Joint Hockey Team Skates to 11-1 Record
The colder temperatures in Alpharetta signal the start of winter sports. After merging teams with North Gwinnett High School, the AHS Ice Hockey program has won nine games between its A and AA teams, and is making strides to bring the sport back to the Metro Atlanta area.
“Down here, [ice hockey] has been dying out, which is sad. I really encourage younger people to go play hockey,” Matt Papoulias, AHS junior and right-wing, said.
Despite the low popularity of the sport, AHS and North Gwinnett players have managed to secure victories in all but one game.
The athletes that fill the roster play for various travel teams, with many that have been skating since childhood. Unlike other AHS sports, the ice hockey team practices only once every two weeks, due to the distant ice rinks.
The AHS-North Gwinnett team travels to Duluth, Kennesaw and Sandy Springs for its Sunday games in the Georgia Student Hockey League, GSHL. AHS plays against five other teams from the state including Walton, Woodstock, Brookwood, Peachtree Ridge and Forsyth.
Recently, a rivalry has formed with the Forsyth team, a conglomeration of players from the four schools in Forsyth county. The Forsyth team sits in second place with a 4-2 record behind AHS-North Gwinnett (6-0).
“Forsyth is the biggest rival because they’re the best team and they match up with us really well. The games are always close and go down to the end,” Austin Krusko, senior forward, said.
In two AA varsity games against Forsyth, AHS has won both scoring a combined 12 goals against them, compared to Forsyth's 9 goals against AHS. In the first game AHS-North Gwinnett scored in every period but winning by only one goal, 4-3. In the second matchup on Nov. 5, the two teams went back and forth with a final score of 8-6, not a regular occurrence in ice hockey.
The success of the AHS-North Gwinnett team and GSHL league reflects a larger hockey trend in the state. Since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, two new ice rinks have opened in Sandy Springs and Cumming. AHS hockey players hope to revitalize the hockey interest in the south.
“Once I first started playing, it was not very popular. But as I’ve progressed, I have definitely seen a lot more people playing and lot more teams coming out. In the past two years, two whole rinks have been built in the area, “ said Krusko.
The AHS-North Gwinnett team will play into December, in strong position to win the league in both AA and A divisions.
Next year, the team hopes more AHS students take up the sport and try out. Adjusting to the cold and ice might be the largest obstacle for Georgia natives.
“[Hockey] is a very fun sport, yet very challenging and competitive. It requires a lot practice and skill sets, but the rewards are pretty big,” Papoulias said.
