UAF Hockey hosts youth camp as players return to campus

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The first day of instruction for the University of Alaska Fairbanks is August 23 as student-athletes return to campus to begin a new year. Before their first official practice, the hockey program hosted four days of skill development, training and fun with Division I hockey players at the 2021 Edge Boss Day camp.

As the players begin to mentally and physically prepare for the grind that comes with being both a student and an athlete, spending time with the youth of Fairbanks learning to get their skater legs under them can be therapeutic.

“I think they just become little kids again when they do this stuff,” Nanooks head coach Erik Largen said, who is entering his fourth season with program. “They get to go out there and play and do different games with them, teach them how to skate. For the kids, you grow up watching the Nanooks and want to learn from them and they just have a good time being able to be with their heroes.”

Potential future Nanooks as young as 6U and up to 12 older spent four days on the UAF Patty Center Ice, the practice ice the Division I program, learning from the best skaters of their backyard.

The program will continue their involvement in the community heading into the 2021-22 season with a cornhole tournament August 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Growden Memorial Park, home of the Alaska Goldpanners. The hockey team, as well as other UAF athletic programs, will be welcoming elementary students back to school when they return next week.

A look into the Nanooks’ schedule for their upcoming season can be found here, with season tickets still available at alaskananooks.com.

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