SPORTS WRAP

Hockey guy

            “You’re the hockey guy.”

            Those words were magic to the ears of Owatonna High School graduate Scott Slarks. After landing a job in athletic communications with the University of Minnesota late in 2021 to oversee soccer and softball, an opportunity arose to move to the men’s hockey team.

            Add some icing to the cake this winter with the world junior championships at 3M Arena at Mariucci Arena. During an Owatonna Live interview one week before the puck dropped, he said, “Once the event starts, after all the planning and all the work behind the scenes going into it, you’ll be able to look around and go, ‘Ok. This is pretty cool,’’” said Slarks.

            “They were putting in the logos and decals into the ice…When you see an iconic logo like that, it definitely hits home. ‘Oh. We’re part of this,’” he said.

            His role was support and logistics with a chance to enjoy some games as a fan. “It’s a little bit of a balance to help but then go watch too.”

            His day-to-day responsibility with the Golden Gophers involves coach and player interviews, digital content and social media. “Keeps you on your toes. You don’t see a lot of the game at times. You’re buried in a computer, or talking to somebody getting something lined up. Then you hear a roar. ‘Oh. We just scored.’”

            Slarks start with the University of Minnesota closely coincided with the arrival of a pair of Southern Minnesota players, Zach Wiese of Owatonna and Brody Lamb of Byron, who are now seniors. “Brody’s got 19 points in 19 games this half. So, he’s playing at a very high level. Now becoming more of a leader, knowing the opportunity’s there to be ‘the guy.’ Be somebody that your teammates look up to,” he said.

            Regarding Wiese, a back-up goalie, “You just have to be ready. He’s embraced that role pretty well. An incredible teammate, an incredible guy to have in the locker room. Does whatever he’s asked. You’ll see Brody and Zach, both after practice a lot of days. They play a game called tips. They have the most fun you can imagine. They’re just kids out there,” said Slarks.

            Slarks grew up playing soccer, hockey and tennis. His mother Judy is a member of the Medford Hall of Fame for her support of athletics. His father, Gary, assists at the score table for Owatonna hockey and helps at Medford. His older brother, James, was also into sports.

At college in St. Peter, a “fluke” happened after a job at the tennis center didn’t work out. “My grandparents’ next door neighbor was the Sports Information Director at Gustavus Adolphus College, Tim Kennedy.” That led to a job and a career.

Through stops in Jackson, Mississippi, Southern Illinois University – where he earned his Master of Science degree in sports management – Kansas City, and Oklahoma, he occasionally did play-by-play and learned to be resourceful. “Make yourself valuable,” he said.

Slarks worked with men’s basketball at Division I Oral Roberts University during their run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen during the COVID-19 year that included being sequestered in a hotel in Indianapolis while getting police escorts everywhere they went.

First goals

            Four Owatonna girls hockey players have scored their first varsity goal this season. The most recent on New Year’s Eve as Brooklyn Cummins put home a rebound during the Huskies 4-1 win over Fort Francis (Ontario, Canada) at the holiday tournament in Farmington.

            She joins fellow freshmen June Froman (two goals at Mankato West), Abby Johnson (against Red Wing), and eighth grader Olivia Busho (against Century/JM) to earn a souvenir puck.

OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play

Thursday, Jan. 8:
OHS boys hockey vs. Rochester Lourdes, 7 p.m.
OHS girls basketball vs. Rochester JM, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 9:
OHS girls hockey vs. Rogers, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 10:
OHS girls hockey vs. Elk River, 2 p.m.
OHS boys hockey vs. Northfield, 7 p.m.
OHS girls basketball vs. Mankato East, 7:30 p.m.