Help Out

The Hockey Team

To the Editor:

The Newtown High School Ice Hockey team is preparing for the start of their fifth season and the players will be working hard to qualify for the SWC playoffs for the fourth successive year and hopefully the state tournament as well. Head Coach Dustin Dzima and his new assistant Brian Micena will be looking for players to step into the skates of the talented Class of ‘04 players. This year’s team will feature competitive and spirited play from a cross section of players representing all four classes at the school. In this, only our fifth as a team, the program seems to be developing strong roots. Considering the success of the high school team coupled with the large number of young skaters participating in area youth hockey programs, ice hockey has become permanent part of the school’s athletic program.

The costs of maintaining a hockey program are considerable. Equipment, which needs to be replaced as players grow during their teen years, is quite expensive. The cost of each hour of practice ice is approaching $400. The school does not allow the players to drive to practices at the Danbury Ice Arena and the cost of busing to and from practices exceeds $6,000 for the season. When supplies, referee cost, and incidentals are added in with the two major costs of ice time and transportation, you end up with a fairly expensive program. One of the goals of this organization was to make a player’s ability and not cost the determining factor in whether or not a student participates in this program. While we have made progress on many levels, the one area where we are lacking is in the sharing of the cost of the program with the school district. By the agreement with the board of education which allowed this program to go forward, by this point in time the bulk of the cost should be borne by the school district. In realty, we receive no financial support from the school district.

The players will be engaging in various fundraisers throughout the year and in the past we have been graced with generous contributions from individuals and organizations to help lower the cost for each player. While we are aware that worthy causes such as Tsunami Relief, Katrina Relief, Earthquake Relief, as well as the needs of people in our local community are taxing people’s ability to give, we are once again coming to you for help. Please make any contribution payable to The Friends of Newtown Hockey and mail it to: The Friends of Newtown Hockey, c/o Scott Bell, 10 Buck Trail, Sandy Hook CT 06482

Very truly yours,

Charles Borchetta

10 Willow Brook Lane, Newtown                    November 25, 2005