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by Phillip
Brents
Jeremy Tanaka, who attends the Sweetwater Academy for Individual Learning Styles in Chula Vista, has been working as a stick boy for the San Diego Gulls for the past five and a half seasons – almost as long as he has played the sport at the youth level. He works alongside his grandfather, Frank Clamser, who has served as the visiting team’s locker room attendant at Gulls’ games for the past seven seasons. “He’s gotten to meet the players and take home sticks and other souvenirs,” said Clamser. Tanaka is actually one of five stick boys who work under the watchful eye of Gulls equipment manager Matt Mitchell. Also returning this season as stick boys for the WCHL team are Derek Dawson and Greg Dreischmeyer, both of whom are in high school, along with younger helpers Trevor and Curtis Dietz. “Being around professional hockey players – that’s the best part,” said Dreischmeyer, who like most of the crew plays both ice and roller hockey at the youth level. Dawson, who is now a senior at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, has worked as a stick boy for the Gulls for the past four seasons. His duties include collecting and arranging players’ sticks, retrieving game worn jerseys for laundry, filling water bottles, folding towels as well as performing minor on-ice repair duties and running minor errands. He has traveled with the team on various road trips, including trips to Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach and even Tacoma, Wash. He has also developed a seniority of sorts where he can order around the other stick boys. He readily smiles at being able to wear that badge of honor. “It’s a really great job. You’re around a professional hockey environment. It’s total hockey,” he said. Tanaka, who has played roller hockey in local house leagues for the past six years, was brought on board at Gulls’ games by necessity (though it might have eventually been in the design), when Clamser had to undergo angioplasty in February 1997. Tanaka joined his grandfather as an assistant in the visiting locker room. He has since graduated to helping out in the Gulls locker room. His duties include collecting and sorting sticks, retrieving game worn jerseys for laundry and other small jobs or errands. When asked about what it’s like to be able to work with his grandfather during home games at the Sports Arena, Tanaka thought for a moment then smiled. “He makes me do more work than I have to,” the young hockey player said. The Gulls won their fourth Taylor Cup championship in May 2001 and while his grandfather was relegated to duty in the visiting Idaho Steelheads’ locker room, Tanaka was able to witness firsthand the Gulls’ jubilant post-game locker room celebration. “I got drenched,” he said with smile. Dreischmeyer was also there. “I was on the ice when they were showing off the cup,” the current Point Loma High School junior said with an edge of excitement in his voice. While the duties may seem menial, the job does carry its built-in benefits. Given the proximity of his job, the boys have received logo pucks, shirts, sticks, programs and other souvenirs autographed by players. It’s a treasure trove that few people his age possess and most die-hard fans would envy. Dawson once even recevied a game worn practice jersey. "It’s kind of like family. The players are like brothers to me," Dawson said. For both Dawson and Dreischmeyer – who count themselves as serious hockey players – the behind the scenes assignment working for a professional hockey club is as close as a job of a lifetime come true. “I was real happy when
Matt let me work here,” he said. “It’s been a great learning
experience for me,” said Dreischmeyer, who has aspirations of one
day playing at the Major Junior level, if not eventually with a minor professional
team. His personal ice hockey playing experience totals six years. He has played for three local youth ice hockey programs: the San Diego Stars, San Diego Junior Gulls and La Jolla Jaguars. The left wing currently plays at the Midget A Major level – one step below the Junior ranks. One of the benefits of his job includes advice and tips from professional players to help develop his own skills. “They’ll come up without asking and give me advice,” Dreischmeyer said with a smile. Dreischmeyer has modeled his own play after some of the top minor pro players in North America – including former Gulls John Spoltore (2001-02 WCHL leading point scorer), Mark Woolf (2001-02 WCHL leading goalscorer) and Mark Stitt (considered one of the finest face-off specialists in team history). “It helps improve my own game. I’m able to watch them and get tips without asking,” he said. While Dawson works WCHL games at the San Diego Sports Arena, he maintains an even closer link to the sport as a member of his school’s roller hockey team. Granite Hills finished runner-up to Rancho Bernardo in last year’s San Diego County High School Roller Hockey Conference championship game by a 7-6 score in overtime. Dawson continues to represent his school this season as well and has become one of the team’s veteran leaders. Dreischmeyer plays roller hockey for “fun,” he said, for his high school team, as well. Tanaka, who has played on several championship house league teams, recently completed his first season with the Chula Vista Hawks travel team. The Hawks play throughout Southern California and placed second in their division at last summer’s California State Games (where Clamser served as head coach of the team). The three senior stick boys would have hoped their jobs with the Gulls would have lasted a little while longer last season – preferably into the Taylor Cup Finals. However, the Gulls were eliminated in the Southern Division Finals by the eventual 2001-02 Taylor Cup champions Fresno Falcons. But following a 12-game winning streak earlier this season, the Gulls’ playoff fortunes in 2002-03 have to be counted as very promising. Dreischmeyer said it is very
easy to get caught up in the entire emotional web surrounding the team.
“I definitely get into the games,” he said. Mitchell, who is
in his third season with the Gulls after spending two seasons as an assistant
equipment manager with the NHL New York Rangers and as the head equipment
manager for the WPHL New Mexico Scorpions, makes sure his charges get their
assignments finished on time but – given their age -- also gives them
some slack. The boys have a chance for a little fun after team practice
sessions or after games when the ice is free to pass the puck around or
practice their shooting skills. It’s an activity they can brag about
to their friends at school as the setting is quite unique: the pit of a
professional arena. “Two players came to the boards and one stick came down and hit me. The ref blew the play dead. I opened the gate and walked off the ice,” Clamser said. Ironically, the offending stick
belonged to a Gulls’ player. |
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