Lynn High School Girls
Take to the Ice
By Jill Ricker, The Daily Item of Lynn, Friday,
May 20, 2005
LYNN
- High school girls hoping to lace up their skates and pass the puck around are
one step closer to having a girl's hockey team.
The Athletics Subcommittee Thursday voted 3-0 to bring the idea of starting of a
girl's hockey program to the full School Committee.
English High School Athletic Director Gary Molea said the team would be a
cooperative team made up of girls from English, Classical, Revere and Winthrop
high schools.
"Between the four schools, we would probably have a pretty competitive
team," he said.
For the past few years, public school girls interested in hockey have been able
to play on the St. Mary's High School team, which won the Division 2 state title
this past winter.
Molea said that agreement has since dissolved.
"The league has told St. Mary's that they need to be on their own," he
said.
Because the program will be cooperative, costs will be split among Lynn, Revere
and Winthrop.
Molea said each of the districts has agreed to play host to at least one
practice per week, for a total of three practices. They have also agreed to play
host to nine home games, three in each district.
The team would also play nine games on the road, for which the districts would
split the cost of transportation.
As for coaching, Molea said he hopes to hire two coaches for $4,000, which would
also be split between the schools.
He said girls could either purchase their own jerseys, which they would keep for
three years, or wear hand-me-downs.
"I do have some jerseys that are in real good shape if it would help
alleviate the costs," he said.
With the money the city was paying St. Mary's for its girls to participate,
School Business Administrator Stephen Upton said starting a girl's hockey
program would not be an added expense.
"It would come out to about the same money," he said.
Molea said the cooperative team would most likely play other cooperative
teams that are currently forming.
"Within the league there are three or four teams that are all co-oping,"
he said. "I think Danvers is putting together a team with Saugus and
Beverly. I think it would be good for us to have a program."
The School Committee is expected to vote on girl's hockey at its next meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.