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Athlete of the Week
Ryan Felvarg, 15, was named the McDonald's Athlete of Week after helping the Eagle River Glacier Bears Hockey Association to two state championship games. Felvarg, an Eagle River High School freshman, won a state title for the Bears' U16C team, stopping five attempts in the shootout, during his team's 3-2 win over the Mighty Moose Sunday. He is the son of Larry Felvarg of Eagle River.
Ryan Felvarg, 15, was named the McDonald's Athlete of Week after helping the Eagle River Glacier Bears Hockey Association to two state championship games. Felvarg, an Eagle River High School freshman, won a state title for the Bears' U16C team, stopping five attempts in the shootout, during his team's 3-2 win over the Mighty Moose Sunday. He is the son of Larry Felvarg of Eagle River.
This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, March 22, 2007.
Morgan's Glacier Bear U16C coach Ron Kuczak said that justice was served and karma fulfilled in the Bear's exciting shooting victory over the South Anchorage Mighty Moose in the Alaska State Midget 16 and Under Championship Sunday at the McDonald Recreation Center.
“It has always been a back and forth affair between us and them,” said Kuczak of the match between the two league-leading teams.
Friday, the Moose defeated the Comets 4-1, with the Bears managing a 1-1 tie with Big Lake, good for a point. Two points were allotted for victories. Saturday, the Bears defeated the Comets 3-1 and the Moose 4-3 to yield five tournament points, with the Mighty Moose second with four.
The Glacier Bears asserted themselves quickly in the title game, scoring in the contest's first minute with forward Cody Cousins depositing the puck in the Moose's net off assists from Sam Strobe and Brandon Burmeister.
The Mighty Moose hammered Glacier Bear goalie Ryan Felvarg repeatedly with quality shots, but were denied until in the closing second of the first period, which tied the game.
“It has always been a back and forth affair between us and them,” said Kuczak of the match between the two league-leading teams.
Friday, the Moose defeated the Comets 4-1, with the Bears managing a 1-1 tie with Big Lake, good for a point. Two points were allotted for victories. Saturday, the Bears defeated the Comets 3-1 and the Moose 4-3 to yield five tournament points, with the Mighty Moose second with four.
The Glacier Bears asserted themselves quickly in the title game, scoring in the contest's first minute with forward Cody Cousins depositing the puck in the Moose's net off assists from Sam Strobe and Brandon Burmeister.
The Mighty Moose hammered Glacier Bear goalie Ryan Felvarg repeatedly with quality shots, but were denied until in the closing second of the first period, which tied the game.
Kuczak thought the shot was taken after time had expired, but when the buzzer failed to sound immediately and after a lengthy discussion between Kuczak and the officials, the goal was left to stand.
Slightly demoralized, the Bears came out a little flat in the second, with the Moose capitalizing on the opportunity to take a 2-1 lead early in the second period.
Both teams then locked into a defensive battle with the middle ground of neutral ice securely monitored by the Glacier Bears' trio of Chad Bouwens, Cody Kollman and Casey Volk.
Then midway through the third, with both teams short on energy, the Bear's Sam Strobe skated the puck up the middle of the ice to tie the score on a 25-foot shot. The goal was Strobe's only one of the season, noted the coach.
The Glacier Bears then scored less than a minute later, but the goal was waved off when it was ruled that the team had a player in the crease.
“There was no way that he (Cody Cousins) was in the crease. He was screening the goalie from the shot, but he wasn't in the crease,” said Kuczak.
At the end of regulation, with the scored tied 2-2, the two teams played a 10-minute sudden-death overtime with neither scoring, leading to a five-player shootout.
Kuczak said he felt confident in the shootout, familiar with goalie Felvarg's talents.
The Glacier Bear's first shooter, Ian Brown, scored what would be the championship-winning goal with a wrist shot high to the glove side of the Mighty Moose goaltender.
The Glacier Bear's first shooter, Ian Brown, scored what would be the championship-winning goal with a wrist shot high to the glove side of the Mighty Moose goaltender.
Immediately after the Moose' fifth shooter was denied, the Glacier Bears vacated their bench and stormed Felvarg a couple of strides outside his crease.
Kuczak said he was pleased with the team's accomplishments throughout the season.
Kuczak said he was pleased with the team's accomplishments throughout the season.
Morgan Payovich contributed a goal and an assist in the team's early 2-1 lead over the AHA Comets in route to the Glacier Bears 3-1 win Saturday, the coach said. Payovich was not able to play in the semi or championship game due to a parent protest that she also plays on a nationally bound team - TeamAlaska Selects U-16 Girls Team. Payovich also played on the combined Eagle River-Chugiak team, which were runner-ups in this years girls High School Championships. As it turned out, it was essentially sour grapes, and she should of been allowed to play. Never the less, she took it like a true trooper and the team prevailed anyway despite suiting up only ten players. Three other players were out of state with their parents over spring break. It's amazing, given all of the diversity facing this team in a State Tournament that they prevailed anyway!
Of course, the losing South Anchorage Moose team showed such dis-respect after the game that their coach fumed about the officiating - even though their team only had five penalties while the Glacier Bears had 10, twice as many! The South Anchorage Moose coach also approached the reporter and requested that the game and his players names were not allowed to be printed in the local newspaper. This was all followed by a mother of one of the players for the Moose pushing a Glacier Bear mother following the game! Absolutely the worst display of sportsmanship I have ever witnessed. I guess the ultra-rich South Anchorage team was upset that they could not buy the State Championship. The bottom line is we beat them twice in the tournement and we were the better team on that day!
“It was our turn. Even though we hadn't won a tournament all year. No matter what happened, they couldn't take this one away from us,” said Kuzcak.
The tournament squad included Brandon Burmeister, Chad Bouwens, Logan Broach, Ian Brown, Cody Cousins, Ryan Felvarg, Cody Graham, Cody Kollman, Morgan Payovich, Sam Strobe and Casey Volk. Other team members included Sean Koek, Quentin Martinez, Jordan Schneider, Bill Sonday and Bob Sonday.
