Three-school hockey team wins backing
Toolbox
By SUSAN ALLEN STAFF WRITER - Published: November 11, 2009
MONTPELIER – Hockey players from Montpelier, Northfield and Randolph High Schools will join forces to field a team this winter.
A plan for the three schools to team up on the ice for one year narrowly won approval from the Vermont Principals Association on Tuesday. Under the member-to-member program, the team would carry the Northfield name and feature Northfield jerseys.
"We're pleased because it means that kids from three schools are going to get to play hockey this year," said Northfield Athletic Director Frank Pecora of the VPA's action.
Pecora said a meeting is planned for tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Northfield High School cafeteria for anyone interested in playing on the boys varsity hockey team, and their parents.
"We're going to go over our athletic policies, welcome everybody and go over expectations," he said of tonight's agenda. "We're going to get on with the hockey season."
Bob Johnson, director of Student Activities at the VPA, coordinated the meeting-by-telephone of the organization's Activities Standards Committee to consider the member-to-member waiver request. The panel approved the proposal by a vote of 4-3, with two members absent.
"I think there were some concerns raised about having a team that potentially has large numbers," he said of the committee's discussion, noting that MHS could field 12 players, and Northfield and Randolph – already a member-to-member team – another 14.
But, Johnson stressed, it's unlikely all those players will actually join the newly combined team.
"Montpelier could have 12, but in all actuality we're talking about five or six," he said.
Johnson said the VPA did not receive any calls from hockey players or their parents in support or opposition to the waiver request.
Montpelier has struggled in recent years to keep its boys hockey program viable at the high school, with the number of players declining. When injuries and ineligibility become a factor, school athletic officials worry about keeping enough players on the ice and the safety of those who continue to play. Montpelier football has at times had players from others schools joining to help form a team.
Northfield has been in a member-to-member program with Randolph for several years, Pecora said.
Johnson said there was also some concern expressed during the meeting by at least one committee member that the Vermont Hockey League had not been consulted. But he said time was limited: The VPA has been aware for about a month that the request might be coming, but couldn't officially act until the Northfield and Montpelier school boards signed off on the proposal last week. The Northfield board approved the waiver request on Nov. 2; Montpelier's board gave its OK on Nov. 4.
"They were on the call with us, we did talk with them about the scheduling issues," Johnson said of league officials. "In an ideal situation we would have gone back and gotten their input. But we don't have time. The winter season starts Monday."
He said Northfield school officials, including the athletic director and principal, were also on the call. Montpelier High School officials did not participate, he said.
The VPA approved the waiver for one year, at which time the schools will reassess the situation. One option might be to form a cooperative team, which is more long-term than the member-to-member program, Johnson said.
Under member-to-member, Northfield will host the combined team. If the schools decide to form a cooperative team in the future, that team would probably have its own name and uniforms.
Johnson said he anticipates more Vermont schools will approach the VPA for shared agreements, if not this year, then in future years.
"I know of six schools between boys hockey and girls hockey that are in a difficult situation," he said. "I do think we are going to see more cooperative teams."
33