The demise of the Vancouver Junior Rangers hockey teams was greatly exaggerated.
We don’t know if Mark Twain ever saw hockey played, but we do know one of his famous quotes, albeit exaggerated, can be applied locally.
Mountain View Ice Arena on Mill Plain announced in April it would be closing by August. Community members rallied. Then a deal was struck in June between rink owner Bruce Wood and rink manager Bob Knoerl with City Bible Church to buy the building.
Hockey, among other on-ice activities, was saved.
Just duck into the arena at any given hour and visitors will find the rink packed with people of all ages learning to skate, playing hockey or any number of other ice-related activities the rink has to offer. It’s calendar is full at all hours.
Late fall and early winter is when the youth hockey scene really picks up. Without Mountain View Ice Arena open, many players would have had to travel well outside of Clark County for ice time. To say the least, family and friends of the Junior Rangers programs are happy to have the local rink still operational.
“We are a lot more sure of ourselves now we know what we are building,” said Austin Coldwell, hockey director for the Junior Rangers program.
“Last year we were in survival mode, just trying to hold on to what we had, what had happened here before from years prior, but not sure of future. … The future didn’t look bright.”
It’s very bright now. Rink manager Bob Knoerl said plans are in the works to improve the arena. After the Rose Cup adult hockey tournament in June, the rink will temporarily shut down so the ice can be refaced and boards surrounding the ice be resurfaced.
After 20 some years of crashing the boards and carving the ice, a new surface will be welcomed. Especially with hundreds of users every day.
The Junior Rangers are three hockey teams: Pee Wee (ages 4-12), Bantam (13-14), and Midget (U16). And this season the program is seeing a surplus in players.
“This year we had to make cuts,” Coldwell said with some amazement. “We have never had to, or been in the that position with excess guys. But there are still teams in the area where (everyone) can play.”
Several factors are at work with the numbers. One, of course, is Mountain View Ice Arena remaining open. The other is the competitive nature of the program compared to other area programs.
Tanner Hyde, 15, who plays right wing and is a student at nearby Mountain View High School, played in Portland last year and enjoys not having to travel as far for practices.
“I started playing here four seasons ago, so it’s nice that it’s staying open,” he said. “I have lots of memories here.”
Same goes for defenseman Brayden Goddard, also 15 and also a Mountain View High student. He worked with Coldwell over the summer to improve his hockey skills.
“I’m glad (the arena) is staying open. I’ve played here since I was a little kid,” Goddard said.
Forward Salomon Wells, 15, who lives in Portland, enjoys playing with the Junior Rangers because it’s a higher level of competition from where he was last year.
“It was not nearly intense,” Wells said. “With Austin as coach, the quality of hockey gets a lot better. This year a jump that is good for me.”
The results are coming too. Trips to tournaments prior to the holidays were yielding victories and the Rangers went into their break on a six-game win streak.
“It’s becoming a more common occurrence with the development of the players,” Coldwell said. “Everything is looking great. We are able to promise them a place to play in the future, so that’s a great thing.
“The program is developing really well across all age groups.”
Knoerl, 56, a still hockey player himself, is happy to see the programs flourishing.
“I want every kid to be able to play hockey,” he said. “We try to keep the costs as low as we can. We haven’t seen a whole lot of decline.”
