The Northfield News

The rink is dark, the skates and equipment have been packed away, and the hockey sticks are in the corner of the garage gathering dust. Another hockey season has drawn to a close. Young skaters begin to think about other activities, but volunteer members of youth hockey associations across the state and across the country turn their attention to next season.

The Northfield Amateur Hockey Association

NAHA) is a small organization, but it has a lot to offer the young skaters of Northfield and other surrounding communities. The NAHA skaters have the best rink in the state, Norwich University’s Kreitzberg Arena, as their home ice. The Norwich Hockey Cadets, both men and women, participate in early season clinics with the NAHA players and help out at practices when time allows. This season, some of the younger level teams had the opportunity to participate in mini three-on-three games or shoot outs between periods of the Norwich games.

The NAHA registration fees are the lowest around when compared to other area associations. Fundraising each season helps to make this possible. Barry T. Chouinard, Inc. helped form the Northfield Amateur Hockey Alliance several years ago. The t-shirt sale, held each year over two weekends in November, provides funding for the youth and high school hockey programs in Northfield. People come from far and wide to purchase great quality t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other clothing items at very affordable prices. Selling raffle tickets and soliciting jersey sponsors are also ways skaters can offset the cost to play.

Many parents are hesitant to let their child try hockey because there are some common misconceptions about the sport. It is too expensive, the equipment costs too much, the time commitment is too great, and the travel required is excessive, to name a few.

As stated earlier, the NAHA registration fees are the lowest around. Installment payments offered over the first few months of the season allow parents to include the fees as part of their monthly budgets.

Affordable equipment packages and used equipment is a great way to keep the cost to a minimum. NAHA has a supply of equipment that is available to skaters in the program for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ski and skate sales and sports equipment stores also have used equipment available for purchase at reduced prices.

The time commitment for hockey is no greater or less than other youth sports programs. NAHA teams generally practice in the evening two nights each week and play one to two games each weekend. The season begins mid-October and ends mid-February with the State tournaments.

Travel to games is generally kept to within an hour to an hour and a half of Northfield. For the younger level teams, travel is very limited with games generally played against teams in Barre, Montpelier, and Waterbury.

Hockey is more than a game. It promotes confidence, teamwork, responsibility, leadership, physical fitness, pride, friendships, and most of all fun. If you are a parent with a child interested in trying hockey, we encourage you to contact a NAHA board member for more information.

Bill Morvan, President – 485-4756; Jennie French, Vice President – 485-7545; Donna Gerdes, Secretary – 485-6925

Cheryl Willette, Treasurer – 485-8542; Bill Passalacqua, Registrar – 485-8263; Angie Allen, Scheduler – 485-4187[ Scott Amell, State Representative – 485-7074; Bill Nash, Coaching Coordinator – 485-4536