Camp Earl- A Family Affair

          Part of being a new coach in any program is establishing traditions and putting your mark on the team.  For the Wausau East hockey Lumberjacks that has meant a new team defense, a new dress code that includes haircuts and belts, a maple leaf and three special days in northern Wisconsin called Camp Earl.  While some of the other changes have been met with reservation and even mild resistance, Camp Earl’s popularity has soared beyond expectations.

          For the second straight year the Lumberjacks have headed north in June for three days of team bonding, hockey and canoeing.  It is a coming home party for East head coach Dan Bauer who returns to Spooner where he cut his teeth as a WIAA head coach.  Taking over a fledgling WIAA program in 1991 that played a schedule that included 9 junior varsity teams, Bauer transformed the Rails into a state contender that won 66 games from 1997 to 2001.  One of the Rails traditions was an annual summer canoe trip down the Namekagon River that included an overnight camp in Earl.  When Bauer arrived at Wausau East he decided to bring that tradition with him.
          “It was perhaps the best team building activity we did,” Bauer explained, “and we didn’t spend much time even talking about hockey!”
          East hockey dad Steve Spiegel echoes that thought, “I believe it brings the kids closer together and builds more team camaraderie.”
          With his ties in Spooner still firmly in place, Bauer decided why not take his Lumberjacks back to the very place he had seen his former team achieve so much success.  Camp Earl was born.

          The weekend features lots of ice time including two practices, a skills competition, a cross-ice tournament, three scrimmages and of course the battle for the Earl Cup.  Bauer draws on former assistant coaches and associates to provide a variety of on ice instruction.  This summer with the revised WIAA regulations regarding summer contact, the East staff took the ice for some rare off-season contact.  The weekend includes players from the Spooner & Hayward areas along with the Lumberjacks.  All the practices are combined.
          “We had over 45 players on the ice on Friday during our practice sessions,” said Bauer.  “It was a great turnout.  The kids on the Eastside are really excited about hockey again!”

          Off the ice the weekend has turned into a mini-vacation for parents.  About twenty Wausau players participated this year and most of the parents made the trip.  Bauer is pleased to see the parents so involved.
          “Team building extends beyond the players,” according to Bauer.  “It is equally important that the parents get along, and as with the players, it doesn’t happen by accident.  You have to spend some time together.”
          While the player’s time is pretty structured, the parents have plenty of time to enjoy the north woods.  It is difficult to tell who has more fun over the weekend, the players or the parents.
          “It was a great experience for the parents who haven’t camped in years to do it again,” said Kim Karlen, mother of sophomore defenseman Brent, “to leave everything at home and just be in the woods with each other having a great time.”
          Sheila Atchison, whose son Taylor will be a junior right wing supports Bauer’s claim that the parent’s getting along is a part of the process.  “It gave the parents an opportunity to get to know one another better.  I found out that the East hockey team has a wonderful bunch of parents who are becoming a close-knit family.  I hope Camp Earl is something that will stay a part of the hockey program fro years to come.”
         
          All the players enjoy a camp breakfast on Saturday morning and listen to guest speakers talk about the game of hockey and more importantly the game of life.  Ex-Rails Matt Tyree, who recently achieved his dream by signing a division one scholarship with Bentley College and Theran Bauer, son of the head coach, who has been playing hockey at University of Minnesota- Crookston were on hand to answer questions.  Both spoke highly of their high school experience and how quickly it comes and goes.
          “I know all of the players have heard this before, but high school hockey goes by so quickly,” said the younger Bauer.  “

          The Friday afternoon canoe trip and cookout at Earl campground has proven to be challenging and exciting.  Some of the “city-boys” have had difficulty navigating the friendly currents of the Namekagon River.  While this years weather was cooler than normal, many players still found their way into the river.  And for the seventh straight year the coach’s canoes remained sacred. 
          Nothing like a few threats according to Bauer, “It is tradition, coaches canoes are off limits.  Of course the threat of a few days of no-puck practices doesn’t hurt.  When we get to the state tournament, that ban will be lifted.”

          On shore, the East Dad’s display their gourmet skills over the open fire.  A meal that would make Jim Belushi proud, hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, and beans out of the can is waiting for the players and coaches.  It is just another of the traditions that makes the weekend such a family affair.

          The highlight of the camp is the Sunday morning battle for the Earl Cup.  The cup itself was found at an antique shop in Earl and mounted on a handcrafted base by the eldest Bauer, Bud, father of the head coach.  The entire experience has truly become a bit of a family re-union for the Bauer family.  This isn’t the first time Dad has become involved with the East or Spooner high school programs. 
         
“My Dad is probably the single greatest person I have known in my life,” that from his son and head coach.  “He has always been there for me.  He built all the lockers they currently use in Spooner and all the lockers we used here in our portable lockerooms in last year.  I just mentioned something to him about wanting to have a cup for this event and the next thing I knew I had one.  It really means a lot to me.”
         
It goes without saying that the Earl Cup has a special meaning for Bauer and that he was more than pleased that his Lumberjacks brought the cup back to Wausau for the second straight year.  Last year East lost every scrimmage at Camp Earl until Sunday morning when they skated to a 9-6 win.  This year was a different story; the Lumberjacks only defeat of the weekend was a 3-1 loss to Hayward.  The cup was secured with resounding 7-1 win on Sunday.
         
          Camp Earl closes down with a final trip to the mini-golf course and team tournament.  Everybody gets a chance to wind down before packing the bags and heading back to Wausau. 

East assistant coach Dina Rasmussen says head coach Dan Bauer is “crazy, but in a good way”.  Reference to the head coaches passion for his team and the game of hockey.  But on this weekend in June, the focus may be hockey, but the results far exceed that narrow scope.  It is a weekend about family, tradition, creating memories and plain old-fashioned fun.