Hockey parents pushing for official recognition
FRHSD board members are asked to sanction new sport at 6 schools
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer
Agroup of about 150 people attended the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 25 to ask administrators to sanction ice hockey as a sport within the district.

The meeting was held at the FRHSD offices in Englishtown.

Among the crowd were players from the Region Raiders, which is an independent ice hockey team made up of players who attend FRHSD schools. The players and their parents are asking administrators and the board to allow the athletes to represent their individual schools by sanctioning ice hockey in each of the district's six buildings.

Parents complained about not getting answers from the district's supervisors of extracurricular activities, who oversee athletics.

The parents said they would fully fund the cost of the ice hockey programs. They asked administrators and the board members to meet them halfway and tell them how to go about having ice hockey sanctioned as an official sport, similar to football, baseball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, tennis and other sports offered to students within the FRHSD.

During the meeting Richard Hodes of Howell handed Superintendent of Schools James Wasser a written proposal that spelled out the request for a sanctioned ice hockey program and demonstrated local interest for the sport.

Phil Antman, a parent from Marlboro, said it is an "embarrassment" for one of the most prestigious school districts in New Jersey not to sanction ice hockey for its students.

"The parents and the children feel cheated. Towns outside of the district such as Old Bridge, Wall, Brick, Jackson and Point Pleasant all have high school-sanctioned hockey teams," he said. "This is a very reputable school district. This is an area with very high taxes. The school board should be working for the residents and the citizens of the respective towns. People in certain functions don't want to go the extra mile, because it means more work for them. This district should give every child the viable opportunity to play a major sport such as this."

Oktay Armagan, director of hockey operations and head coach of the Region Raiders and program director for Protech Hockey Ponds in Somerset, said, "If the FRHSD sanctioned ice hockey it would provide their athletes with more opportunities."

Craig Blum of Freehold Borough said not sanctioning ice hockey adversely affects the district.

"Because they don't have sanctioned ice hockey, the district loses athletes to parochial schools (that offer ice hockey). They go outside of the district for those programs," he said.

In May 2007 the same constituency presented the school board with a proposal for a FRHSD ice hockey team, but due to New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, the district is not permitted to form a combined team that would draw players from all six schools.

The NJSIAA governs high school sports in New Jersey.

According to NJSIAA Assistant Director Jack Dubois, because of the size of the district (about 12,000 students), it is prohibited from having a regional team for any sport. However, schools with smaller enrollments are allowed to pool their resources for a cooperative sports program.

Wasser and the board members listened to the parents' comments.According to Wasser, "There are still some questions that need to be answered."

Wasser said he has a right to know the answer to all of his questions in order to make an educated decision on whether to recommend the request to the board for review.

His questions include the cost of the ice hockey program; whether there would be a long-term commitment by parents to fund the program; the certification of equipment; transportation; supervision/ coaching; where practices will take place, and more.

The superintendent said he is not antiice hockey.

"I want to discuss this reasonably. I have an obligation to the nine board members, 12,000 students, 1,500 staff members and all the taxpayers," Wasser said. "The economic environment right now is not a good one. I cannot burden a new administration, board and the taxpayers years down the line" with another program.

Wasser said he will meet with the principals, the supervisors of extracurricular activities and a parent or liaison from each school after spring break.

"My job is to find out an answer to these questions" and hopefully come to some middle ground or compromise if possible. "There is a process to be followed in matters like this. However, the board will make the ultimate yes or no vote,"Wasser said.