VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Anthony Larkin’s Frozen Vision: More Than Just a Camp
Caleb Spinner, NCC News Reporter: Before the season starts, Syracuse Men’s Club Hockey is already building chemistry. At the center of it all is Anthony Larkin. Since creating the frozen jungle tournament in Massachusetts 3 years ago, he’s helped players connect on and off the ice, especially younger ones.
Anthony Larkin, ‘The Frozen Jungle’ Founder: It’s a lot easier for a player to go into a new, team and program, like knowing people that he’s going to be skating with and at the end of the day, if, you know, two freshmen played in the Frozen Jungle before they went into the fall of their freshman year, those two kids are most likely going to spend four years together. They could be roommates for all I know.
Spinner: Larkin knows firsthand the connections made at the Jungle. back when it was just informal drills, he met future Syracuse captain Sam Hutchinson there.
Larkin: He found out I was coming to syracuse. Just word of mouth. So, here’s dming and then I just kind of sent it to him. Hey, one day, like, if you want to come for a skate, I’m running these skates. And, you know, since then, he’s been one of my best friends.
Spinner: Freshman Eli Pendergrass drove 230 miles from Maine every week to skate with Larkin and his future teammates. He says it was more than worth it.
Eli Pendergrass, Syracuse Hockey Freshman: I just felt like I was welcomed as soon as I showed up on campus. And I think that camaraderie got built over the summer before and really helped out that.
Spinner: Pendergrass played in all but 4 games during his freshman season, quickly becoming a key piece for the orange. He credits the Frozen Jungle for giving him a preview of college hockey and helping him feel at home on the ice.
Pendergrass: I think skill wise, speed wise, you kind of play to and see, the kind of guys you’re really going against every single day and every single weekend going into games. I think it really helped me settle in and know what I was getting myself into before I showed up here, and I think that was helpful for me right off the start to kind of get settled in as soon as possible.
Larkin: That’s super rewarding when I see, feel-good stories work out like that.
Spinner: Syracuse isn’t the only team using the Frozen Jungle to break in new players. Regional programs like UMass treat it as both a preseason warmup and an informal recruiting ground. Pendergrass says that mix is unbeatable.
Pendergrass: Those guys are there because they want to be. They want to play hockey. And Tony setting this up because he wants guys to be able to have that experience. I think that’s something you’re not going to get anywhere else. And I think that’s why I feel like the Jungle is one of the best places you can play over the summer.
Spinner: Larkin has grown the frozen jungle from a small skate into a full interstate development camp. As he graduates, his goal stays the same — giving back to the game and team he loves. Caleb Spinner, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Before Syracuse men’s club hockey hits the ice for its first game of the season, players are already working to form the chemistry that often takes teams half a season to build. At the center of that offseason growth is senior Anthony Larkin — and his summer passion project: the Frozen Jungle.
The Frozen Jungle is a player-run development camp and tournament hosted in Massachusetts, now entering its fourth year. Founded by Larkin in 2021, the event started as a few informal skates. It has since grown into an interstate network for college-bound hockey players, providing a place to sharpen skills and, more importantly, make early connections with future teammates.
“It’s a lot easier for a player to go into a new team and program knowing people that he’s going to be skating with,” Larkin said. “If two freshmen played in the Frozen Jungle before they went into the fall of their freshman year, those two kids are most likely going to spend four years together — they could be roommates, for all I know.”
Larkin speaks from experience. He first connected with former Syracuse captain Sam Hutchinson through the Jungle, back when the camp was still in its early stages.
“He found out I was coming to Syracuse — just word of mouth,” Larkin said. “I sent him a message, said, ‘Hey, if you want to come for a skate, I’m running these skates.’ And since then, he’s been one of my best friends.”
Freshman forward Eli Pendergrass is one of many players reaping the benefits of Larkin’s creation. Last summer, Pendergrass drove 230 miles from his hometown in Maine every week just to skate in the Jungle.
“I just felt like I was welcomed as soon as I showed up on campus,” Pendergrass said. “That camaraderie got built over the summer and really helped out.”
Pendergrass became a regular contributor for the Orange, playing in all but four games his freshman season. He credits the Jungle with giving him a realistic preview of the speed, skill and competition of college hockey.
“You kind of get to see the kind of guys you’re going against every weekend,” Pendergrass said. “It helped me settle in and know what I was getting myself into before I showed up here.”
Larkin said watching players like Pendergrass succeed makes the effort worth it.
“That’s super rewarding when I see feel-good stories work out like that,” Larkin said.
While Syracuse benefits from the Frozen Jungle’s team-building aspect, the event has also become a go-to warmup and informal recruiting ground for programs across the region, including UMass and several other collegiate club teams.
Pendergrass said that mix of purpose and passion is what makes the camp unique.
“Those guys are there because they want to be,” Pendergrass said. “They want to play hockey, and Tony setting this up because he wants guys to be able to have that experience — I think that’s something you’re not going to get anywhere else.”
As Larkin prepares to graduate this spring, he’s proud of what the Frozen Jungle has become. But he’s even more proud of what it gives back to the game.
“It’s always been about the guys,” Larkin said. “If it helps even one player feel at home before the season starts, that’s a win.”