One state championship this spring isnt enough for several of the best local high school >hockey players.
The undefeated Bellingham Blazers, a first-year team led by several veteran players, will take a 9-0 record into the Western Washington High School Championships this weekend at Kingsgate Rink near Bellevue.
The Blazers 18-man roster, more than half of whom played for the U18 state club champion Whatcom Warriors, includes players from Sehome, Bellingham, Squalicum, Blaine, Ferndale and Mount Vernon high schools.
The Blazers coach, former Ohio State University goalkeeper John Dougan, and his son, Blaine senior Danny Dougan, say they are especially gratified there are so many hockey-crazed local high school athletes.
We just have a lot of guys who really love the game, said Danny, a standout goalkeeper who played a major role in the Warriors state title before the high school season started. He has allowed only five goals and has posted five shutouts while playing every minute in goal for the Blazers.
Its liklely nobody is happier than Danny to see a high school-age team formed in Whatcom County. Last spring, in order to play high school hockey, he had to play for Marysville.
Since hes a four-year starter for Blaines soccer team, that meant huge demands on his time in late winter and early spring.
I get a lot of homework done in a study hall at school, and Ive learned to use all my traveling time to read, said Danny, who has been accepted to the University of Washington and will major in business or engineering.
John Dougan said he is proud that his players and their families havent let heavy expenses, including everincreasing gas prices, interfere with their dedication to hockey.
Hockey is probably the most expensive youth sport, said John Dougan, who started in goal for four years while at Ohio State from 1982-85. m really impressed with our families enthusiasm for the game. I love being around the kids and seeing how much hockey means to them.
The Blazers have thoroughly dominated their competition, including an 8-0 victory over Marysville and a 9-1 win over Edmonds in their most recent games. Their closest game was a 7-0 victory.
They received a first-round playoff bye for the six-team tournament, meaning theyll open in the semifinals Saturday. The title game is Monday night, with a spot in the state finals on the line.
John Dougan said two of the Blazers most productive performers are the Pauly brothers, Sehome students Chris and Shawn.
Shawn leads the Blazers with 40 points in only nine games, including 21 goals and 19 assists. Chris, who plans to play club hockey at UW along with Danny Dougan, has 20 points with six goals and 14 assists.
Other top scorers include Blaines Philip Harezlak, with 33 points, including 24 assists and nine goals, and Ferndales Jacob Grimm, 16, with 25 points, including 11 goals and 14 assists.
Danny Dougan hopes other locals will try hockey, since he wants the new high school program to continue.
I would definitely recommend it, he said. When my friends come to see the games, they say they wish they would have played hockey.

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