Docken's Junior Hockey Career Back on Track

Jared Docken's junior hockey career has already taken a number of twists, even though he has yet to play his first game.

Before his senior hockey season at Northfield High School had even ended, Docken though he had secured his hockey future when he signed a tender to play for the Owatonna Express.

But then the Owatonna team was sold, and the team's new owner announced plans to move the team to Odessa, TX.

“I was getting ready to go to Owatonna, which is 30 minutes from my home,” Docken said. “So (the idea of) going all the way down to Texas, I had a bunch of mixed emotions.”

Docken petitioned North American Hockey League Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld to be let out of his commitment to the team, and also asked the team to release him.

But when Odessa Jackalopes training camp started Thursday, Docken was on the ice with his potential future teammates. He was one of 48 hopefuls—a group that included returning players, tendered players and draft picks, as well as “free agents”—participating in the four-day camp at the Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Center in Prior Lake.

“I've kind of warmed up to it a little bit,” Docken said of the possibility of playing juniors in the Lone Star State. “The commissioner ended up not granting my release, and I talked to (Odessa's) head coach, and he said he didn't want to release me either.”

Docken had hoped to land a spot on one of Minnesota's two remaining NAHL teams, in Austin and Alexandria, or possibly other teams in the Midwest, like the Coulee Region Chill—based near La Crosse, WI, or the Aberdeen (SD) Wings.

But while he didn't get the release that would have allowed him to explore those options, Docken might get to play juniors in the Midwest after all.

Due to the uncertainty of this future in the NAHL—the tender he'd signed meant the Jackalopes owned his exclusive rights in that league, the second-highest junior hockey league in the U.S.—Docken actually tried out for and made the roster of another team in the top American junior league.

So while he's open to the possibility of spending this season in Odessa, his first choice would be to skate in Iowa, for the United States Hockey League's Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Derek Docken, Jared's older brother, played for the Fighting Saints last season, when they won the USHL championship as a first-year franchise.

“I went for a tryout (with Dubuque), and they liked what they saw, so I made their 30-man roster,” Docken said. “So as of right now, I'll head to Dubuque before I go to Texas, and I will be in Dubuque for most of September. I'll play a couple of exhibition games, and if I do well they will have a spot for me (on the 25-man regular-season roster). If not I'll end up in Texas.”

Playing in Dubuque will not mean a hockey reunion with his brother, though. Derek Docken played his last year of juniors last season and will be a freshman at the University of Alaska-Anchorage this fall.

While Odessa is Plan B, Docken said he's still brought his “A” game to camp.

“I'm still going into Odessa camp like it's going to be my team, but there is an OK chance I'll end up being in Dubuque,” he said.

coach Bryce Barry said whichever team Docken ends up with will be getting a quality player.

“The No. 1 thing is his skating ability,” Barry said. “No. 2 is his ability to protect and handle the puck. As a defenseman he's got the confidence and ability to handle the puck and get you out of the zone.”

Odessa Jackalopes camp concluded Sunday. The team must submit its 25-man season-opening roster to the league by Sept. 1.