Maripoza Gazette
17 January 2008

Still chasing their dreams, some young professional hockey players hit the outdoor ice at Curry Village on Tuesday, and skated the evening away with area youngsters.

About 30 young skaters, many decked out in full uniform, like members of the Yosemite Hockey Club, skated around the outdoor rink with six players from the Fresno Falcons.

There was no shortage of good vibes all around, for both hockey players and young skaters. For members of the Falcons, many from Canada, hockey has always been a way of life. So skating on an outdoor rink with kids who reminded them of themselves was quite a treat, a chance to relive the past.

"This is like it was when I was a little kid," said Falcons' goalkeeper Kris Mayotte, who grew up in Pittsburgh.

Mayotte seemed to get much of the attention from the hockey hopefuls, who peppered him with pucks from all directions. The young pro player cheered as loudly as the kids when one got past his big leg pads.

"This is so awesome," said Falcon Joe Van Culin, a 25-year-old from a small town near St. Cloud, Minn. "This is a lot like when I was growing up and skating and playing hockey on frozen lakes. What I really like about this is to see the smiles on the kids faces."

There were lots of smiles, from parents guiding their inexperienced skaters around the rink, to the hot-shots in the 12-year-old range tearing around the ice like they were in the NHL.

Jimmy Pence, who lives in Yosemite, had a bit of a problem: He forgot his skates. He lingered near the boards, tackling the sheet of ice with his shoes.

"I must have left them at home," Pence said of his skates. "But I want to try to get out there and at least get an autograph."

He got more than that. Before long he connected with Mayotte, who patiently helped the skateless young player knock some shots into the net.

The young skaters seemed free as they moved about the ice, circling around the pros with pucks provided by the team.

"It's fun to shoot against their goalie," said Kelly Ronay, who lives in El Portal.

Falcons' executive John Tull was thrilled with how the event turned out. He said it was not inspired by the NHL's recent outdoor game in Buffalo, where the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the hometown Sabres.

In fact, he said, he began discussing the idea a year ago with Yosemite officials.
"We wanted to come in November," Tull said, adding that the event was pushed to January because it wasn't quite winter yet in Yosemite Valley. "It's been our pleasure to be out here. We're making a little history."

According to Tull, the Falcons are the first professional hockey team to skate the fabled outdoor ice rink at Curry Village.

It was a perfect night for skating. The weather was crisp but nice, and organizers like Kenny Karst of the Delaware North Corporation, which helped put together the skate event with the pros, had to be happy with the turnout and level of enthusiasm.

"This is what it's all about," Mayotte said.