School Ice Hockey Program Now Four Years Old

It’s been four years since the implementation of an ice hockey program at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, and athletics director Rob Harmer says it’s hard to believe how much has happened during that time.

“It truly amazes me it’s been four years,” he said.

The program, which is fully funded by fundraising and parents’ support, started in winter 2005 as a junior varsity team of 27 students. Since then, it’s expanded into several teams that encompass students not just at the high school, but all the way down to kindergarten age.

Harmer presented the team’s progress and the program’s plans for the future during the recent Board of Education meeting.

Harmer said the purpose of the program is partly to develop leadership capacity and good organizational skills in the students who participate. So far, he said he’s noticed a demonstrable decrease in discipline problems among the players, thanks in part to their participation in an athletics study hall.

“They’re in there 45 minutes to an hour, and most of the coaches are teachers so they can help them,” Harmer said.

The team has done more than just improve the grades of its players, though. Several of them have also moved on to play club ice hockey in college. While Harmer said he wasn’t sure if any of those students received scholarships for their participation, he said the program hopes to help its players do so in the future.

Overall, the program has had several notable successes since its inception.

•    2005-2006: Beat Westfield; held practices with the help of ice hockey coach Sergei Starikov; implemented study halls;
•    2006-2007:  Varsity team became accredited with the New Jersey Interscholastic Hockey Association; team was one game away from state playoffs; launched middle school program;
•    2007-2008: played in first playoffs game;
•    2008-2009: Creation of Union County Ice Hockey League; Implemented Little Raiders Mites program for children kindergarten through third grade.

While the high school team currently has its lowest enrollment yet this fall — just 16 students — Harmer said he’s got plenty of students in the lower grade levels committed to playing once they reach the high school and that he expects the program to continue to grow in the coming years.

While the cost for a student to participate has increased by several hundred dollars since the program began (it’s now at $1200), Harmer said the SPFIHA plans to increase its fundraising efforts this year and shop for reduced rates on ice slots. They’ve also reduced transportation costs by playing some games closer to home.

“Since the first year, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Ice Hockey Association has successfully fundraised, fulfilling all financing obligations,” Harmer said.

Board of Education Vice President Nancy Bauer noted that the ice hockey program has helped other new sports, like the lacrosse team, get started.

“You helped blaze a trail to help implement new sports into the district,” Bauer said.