QUOTE
Players Aim To Become First High School Hockey Team In Washington County
Reported by: Megan Healey
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007 @11:18pm EST
HAGERSTOWN, MD - A group of local youth ice hockey players is paving the way for the first ever high school team in Washington County this year.
They've got the skates, the skills and certainly the drive, but there's still one thing the North Stars hockey club doesn't have:
“As of right now, we are not considered part of the school, but we’re working on that,” says assistant coach Brett Dennis.
With just 16 players from seven schools throughout the county, the North Stars are preparing for their first season as a provisional team in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League, and are hoping the school board and the community will be quick to take notice.
"We've been waiting for this a long time. My son’s been playing hockey for 12 years now and it's been a long time coming that we have a high school team,” says parent Cindy Weber.
"Pretty much the whole time I've been playing in high school I wished I could play on a high school team,” says senior captain Alli Zube.
Because the North Stars draw from several area high schools, league rules prohibit them from being considered a true high school club team, but coaches say they have high hopes for the future.
"Our goal is within three years to have at least one club status team, if not two in the area, and we have great potential for that with the way the sports growing in the area,” says Dennis.
But for now, the players say they'll just keep working hard, and maybe leave a little bit of legacy to rising players with high hopes of playing high school hockey.
"Maybe eventually each high school has their own team, but it's just a start now,” says senior captain Jack Barr.
"We have so many kids that love youth hockey and they can't do without it, and I mean, I'm one of them. I've played hockey since I was four, so without hockey, my life is nothing,” says senior captain Paul Stavrakas.
The North Stars' first game will be December 3rd, when they face off against Walkersville. Because of their provisional status, they will not eligible for any post-season play this year.
Reported by: Megan HealeyWednesday, Nov 7, 2007 @11:18pm EST
HAGERSTOWN, MD - A group of local youth ice hockey players is paving the way for the first ever high school team in Washington County this year.They've got the skates, the skills and certainly the drive, but there's still one thing the North Stars hockey club doesn't have:
“As of right now, we are not considered part of the school, but we’re working on that,” says assistant coach Brett Dennis.
With just 16 players from seven schools throughout the county, the North Stars are preparing for their first season as a provisional team in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League, and are hoping the school board and the community will be quick to take notice.
"We've been waiting for this a long time. My son’s been playing hockey for 12 years now and it's been a long time coming that we have a high school team,” says parent Cindy Weber.
"Pretty much the whole time I've been playing in high school I wished I could play on a high school team,” says senior captain Alli Zube.
Because the North Stars draw from several area high schools, league rules prohibit them from being considered a true high school club team, but coaches say they have high hopes for the future.
"Our goal is within three years to have at least one club status team, if not two in the area, and we have great potential for that with the way the sports growing in the area,” says Dennis.
But for now, the players say they'll just keep working hard, and maybe leave a little bit of legacy to rising players with high hopes of playing high school hockey.
"Maybe eventually each high school has their own team, but it's just a start now,” says senior captain Jack Barr.
"We have so many kids that love youth hockey and they can't do without it, and I mean, I'm one of them. I've played hockey since I was four, so without hockey, my life is nothing,” says senior captain Paul Stavrakas.
The North Stars' first game will be December 3rd, when they face off against Walkersville. Because of their provisional status, they will not eligible for any post-season play this year.
i think that's kinna cool.
hockey is an awesome sport, and i've always thought we should have some high school teams in this area.
I love Ice Hockey. It is weirdly fun and exhilarating. I hope all works out, and that the youth in Washington County can enjoy a team of their own.