NOVA ice hockey player goalie Justin Reich plays goal tender.

The following are brief profiles of three current NOVA ice hockey players.

Chris Altice, a first-year student, plays Wing. Altice has been playing ice hockey since he was 12 years old and plays year-round. The first time he tried it, he borrowed skates and played for eight hours as he quickly became hooked on hockey. He thinks that, though the NOVA team had a rough start, it has good chemistry and will make the conference playoffs.

Altice has played other sports as well such as baseball, football and basketball, but hockey is number one for him. He expects to continue playing hockey after NOVA.

Altice graduated from the Brentsville District in 2002 and went into the U.S. Navy for four years before attending the Manassas NOVA campus. He is studying business administration for a two-year degree and would like to receive a four-year degree in marketing/public relations.

Leisure activities, which he does not have a lot of time for, include being with his girlfriend, attending concerts and going to a large number of Caps’ games.

Ben Perkins, a second-year defenseman and assistant team captain, grew up watching hockey and began playing at age 11. He enjoys the physicality, the constant action and high intensity when playing hockey.

He believes the NOVA team, though off to a rough start, will at least make the playoffs.

Perkins graduated in 2006 from Woodbridge High and attends NOVA’s Woodbridge campus. He is studying administration of justice and, after graduation, plans to enter the U.S. Army for four years. He hopes eventually for a career in federal law enforcement, possibly with the FBI.

Perkins’ leisure activities include making the bar scene rounds with friends and enjoying being young.

Justin Reich, a second-year goalie, has been playing ice hockey for seven years, ever since his father introduced him to street hockey. He has played extensively in junior leagues since then, always as a goalie. He plans on playing hockey for many more years.

He is still learning as a goalie and sees reflexes and flexibility as being the primary position requirements. He does reflex training twice a week. Goalie is a very active position for him.

“The often 50 shots per game give me a hell of a workout,” he explained.

Reich has also played lacrosse and recreational soccer.

He believes that the NOVA team has improved depth this year and has a “very, very good chance of making the playoffs” despite a slow start.

Reich graduated from Chantilly High School in 2006.He is studying aeronautical engineering at the Annandale campus and plans on attending Virginia Tech next fall with a major in aeronautical engineering. He had a chance to play Division 3 ice hockey previously and hopes to play for the Division 2 Virginia Tech ice hockey team.

He has a fondness for mathematics and his long-range goal is to become an actuary.

A rigorous academic and work schedule leave him with little leisure time, but when he does have free time, he enjoys being with family and friends.

By: Arch Scurlock

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