Eielson Icemen continue 15-year hockey tradition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Perras
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Fairbanks, Alaska, is known for being a city devoted to hockey, and the passion for the game has extended to the Iceman Team.

For more than 15 years, Eielson Air Force Base has had a hockey team, a tradition which Tech. Sgt. Joe Straub, one of the team captains, hopes will continue through the years to come. Between his two tours here, Straub has played hockey for nearly four years on the Eielson Icemen team.

However, with recent cutbacks, the hockey team has lost its funding. Regardless, Straub said the team has persevered and kept up with regular practices while trying to schedule future tournaments.

"The Air Force as a whole realized we needed to cut back and prioritize a little better, so it wasn't an issue so much because we kind of knew it was coming at one point," said Straub, fitness operations NCOIC at the 354th Force Support Squadron. "Still, if we can get [on] ice once a week, be it practice or a scrimmage, then we're doing quite well."

Staff Sgt. Jeffery Jones, goalie for the team and 354th Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance scheduler, said being a part of the Eielson Icemen is not only a great way to stay physically active, but also a way to develop camaraderie.

"There's nothing more fun than having your own team, especially a team that backs you up," Jones said. The sense of teamwork that you feel as part of the team is a big thing, he added.

Jones started playing hockey only two years ago, but practices combined with games against local Fairbanks players have helped him become a better player.

"I've gotten so much better in two years," Jones said. "I wouldn't be able to compete the way I do today if I started somewhere else because the talent up here is immaculate."

Seeing new players develop and increase their skill level has been a large part of keeping the morale high among team members, Straub said. Gaining experience and moving forward through obstacles is just one way to stay positive.

"What I'm proud of the most is that the newer guys have come in, who maybe didn't have a clue, and how they've developed and they're actually pretty good now and pretty solid [too]," Straub said. "Even the new guys we've had this season have improved so much where we can throw them out there in certain situations and they can compete. That's a big thing."

To play, one doesn't have to be good at hockey. There's no age limit or even a skill limit. In fact, Straub said, one doesn't even have to have played hockey at all.

"There are no tryouts," he said. "We won't tell anybody no. If they want to come out, we're not going to turn them away. There's a place for you."

For more information on the hockey team, contact Straub at joseph.straub@us.af.mil or 377-4489.