Mansfield and Oliver Ames Concluding Efforts for a Girls Hockey Team

While most students will spend their summer vacations hitting the beaches and soaking up the heat, a handful of students from and will be spending their breaks with their minds on colder matters.

Just how cold, you ask? 

Ice cold.

Several students and parents from the two Hockomock League high schools will focus their efforts on wrapping up the final stages of putting together a co-op girl’s ice hockey team, which will conjoin players and funds from both schools. This idea was , but now seems a reality.

According to Oliver Ames Athletic Director , the team will be up and running in time for the winter season next year. The number of players that will be carried on the team will be determined through tryouts, and Von Euw made reference to the fact that it is a varsity team so the squad will be looking for players who are committed to doing well. 

As with any new sport, success in the early stages begins with funds.  Most new varsity programs are entirely funded by the boosters and this hockey team will be no exception. 

“It is totally funded by the parents,” said Von Euw.  “We had an interest from both schools for a girls team, but we don’t have enough to field one each individually so we’re going the co-op route.” 

Approval for the team came with the stipulation that players and parents will have to provide their own funds for five seasons and while the parents and players will handle fundraising, the school athletic departments will be responsible for the logistical aspects of the team – the uniforms, the ice time and other things of that nature. 

Dianne Arnold, who is heading up the fundraising efforts for the team, said that in order to get the team off the ground they would need upwards of $40,000, which is right around the budget for Mansfield boy’s varsity ice hockey in past seasons.

In a recent meeting, players and parents from both schools discussed some fundraising options for the summer. Possible ideas include canning activities, a car wash, and a letter writing campaign to local businesses in order to solicit support for the team. 

Though it can become quite easy to get caught up in the haste of gathering funds, it is important to keep in mind what the team means to the schools and especially to its players. Arnold is not only involved in the fundraising, but is also the parent of one of the Mansfield players, so she knows that this team is about far more than funds or even winning and losing. 

“The team is going to allow these girls an opportunity to play the sport that they love,” said Arnold.  “Most hockey players have been playing since they’ve been young and now for them to actually be able to play for their high school is great for them.”

Having the ability to compete with players who share common abilities and likeness on the ice will allow for an entirely different playing experience for the girl’s, one which many of them have never been able to participate in after having played on boy’s teams throughout their careers in pre-high school hockey. 

“In the past, we’ve had girls that have left the school system to go to other schools that have girl’s hockey programs, or girls that have played on boy’s teams,” Von Euw pointed out.  “With this program, they’re going to be able to shine on their own now.”

The players will also have the opportunity to design their own team name and uniforms, combining the mascots of both schools to create a design suitable to both sides. 

Arnold, like the girl’s on the team, sees this opportunity not only as a chance for girls to play hockey, but also as a way to inspire the community at large. 

“Hopefully they realize that if you have a desire to do something you can always get it done with a little hard work, desire, effort and organization.  I love the way both towns have come together and really allowed the girls to make this happen.”

With a lot of work still left to be done as the winter sports season creeps slowly closer, it will be an exciting challenge for the team from here on in. 

But, they should be all right as long as they keep their heads cool.