Introduction

The Strongsville Board of Education and Strongsville High School have a long and exemplary history of offering a variety of programs to meet the individual developmental needs of its students as they pass through Strongsville's educational system. We would like to call attention to one such group of students who need the support and backing of the Board of Education to pursue an endeavor that is important to their individual growth as students and future citizens of the community.

Background Information

As you probably know, ice hockey as a participatory sport has witnessed a great deal of growth over the last 20 years since the United States' "Dream Team" captured the hearts and attention of the American people at the Olympic Games of 1980. Players typically begin playing hockey at age 5-6 (referred to as Mite level), many times after having taken some formal figure skating lessons, and continue playing through the age of 18 (referred to as Midget level). The sport is very well organized and monitored requiring all participants to have properly-approved equipment; parental consent and supervision; trained, certified coaches; a system of rules and regulations governing practice and play; and insurance coverage. The organization and rules/regulations of the sport come primarily from the U. S. A. Hockey Association to which individual community or suburban leagues belong and abide by the established rules.

Because of this interest and growth, more and more communities and school districts are establishing recreational / competitive programs whether they have an ice rink within city limits or not. This is an interesting phenomenon because of the nature of the sport. It is an expensive sport requiring proper equipment be purchased and worn by all participants at ail times; this becomes even more challenging as players typically go through several sets of equipment from Mites through Midget divisions. Parental support must be very strong for the parents to be willing to make the financial sacrifice to purchase equipment and ice time that allows their children to participate. Typically, rinks are not within walking distance and thus parents must be willing to sacrifice their free time in order to get players to and from practices and games, usually at rotating times. Players and parents must also be willing to sacrifice other activities to "be on call" for hockey as ice times vary considerably for practices and games. Play from a very early age on requires a significant amount of travel time to different rinks in different communities; again this is an indication of the dedication and passion hockey players and families have toward this sport. I can think of no other sport that requires as much dedication and family participation and support.

This growth in participation can be seen in Strongsville as well. Unfortunately, the Strongsville youngsters who enjoy participating in hockey must travel to other communities to join teams in order to participate. For years, establishing a varsity team has been proposed and discussed but never acted upon; consequently, many players of high school age have decided to pursue their academic studies elsewhere so that they may participate in hockey for a high school team. The majority of Strongsville participants, however, are denied the pleasure and honor of representing their school when they play hockey.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this report is to make the Strongsville Board of Education aware of the interest in and need for establishing the varsity sport of Ice Hockey to serve the needs of a growing group of youngsters who attend Strongsville City Schools and to recommend that this be accomplished by Strongsville High School joining the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League for the 2000-2001 season.

This report will present the following information:

Player interest
Equipment costs
Information about other communities and their varsity hockey programs
Implementation guidelines

Player Interest

There has been interest in Strongsville to support a varsity hockey team for a number of years. Parents and players have been trying to organize a school team since 1990,submittinginformation and proposals with no success. Finally we were allowed to organize a club team for the Spring, 1999 season at North Olmsted Recreation Center. Although the win column was not the highest, the team was quite successful coming together to skate and play for the first time and developed a true team spirit. We will be entering the Spring Season, 2000 in the Parma Spring League as a club with 17 members signed up to play so far (December 14, 1999). (Typical varsity rosters allow only a maximum of 20 players, so we are well within the numbers needed and allowed to support a team.) In addition, numerous 8 grade students will be moving up to SHS next year and have already expressed an interest in becoming part of the team.

Strongsville Club Hockey Team - Spring 2000

Equipment Costs

Hockey is a sport that requires a number of pieces of quality equipment to protect and safeguard each player. Equipment is generally broken down into outerwear (helmet, jersey, pants, socks, equipment bag) that projects a standard image of the team, and personal-wear items (shoulder pads, elbow pads, chest protectors, neck guards, mouth pieces, gloves, garter belts, athletic supporters, skates). Most schools typically provide most of the outerwear to project a uniform appearance among its players leaving personal-wear items up to the individual player to provide.

Helmet - $90-$100
Jersey (2 per player) $60
Hockey pants - $90-$100
Hockey socks - $12/pair

TOTAL COST for 20 players is $7,640.00

In addition to equipment costs, ice time at a local rink will need to be purchased. Hockey season starts the week before Thanksgiving and runs approximately 12-14 weeks (depending on the calendar and playoff games). Most varsity teams practice three (3) times per week, plus games (1-2 games played each week during the season for a total of 20 games).

