Goodrich – Martian hockey is no more.
After 25 years, a lack of players coupled with a tough economy has prompted the end of the Martian hockey program for the 2008-09 season.
‘We only had nine kids sign up for ice-hockey,? said Al Martus, district athletic director. ‘I think there are several factors contributing to this problem.?
Martus said hockey is an expensive sport.
‘The downturn in the economy could be a reason this is happening. Other high schools have had to drop their ice-hockey programs, too,? said Martus.
Competing with travel teams that run their hockey schedule during the same time as high schools, Martus said, is also an issue.
‘I was surprised,? said Martus. ‘Our principal, David St. Aubin, and I tried to get more kids. We talked to a lot of kids, but we still couldn’t get enough kids to sign-up. We will try to get it back next year.?
Kenny Benson, the general manager of the Polar Palace, 3301 Davison Road in Lapeer, home ice for the Martian hockey team, said finding experienced players isn’t always easy.
‘Goodrich didn’t have the sheer numbers of players to play this year. Obviously, hockey is a demanding sport on an athlete’s body. Going in with only nine skaters is tough at that age, the pace of ice-hockey is pretty fast.?
Benson said it also didn’t help that the team lost their only experienced goalie. ‘Goodrich High ran with a small team last year. Their goalie left to attend Powers High School. Another goalie transferred in, but was not eligible to play until the second semester. I think at that point, the players may have found other teams to play for.?
Also the only sport where athletes have to make a choice, Benson said the ice-hockey travel team schedule conflicts with the high school schedule.
‘Baseball and basketball run their travel teams away from the high school schedule. The USA hockey season is from Sept. 1 through most of March. The high school season this year is from Oct. 27 through the end of February – so there is a conflict.?
The cost to get students on the ice, Benson said, is also a factor. He said the cost to rent their ice depends on when high schools are using the ice, and it’s more expensive in the evening at prime time. ‘I know some schools pay a small amount because they have so much fundraising. Other schools pay over $1,000 per player, some high schools don’t pay anything. It depends on how each school and district is set up to absorb the costs,? said Benson.
Besides the 24 scheduled games during the four month season, the amount of practice time on the ice during the week, Benson said, is also a cost factor.
‘In the past, Goodrich High School might get on the ice maybe two times a week for practice before a scheduled game,? he said.
The premiere ice-hockey program, Benson said, is in Davison.
‘They get the kids on the ice five or six times a week besides their regularly scheduled game,? he noted. ‘There has definitely been a shift in the last three years from demand and supply to more supply than demand. There are a couple of small area teams going by the wayside this year. Lakeville High School in Otisville is one of them. Over the past ten years, Flint City Schools have had to fade out their ice-hockey program. We are down to three high school teams now.?