Most people don’t think of ice when they think of Arizona but, for Fountain Hills High School junior Bryce Kerr, he’s spent quite a lot of time on frozen water over the past 12 or so years.

Kerr said he got into ice hockey when he was four or five years old, and he’s been playing ever since.

It turns out he’s pretty good at it, too, going on to claim a spot on the Division II all-state team for defense this year, as well as a spot on the All-Arizona defense team.

Most recently, Kerr’s dedication to the sport has led to playing in the Nationals, as well as representing Arizona at the recent America’s Showcase.

Since the local high school does not have an ice hockey program, Kerr is able to play for the Arcadia Titans, which he’s done for the past three years.

Looking back over his decade with the sport, this Arizona native said it all began with a pair of ice skates he received at a young age.

“I had played soccer and stuff like that, but I guess I got bored with it and wanted to try something new,” Kerr said.

“I love the competitiveness of the sport. I also like the places you get to travel and the fact that you get to meet a lot of people.”

Kerr began his real run with the sport in a house league, then moved up in the divisions every couple of years. He said he enjoys going to Fountain Hills schools, but he also wanted to pursue his interest in hockey. Luckily, he’s able to play for a travel team, Mission Arizona, as well as the Arcadia High School squad.

Kerr said his season typically begins in the fall and runs through around March.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty long season,” he said.

“I also run track and cross country [for FHHS].”

Now that hockey is all wrapped up, Kerr can be seen running the 300 meter hurdles for the Falcons. Before too long, though, he’ll be back on the ice getting ready for the next season.

When he’s playing, Kerr said his main goal is staying back on the ice and protecting the goal keeper.

“I try to keep the game in the offensive zone,” he added.

“I like that the position is physical, too. It’s a bigger role than a lot of the others. If you mess up, it hurts more, but if you don’t, you’re rewarded more.”

Kerr said he never thought hockey would take him to where he is now, representing his state on a national scale.

“I worked hard all three years to get to that spot, so it was fun and a good reward,” he said.

Kerr and his team recently traveled to New Jersey for the Nationals. The squad lost one game in the preliminary rounds and eventually made it to the quarterfinals.

Earlier this month, he joined some of the best players in the state to represent Arizona in America’s Showcase, which was hosted out of Pittsburgh.

“All of the high school kids try out for this showcase team,” Kerr explained.

“They pick the top six defensive players and the top 12 forwards to play for the state. You have three weeks of practice, then you head to the tournament.”

Kerr admitted that it was pretty tough playing with a bunch of athletes he’s never worked with before, as three weeks isn’t enough time to get a feel for one another. Still, he said he had a great time at the tournament.

“It felt good to play there,” he continued.

Kerr plans to keep playing through his senior year of high school and hopes to turn it into a continued effort. He’s still between going to play in the juniors for a couple of years or going straight into college, where he would hope to play for a collegiate team. No matter where his skates take him next, however, Kerr said he’s learned a lot on the ice.

“Working together, and coming together as a family, is more important than any other aspect of the game,” he said.

“You can have good skills, but you have to learn how to adapt with your team if you want to do well.”