Published: February 14, 2008 02:32 am      

LOCKPORT SCHOOL BOARD: Club hockey players' goal: going 'fed'

Lockport club hockey players, family and friends crowded the board conference room Wednesday as if they were in front of a net looking for a loose puck.

A number of hockey supporters packed the Board of Education meeting asking the members to consider adding the sport to its budget for the 2008-09 school year. Currently, the Lockport varsity and junior varsity hockey teams are a “club” sport, meaning there is no support from the school district. Players are on their own, both financially and in terms of finding a place to play. Adding the sport to the budget would upgrade the teams to “federation” level, making it a school-sponsored sport.

“As a federation sport, our children will receive a level of collegiate exposure, share in the positive persona of all other Lockport High School varsity sports as a school recognized varsity team member,” said Gretchen Sukdolak, a parent of one of the players.

Sukdolak listed a number of ways club hockey moving up to federation status, or “going fed” as some of the supporters put it, would be advantageous to students. One advantage is hockey players wouldn’t leave the Lockport district to play for a school with a federation team. The competition at the federation level is considered better because of a higher level of skill and conditioning for the players.

The group of supporters provided the board with a packet of information about what it would cost for the teams to “go fed.” The packet also included the advantages of a federation team, the future outlook of hockey in Lockport and why the team has to move now. Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert said the level of competition was a big reason.

“Twelve schools in the area have gone fed,” he said. “What that means is that if you’re a club hockey team, you will no longer will be playing these teams. Lockport is one of the few teams left that is a club hockey team. It could be in the ’08-’09 season we’ll have three or four other teams to play, and that’s it.”

Eggert said two of those teams are in Dunkirk and Jamestown, which is a long drive for Lockport parents. Niagara-Wheatfield and Grand Island school districts are also considering the jump to federation hockey.

The Lockport Club Hockey Association asked the board to consider a four-year, phase-in plan. The first year, 2008-09, the association would pay for all of the costs of the program. Costs include federation dues, transportation to games, practice ice time and equipment. The next year the association would cover about two-thirds of the costs. It would go to 33 percent in the third year, and by the fourth year, the program would be funded by the district. The first year budget for the hockey program was listed at $19,650, which Eggert called a “solid figure you can go by.”

Some of the players were on hand at the meeting to express what it would mean to have a federation team. Current varsity team captain Matt Stawicki asked the board to not let future players miss out on what he missed out on: federation hockey and a shot at a college scholarship.

More than 400 players have participated in the 35-year history of Lockport High School hockey. Currently, the junior varsity team has 19 players, while 21 players are on the varsity team. In the packet of information, the association said it expects to see an increase of players coming to Lockport. The number of players will be higher if the teams were to become federation teams.

Board vice president John Linderman said the club hockey teams’ addition to the budget would be discussed at a March 3 meeting of the board. The meeting was originally scheduled for March 5 but was moved Wednesday night.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.