Last weekend, Munising was honored to host high school hockey at Alger Centennial Ice Arena, as the hockey co-op with Munising, Manistique, Newberry and Superior Central played two games in town. Locals from across Alger County came out to support the team regardless of what color the jersey said because they were happy to have the opportunity to cheer for their own.
Currently, the Manistique Emeralds varsity hockey team has three Munising players in defenseman Brody Gariepy, forward Blake Walther and forward Carter Deatsman. While SC is part of the co-op, none of the Cougars are on the top squad this season, but graduated student-athletes played for the team.
The opportunity to see these student-athletes — our neighbors, classmates, family members and coworkers — in our own backyard is important. As a community who stresses the need to find opportunities for youth, it is important to see how that effort matures into the talent of these kids. We’ve seen them be successful in youth leagues and bought fundraisers, maybe even volunteered as a coach or in the concession stand. But to experience all of those individual events into one showcase of skill and culture is the true payoff and something both our community and the student-athletes deserve.
It took a lot of work to be able to bring these games to Munising. It took scheduling and opponents willing to play in the area instead of Manistique. It took major renovations to adapt the locker rooms to MHSAA standards. It took countless volunteer hours to get the program started just a year-and-a-half ago and the development of a junior varsity team this season. This is on top of the decades of dedication to having a hockey culture strong enough to create the opportunity.
The Munising Beacon thanks the Manistique and Munising athletic departments, theAlger Centennial Ice Arena staff and volunteers, the Munising Hockey Association, the M123 broadcast crew, the fans, parents, fellow students and community members who worked hard to make these games happen. Great work by all.