Ice time - Practice $130-$150/hour, 3 hours/week $450/week X 12 weeks = $5,400
Home games ice $375/game $3,750
League fee $780.00
Coaching fees - Approximately $4,000
Pucks - $150
Tournament Play - $1,000

TOTAL EXPENSES $15,080

Yearly expenses for establishing the team would not be as high as the first year since equipment costs would diminish due to reuse of the equipment. Part of the expenses could be offset by admissions charged at the gate for games and fundraisers on behalf of the team. Business donations could also be solicited on behalf of the team. In addition, a parent booster club could be formed and activated to help offset costs.

Other Communities and their Hockey Programs

Hockey is a popular sport that is growing in popularity in our region. Each year more schools are adding varsity hockey to their sports programs even if their particular community does not have its own ice rink. There are a number of rinks in the area and there are proposals for more rinks to be built in the near future including adding an ice rink as a Phase 2 to our own Recreation Center and possibly converting River Run Tennis Courts into an ice rink.

Existing Rinks in Greater Cleveland

West (indoor) Rocky River, North Olmsted, Lakewood, Parma, Parma Hts., Brooklyn, Baron's

West (outdoor) Elyria, Oberlin, Halloran

East (indoor) Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Mentor, Euclid, Sportsplex ,Cleveland Skating Club, Auburn Corners

Southeast Kent State U, Canton

Parma Heights and Baron's ice rinks are close geographically and have available ice time that could be purchased.

More and more school districts are adding varsity hockey to their athletic programs. Because hockey can be played by boys and girls alike, it is not necessary to add any other additional sports at the same time. In the last three years, 10 schools have been added to the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League--Aurora, Kenston, Orange, Mayfield, Solon, Chagrin Falls, Gilmour Academy, Benedictine, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin, and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. Locally, Brunswick High is discussing adding a hockey team as well as Holy Name High School. And the athletic director of Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District has stated his support for a high school hockey program.

High School Varsity Hockey Programs

Blue East Division - Aurora, Chagrin Falls, CVCA, Kenston, Mayfield , Orange, Solon

Blue Central Division - Euclid, Garfield Hts. , Gilmour, Hudson, Mentor, Western Reserve

Blue West Division - Bay Village, Brooklyn, Elyria Catholic, Lakewood, Parmaa, Olmsted Falls, Valley Forge

Red South Division - Normandy, Lake Catholic, Trinity, Kent Roosevelt, North Olmsted, Rocky River

Red North Division - St. Edward, Shaker Hts., St. Ignatius, Padua, University School, Cleveland Hts.

Implementation Guidelines

A Membership application can be obtained from Mr. John Kall, League President, Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League, at Trinity High School (216) 581-1644 ext. 138 during regular school hours now. THE MEMBERSEIIP APPLICATION MUST BE RETURNED TO MR RALL BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2000. Schools new to the League are placed in the Blue East Division. Alignment of all teams is reevaluated each year to insure that play is fair and that all teams are placed properly.

It is recommended that equipment needs be evaluated and bids for equipment be secured from PERANI'S HOCKEY SHOP 24126 Lorain Road, North Olmsted (440) 979-9700 and FRITSCHE SPORTS COMPANY 5842 Ridge Road, Parma (440) 8425241 as soon as possible in order to find the best prices for the team equipment. Based upon which bid is accepted, a timetable of ordering/delivery/payment of equipment should be established.

It is recommended that several rinks be contacted about the purchase of ice time for practices and games as soon as possible. Probably Greenbrier Ice Rink in Parma Heights and the Baron's Ice Rink in Brookpark will have the most availability, but other rinks should also be contacted since schedules tend to change and programs change rinks.

It is recommended that a search begin for the position of coach of the team. Hockey coaches must be certified.

It is recommended that a parent be appointed as a temporary manager to help oversee the process and act as a liaison between the Board of Education and the team to make sure that all necessary tasks are completed on a timely basis to ensure a smooth start to the upcoming season.

It is recommended that the Strongsville Athletic Boosters be made aware of the hockey team and that hockey parents join the Boosters Club in order to support our new team and all of our student athletes.

Conclusion

In fairness to the players who have been waiting for a chance to represent Strongsville High in a sport that they are passionate about and dedicated to, it is recommended that the Strongsville Board of Education acknowledge the interest in hockey shared by many students (and parents) currently at the high school and by many more in the middle and elementary schools by approving the addition of Varsity Ice Hockey to its offerings of sports activities commencing Fall, 2000. The interest, dedication, and support is there to do this successfully and to the benefit of many students who love to participate in hockey. We hope that the Strongsville Board of Education will act on the desire of so many people and add Varsity Ice Hockey for the 2000-2001 school year.