Surge of youth hockey sparked Pond’s bid> Sports officials to gauge interest

There are 1,059 miles between Denver and Los Angeles.

The University of Denver is the closest Division I hockey program to The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Calif., where the NCAA Hockey Frozen Four will be held beginning Thursday.

Why is the Frozen Four going to an area without Division I hockey? Isn’t it a financial risk?

“The Los Angeles Sports Council wanted to bring college hockey to the West Coast,” explained Steve Weakland, the sports information director of the University of Alaska-Anchorage, the host school.

“Youth hockey in the area has exploded thanks to the [Los Angeles] Kings and the [Anaheim] Mighty Ducks,” he added. “They wanted to see how it would draw. They wanted to see if college hockey would catch on.”

The bid to host the tournament was sponsored by the LA Sports Council, Alaska-Anchorage and the Arrowhead Pond, according to Weakland, and it was submitted in 1993. That was just before The Pond was finished. The Ducks began play in the 1993-94 NHL season.

“We [Alaska-Anchorage administration] were looking at doing something like this but we didn’t have the facility,” added Weakland. “The Los Angeles Sports Council is the driving force behind these kinds of events. They brought the ’84 Olympics to Los Angeles along with Super Bowls and World Cup soccer.

“When we first put the proposal together, nobody thought the NCAA would bite. But they did,” said Weakland.

And the NCAA is looking good right now.

“Ticket sales have gone very well. The building holds 17,200 and there are only 3,500 tickets left,” said Weakland, who added that the tickets are based on a three-game package.

“The area offers some different things to do like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, beach and golf,” said Weakland. “A lot of people have tied it in to family vacations.”

Having University of Maine senior right wing Steve Kariya, younger brother of Mighty Ducks star Paul Kariya, involved in the tournament has been beneficial.

“There has been a lot of interest in him. There have already been some local stories,” said Weakland. “Kariya is the most famous name in Los Angeles hockey right now. Paul is very well-liked here. The local media doesn’t follow college hockey but the name `Kariya’ rings a bell.”

Meanwhile, Weakland said his school will benefit by hosting the Frozen Four and having the school logo on the ice.

“It’ll bring exposure to our school. It’ll be a good recruting tool,” said Weakland.

Weakland also said there are some good club hockey programs at Division I schools in the area, like UCLA, and this could serve as an impetus for them to institute varsity hockey.

“I think it’s great,” said New Hampshire coach Dick Umile. “The sport has really taken off nationally. There’s a lot of hockey being played out there. The Los Angeles youth program is strong. We have a recruit from Los Angeles. It’s great that we can go there and showcase our game.”

University of Maine senior winger Bobby Stewart agrees.

“It’s going to be awesome. If college hockey ever wants to be as big as the Final Four in basketball, it has to head out in directions like California, where there’s population,” said Stewart. “Warmer climate areas have been getting NHL teams so, hopefully, that’ll open up the market for more college teams.

“College hockey is such a fast-paced game,” added Stewart. “There are a lot of kids with the same ability. It’s a lot of fun to watch. There aren’t as many games [as the NHL] so there’s more at risk. There’s more spirit and emotion [than NHL games]. Kids are playing for pride. College may be the last time they play so they throw everything into it for four years.”