Sandpoint hockey player leads Jr. Chiefs to nationals

SANDPOINT — It was a breakout season for hockey standout Dustin Pierce, who led the Spokane Junior Chiefs U18 hockey team to a Washington state championship and invitation to the 2010 National Championships, April 7-11 in Rochester, New York.

Pierce was also chosen by his teammates to represent the Chiefs in the Easton Skills Challenge, held in conjunction with nationals. He’ll compete against some of the top U.S. players in four events including fastest skater, puck relay, catch and shoot and breakaway challenge.

For the second consecutive season, the 17 year-old led the Chiefs in assists, and was second in the Washington State League in total points on the year. The former Sandpoint High School student transferred last fall to St. George’s in Spokane, where he’s practiced with six different hockey teams while pursuing his passion during a very busy season.

“It’s what I look forward to in the morning,” said Pierce of hockey, which he hopes to play in college and possibly beyond. “I want to play as long as I can, whatever that means — maybe even someday in the NHL.”

He hopes to play next year for the Trail Smoke Eaters Junior Hockey Club, a member of the British Columbia Hockey League. If he doesn’t make the Smoke Eaters after a tryout, he’s already received an invitation to play for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats of the Kootenai International Junior Hockey League, which is scouted heavily by college hockey coaches.

Right now Pierce’s attention is focused on nationals, where he isn’t quite sure what to expect. While his team dominated in the Washington State League, the competition will jump up considerably at nationals, and the Chiefs will find out quickly how they stack up.

“We could continue dominating, we might get crushed or it could be close,” hedged Pierce, who was the No. 1 singles player on the Sandpoint tennis team as a junior. “I’ve never been on a team that can consistently win. I’m confident we can compete.”

 He was selected last season as one of the top nine forwards in the state of Washington and competed at the Northwest Regional Camp with top players from California, Alaska and several other states.

Pierce is now playing in his eighth season of organized hockey, having honed his skills playing alongside a strong contingent of Sandpoint hockey players, many of whom compete in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene leagues. His father, Dr. Robert Pierce of North Idaho Animal Hospital, founded the Sandpoint Hockey Association 13 years ago.

If all goes well for Pierce at nationals and in the next year, he has a chance to fulfill a lifelong goal.

“It’s always been my dream to get a hockey scholarship,” said Pierce, who hopes to eventually catch the eye of a college recruiter. “The British Columbia Hockey League is the best place to do that.”

For more information on the nationals, which will be webcast live, visit “www.ushockey.com.”