Former members of the Naicam Vikings finally got together for their first recent alumni game on March 24 at the Naicam Sports Plex.
Twenty-three former players ranging in age from late-30s to late-50s came home to battle it out with Team Green versus Team Black.
Former Viking Troy Leicht says that this was something members of the team having been trying to make happen for awhile and someone just happened to book the ice time to get everyone together.
Positive feedback from the players could mean that the game becomes an annual event, says Leicht, with even more players expected in the coming years.
It was a nice opportunity for members to get together again, says Leicht, with players enjoying the opportunity to play together again.
“Guys are getting older and the chances to get together becomes hard,” he says.
Senior teams are becoming less prominent in rural communities with the number of teams starting to dwindle, says Leicht. Even the current Naicam senior team took a year off but with the plan and the intention to come back next season.
Less players are around to play, he says, which means it is challenging to have enough players willing to ice a team.
“Too many guys are in the city and not enough are staying home to farm and have time to play hockey anymore.”
