Going Wild in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Fans braved chilly temperatures to skate with the

Wenatchee Wild Saturday.

The hockey team was in Moses Lake to coach youth hockey players

and meet fans. The opportunity to meet players brought out new and

old fans alike.

MOSES LAKE - Fans braved chilly temperatures to skate with the Wenatchee Wild Saturday.

The hockey team was in Moses Lake to coach youth hockey players and meet fans. The opportunity to meet players brought out new and old fans alike.

Todd Claunch, of Moses Lake, was on hand with his family to meet the team and skate.

"We've been to two games this year," Claunch said.

His family is new to watching hockey but he said his sons were excited about the sport.

On the other end of the scale were fans like Paula Boyce, of Royal City.

"We're season ticket holders," Boyce said. "My son played in the youth program in Wenatchee and now he plays in the senior program here."

Boyce said she'd been involved with the sport for about 20 years.

For young players like Thomas Parham, of Moses Lake, who is a member of the Squirts hockey league in Moses Lake, attending the day was a chance to run drills with Wild players and meet the team that inspired his participation in the sport.

"Watching the Wild made me want to play hockey," Parham said. "I'm a big fan."

Parham's mom, Cheryl, said she brought Thomas down to the ice rink one day when the Wild was doing a similar meet and greet a few years ago.

"That's where it started," Cheryl Parham said.

She said playing hockey has taught her son some good lessons.

"He's learned to be a team player and sportsmanship," Parham said.

Thomas Parham and his teammates were given the chance to learn from players like Richard Berzins.

Berzins, who is originally from Latvia, began playing hockey at age 5 and has been on the ice ever since.

"I loved it from my first practice," Berzins said.

He spent his first year figure skating to get better on the ice and then worked his way up the ranks in Latvian hockey.

"I got an agent and he found me a team," Berzins said.

He has played in the United Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League during his career and said that he enjoys meet-and-greet days.

"I love meeting people and just having fun with the boys," Berzins said. "We tried to teach the kids a little bit. They're doing great and having fun."

Berzins' advice for young players was simple and showed his love of the sport.

"If you love it from the first practice, keep playing for fun and when you grow up keep practicing hard and playing hard," Berzins said.