Post by fwp on Mar 14, 2010 9:09:18 GMT -5
www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/03/14/sports/doc4b9c88eed1eea096212879.txt
WASILLA — The Arctic Predators are counting down the days to the kickoff of the first home game in the history of the Wasilla-based professional indoor football franchise.
Just two weeks from today, the Predators will host the Yakima Valley Warriors in their home opener, and until the squad hits the turf for the first time officially in franchise history, team representatives are working frantically to prepare.
“We’re going full bore,” said Hans Deemer, a local coach who has worked for nearly two years to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley. Deemer and his Predators crew have been busy. An agreement with the city of Wasilla has been finalized, Deemer said, and the Predators will play their seven home games on a turf field inside the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center starting with that March 28 date with Yakima Valley. That turf, which will be placed right over the ice in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, also has a name. Deemer said the franchise sold the naming rights to the Wasilla restaurant Sicily’s Pizza, and the turf will be called Sicily’s Field. Deemer said he’s excited about the new relationship with Sicily’s.
“It’s huge. It shows people want to be involved and make it a Valley team,” Deemer said.
The Predators have also put together a staff that includes Valley football coaches Randy Magner, Kent Rilatos and Howie Marks.
Magner, a longtime high school football coach at Palmer and Colony, will be the team’s director of football, Deemer said. Magner also spent time with the Alaska Wild Indoor Football League franchise.
“With all of that knowledge, it’s huge to have Randy,” Deemer said. “Technically, we couldn’t afford to bring up somebody from Outside who has that ability and knowledge.”
Rilatos, another local coach who has spent time at the prep and youth level, will coach the linemen, Deemer said. Marks, a Wasilla High School graduate, will also help coach the line.
The team also selected Palmer High School graduate Troy Chapman to be the team’s statistician.
Deemer said the team has also put together a roster, and the Predators have been practicing regularly at the Menard Sports Center. The Predators, who have practices Monday and Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. that are open to the public, have a number of players on the roster with indoor football experience, and a handful of athletes with local ties.
Deemer said he expects a pair of linemen who played for the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the IFL last season, Eric Gaskins and DePhillip Harris, to be among the team’s leaders. Gaskins played college football at Wake Forest University.
Among the local products on the roster are linemen Wade Bowen and Travis Erickson. Bowen was a first-team all-state selection for the Colony Knights in 2006. Erickson played for Wasilla High.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
WASILLA — The Arctic Predators are counting down the days to the kickoff of the first home game in the history of the Wasilla-based professional indoor football franchise.
Just two weeks from today, the Predators will host the Yakima Valley Warriors in their home opener, and until the squad hits the turf for the first time officially in franchise history, team representatives are working frantically to prepare.
“We’re going full bore,” said Hans Deemer, a local coach who has worked for nearly two years to bring indoor football to the Mat-Su Valley. Deemer and his Predators crew have been busy. An agreement with the city of Wasilla has been finalized, Deemer said, and the Predators will play their seven home games on a turf field inside the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center starting with that March 28 date with Yakima Valley. That turf, which will be placed right over the ice in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, also has a name. Deemer said the franchise sold the naming rights to the Wasilla restaurant Sicily’s Pizza, and the turf will be called Sicily’s Field. Deemer said he’s excited about the new relationship with Sicily’s.
“It’s huge. It shows people want to be involved and make it a Valley team,” Deemer said.
The Predators have also put together a staff that includes Valley football coaches Randy Magner, Kent Rilatos and Howie Marks.
Magner, a longtime high school football coach at Palmer and Colony, will be the team’s director of football, Deemer said. Magner also spent time with the Alaska Wild Indoor Football League franchise.
“With all of that knowledge, it’s huge to have Randy,” Deemer said. “Technically, we couldn’t afford to bring up somebody from Outside who has that ability and knowledge.”
Rilatos, another local coach who has spent time at the prep and youth level, will coach the linemen, Deemer said. Marks, a Wasilla High School graduate, will also help coach the line.
The team also selected Palmer High School graduate Troy Chapman to be the team’s statistician.
Deemer said the team has also put together a roster, and the Predators have been practicing regularly at the Menard Sports Center. The Predators, who have practices Monday and Tuesday from 9-11 p.m. that are open to the public, have a number of players on the roster with indoor football experience, and a handful of athletes with local ties.
Deemer said he expects a pair of linemen who played for the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the IFL last season, Eric Gaskins and DePhillip Harris, to be among the team’s leaders. Gaskins played college football at Wake Forest University.
Among the local products on the roster are linemen Wade Bowen and Travis Erickson. Bowen was a first-team all-state selection for the Colony Knights in 2006. Erickson played for Wasilla High.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.