By Shane Frederick
As a kid, Eli Zuck went to many University of Alaska-Anchorage hockey games at Sullivan Arena.
“That’s where the hangout was,” the Minnesota State freshman forward said. “Me and my buddies would always be playing knee hockey in the top bleachers.”
Tonight, the Anchorage native will be back home and playing once again in the Seawolves’ rink. Instead of goofing off in the nosebleed seats, though, he’ll be one the ice with the Mavericks.
“It will be nice being back in my home state,” Zuck said. “It will be nice to see my parents and my relatives. And my dogs.”
Zuck said he hasn’t been home since May. He spent the summer living and working out with MSU defenseman Ben Youds, a teammate of his four years ago at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault.
Unlike some other college freshmen, Zuck is hardly homesick. He’s been away from Anchorage for more than five years. During his freshman year of high school, he enrolled at Shattuck in order to play for the school’s elite-level hockey program.
“This is my fifth year living in a dorm,” he said. “It’s not anything new. It’s not my first rodeo. It’s been a smooth transition.”
As a senior for Shattuck, Zuck scored 27 goals and had 74 points in 60 games, and the Sabres won their second-straight U18 national championship.
The following year, he went to the United States Hockey League and played junior hockey for the Tri-City (Neb.) Storm. Zuck had seven goals and 19 points in 25 games before a hip injury ended his season.
Zuck was feeling healthy when he started skating for the Mavericks this fall but came down with the H1N1 flu and missed the first two weeks of the hockey season.
“It hasn’t been an ideal start for me personally — or for the team,” he said. “But I’m pretty excited to go up to Anchorage.”
Zuck has played in three college games so far but has yet to score a point.
Mavericks associate head coach Darren Blue said Zuck’s appearance in the lineup tonight is not simply because he’s playing in his hometown.
“He’s had a good week this week,” Blue said.
There was also an opening created by the unavailability of Mike Louwerse (coach’s decision) and Tyler Thompson (injury).
“(Zuck’s) battled his way back,” Blue said. “You work hard for six months so you can earn a spot as a freshman, and then you sit for two weeks (with an illness). Physically and mentally, coming back from that is not always easy, especially in your first year with the team.”
