Bryant Danielson St. Ignace hockey is branching out across the state, as a new Midget AA traveling team, called the Firehawks, will take the ice this year and will compete in a downstate league. The team could also advertise the use of its home facility, Little Bear East Ice Arena, to other teams for future games and tournaments.

The team will open its season on the road against Battle Creek for a two-game series Saturday, October 7, and S u n d a y , October 8. The first home game for the Firehawks will be during the Battle at the Bridge Midget AA Tournament at Little Bear East Ice Arena Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October 15. The team's first regular home series will be the following weekend, October 21 and October 22, against Holland.

The Firehawks play in the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League, which is one of the largest leagues in the country. It is operated by the Illitch family, who own the Detroit Red Wings hockey franchise and the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise.

The Firehawks are in Division II in the league, which consists of teams from Jackson, Battle Creek, Holland, Cadillac, Traverse City, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, which will play home games in Jackson.

Nick Benko The Hockey A s s o c i a t i o n hopes that playing downstate and hosting other teams at Little Bear East Ice Arena will promote the facility and boost the local economy.

" W e ' r e bringing in teams for the Battle at the Bridge Tournament on a weekend that the facility would otherwise be empty," said Doug Goudreau, treasurer of the St. Ignace Hockey Association and coordinator of the hockey tournaments at Little Bear East.

Competing in the Battle at the Bridge tournament will be St. Ignace, Southfield, Cadillac, and three teams from Marquette.

The hockey association has been working with the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau in attracting downstate and Upper Peninsula teams to meet midway in St. Ignace to save on traveling costs.

That "meet in the middle" idea could be promoted by coaches and supporters of the Firehawks team during season games downstate. Participating in the Little Caesars league will draw much attention to Little Bear East and, more importantly, to Firehawks players who can qualify for a scholarship through the league, said Mr. Goudreau.

Taylor Dykstra Four players from St. Ignace, Derrick Clark, Bryant Danielson, Jack Goudreau, and Taylor Dykstra, Nick Benko from Cedarville, and Tyler Christiansen from Pickford, are on the 20-person roster. Other players are from Sault Ste. Marie, Roscommon, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and other northern Michigan communities.

Players up to age 18 qualify for Midget AA. The Firehawks will play roughly 60 games this season.

Coaching the Firehawks are Joe Esson, Willie Soden, and Matt Parker, who have state championship experience at the Midget level. Mr. Esson won a state championship coaching a team from Sault Ste. Marie.

"We're lucky to have these guys," said Mr. Goudreau. "Without them, we wouldn't have this team."

St. Ignace also will host a Mites team (ages 7-8), a Pee Wees team (ages 11-12), and, possibly, a Squirts team (ages 9-10), if more players sign up.

The association was unable to field a Bantam team for the second year.

Keeping hockey alive in St. Ignace has been difficult for the association, as many kids commit to other sports like football, which is less expensive and sponsored by the school districts. It will cost about $650 to participate on the traveling hockey team, Mr. Goudreau estimates. The association will also sell advertisements and sponsorships.

Derrick Clark Jack Goudreau