan players eager to play in Shrine game

Wade Klippenstein figures it took him “18-19 hours” to get to Bangor from Fairbanks, Alaska, on Wednesday. Shaun Gravistin made it to Bangor in only 16 hours from Anchorage.

But neither one is complaining because the trip was paid for and they will get the opportunity to play in the first Shrine East-West College Hockey Classic at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena in Orono on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The all-star game, for college seniors, will feature four Hobey Baker Award finalists – Maine’s Jim Montgomery, Boston University’s David Sacco, Yale’s Mark Kaufmann and Minnesota-Duluth’s Derek Plante – and 17 Titan All-Americans. College Division Player of the Year Ray Alcindor of Middlebury College (Vt.) and two other finalists, Chris Campbell (Wisconsin-Superior) and Glen Lang (Wisconsin-Superior), will also be featured.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” said left winger Klippenstein, who had 29 goals and 22 assists for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks this season. “This is the chance of a lifetime.”

“This is good for us and good for the fans,” said goalie Gravistin, who turned in a 3.22 goals-against average for Alaska-Anchorage this year. “The other sports have all-star games and now hockey has one.”

“It’s long overdue,” said Klippenstein.

But this won’t be a typical all-star game and won’t be anything like the NHL All-Star game, which has become a shootout with virtually no contact.

“The NHL All-Stars have financial security. We have little “The NHL All-Stars have financial security. We have little or no security,” said Klippenstein, a 12th-round draft choice of the Quebec Nordiques. “This is an unbelievable opportunity to promote ourselves.”

“This is a good last chance to prove ourselves,” agreed Gravistin, a supplemental draft pick of the Hartford Whalers.

They said this game could particularly benefit players from schools that don’t get much exposure like their schools.

Mike Towns, promotions and advertising chairman for the game, said he anticipates plenty of NHL representation and that U.S. Olympic Team Coach Tim Taylor is expected to attend.

Gravistin and Klippenstein said in the aftermath of Maine’s national championship, Orono is the perfect place for this game.

“The fans still want to see hockey,” said Gravistin, who has observed that Maine fans are still basking in the afterglow of the title.

Klippenstein added, “Everywhere you go, you see congratulations (to the Bears).”

The players said the ice was in very good condition at the Alfond on Thursday and that the local (Anah Temple) Shriners have been excellent hosts.

“It’s tough to top this,” said Gravistin.

Friday night’s banquet and Saturday’s game are already sold out, according to Towns.

George McPhee, the director of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks and the 1982 Hobey Baker Award winner out of Bowling Green State University, will be the featured speaker at the banquet.

Maine head coach Shawn Walsh is looking forward to the game.

“This will be the most college talent you’ll see on one ice sheet this year,” said Walsh.

Friday’s practices at the Alfond Arena are open to the public with Michigan State Coach Ron Mason, Walsh’s father-in-law, leading his West team onto the ice at 10:30 a.m. and Walsh and his East team beginning their session at 1:30 p.m.