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June 9, 2008

Chazy sponsors Clinton County's first girls varsity hockey team

By KATELYN MOCKRY

CHAZY -- Chazy Central Rural School will sponsor Clinton County's first-ever girls varsity hockey team next school year.

Chazy girls youth hockey coach Ray Guay has been leading the effort to launch the premiere program.

"There's been an incentive for girls to play, and I've seen a need for a team in the future," said Guay, whose 15-year-old daughter, Chelsea, plays hockey.

He said Beekmantown, Plattsburgh, Saranac and Northeastern Clinton are "interested schools" that are expected to have players in the Chazy-sponsored team.

"The girls are overjoyed and can't wait. The enthusiasm has been great."

Guay, who has been coaching hockey for about 23 years, recalled when he could barely find enough girls to create a team 10 years ago. Now, he said, there are about 70 girls in the area, from youth to the high-school level, who are playing.

"Girls hockey, in general, at the national level is the fastest-growing division over any of the men's divisions," Guay said.

Girls hockey has also expanded considerably in New York. Last season there were nine teams statewide, with four more scheduled to join this year, including Chazy. According to Guay, the 2009-2010 hockey season is expected to see at least three more teams joining.

Other upstate schools that have girls varsity hockey programs include Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Canton, Massena, Potsdam and Salmon River.

"Girls hockey is definitely a fast-growing trend," Guay said.

teams lacking locally

The addition of a girls varsity team is a major milestone for local players.

Up until now, area hockey programs were not available for girls after age 13. The closest places for girls to participate on a hockey team at that age are in Canada and the Albany region.

Some schools, such as Beekmantown, have allowed girls to practice with the boys varsity team. However, the difference in competition and play of the game is substantial.

"In the girls game there's a whole different level of skill, and there's a high risk of injury at the boys level," Guay said.

"I just want to give the girls a future so they don't get to the Youth Under-14 level and drop the sport they have a passion for."

His niece, Madeline Guay, 16, spent the past hockey season traveling downstate to Troy on the weekends to play for the Albany Ice Cats girls hockey team.

Madeline, who has been playing the sport since she was 6 years old, is excited for the opportunity to play locally at the high-school level next year as a senior at Chazy.

"I'm happy because this gives all the younger girls a chance to play, and now they have a team to be on," she said.

FUND RAISING

As a self-funded team, Guay believes the biggest challenge will be raising money to pay for ice time and traveling to play teams as far away as Ithaca.

To help with fund raising, parents created the Lady Eagles Hockey Organization.

"I have a great group of parents that I'm working with to make this happen," he said.

"Without their help, I'm sure it would have been a tough battle."

Judy Peterson, whose daughter, Amanda, 14, plays hockey, has helped plan and organize fund raisers which include raffles and a three-on-three soccer tournament.

"I know it's going to be a lot of work, but we have a strong group that's committed to it," she said.

Although Guay hopes to coach the new girls team, the position will first be open to the Chazy school community.

"If no one from the school grabs the job, it'll be opened up to the public and I'll apply," he said.

Peterson is looking forward to the possibility of her daughter playing at the high-school level.

"Just for her to be able to step on the ice for the first home hockey game that we would have in the area and having people come and support the team will be great," she said.

Guay knows that the first year will be a challenge but is confident that the program will be a success.

"It's going to take a lot of work, and we're all willing to do whatever it takes. "¦ This really is history in the making."

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