Boy's Ice Hockey

What it Takes to be a Hockey Player

We play for the York Middle School Boys Ice Hockey Team. Being a hockey player you learn to carry an extra 40-pounds into and out of rinks while juggling two sticks in one hand and your Gatorade bottle in the other. Goalies have it a little worse, bigger pads, a couple of sticks, a glove and a blocker. You never seem

to hear anyone complain because they love the game and it is all worth it.

The Middle School Boys Hockey Team ages range from 6th grade to 8th grade. Anyone can play, even if you have never played hockey before. For some of us it our chance to play with our classmates. Some hockey players play for other teams and have never had an opportunity to play with kids from our own school so it is a great chance to be together.

Unfortunately , we do not get a lot of extra ice time because it is so expensive. We do however have a game each Sunday afternoon or night. We travel to many different rinks to play and get to play other kids from other towns. This year we have ( 7) sixth graders, (8) 7th grade players and (6) 8th grade players making a total of 21 players.

Once a year the Boys High School Wildcat team asks the Middle School boys to come to one of the home games and be announced on the ice with them. Another fun activity that the boys on the Middle School hockey team do is that they get to practice once with the High School Wildcats.

This team serves as a great way for the High School to see who they have coming up to play. The coaches like to know who they have coming up and the Middle School team helps them know who they will be working with. About 6 years ago, the Middle School Hockey

program was going to dismantle because there wasn't anyone to coach it.

Steve Ouellette and Jules Gamache decided to take it over, so it would not die. They gathered boys and created a strong team. With that, they won two back to back State Championships. Hard work and great players who were dedicated to the game made it happen.

From that, the York Junior Wildcats were born. This team consists of 3rd through 5th graders and they have a great time playing, as they look forward to the Middle School team to play on. The program has grown, is growing and will (hopefully) continue to be strong. Hockey is a hard sport to play, but is (in our mind) the most rewarding, challenging and exciting sport to play.

We hope you come root us on at our games. We promise it will be fun!