CHEERS to Learn to Skate Coaches Cazzi Rosoff and Sue Gadway, who were selected as Responsible Sports Liberty Mutual National Coaches of the Month. The longtime coaching duo from Plattsburgh Youth Hockey were featured in USA Hockey Magazine last month for their efforts. Rosoff, who is from Morrisonville, and Gadway, from Plattsburgh, lead skaters as young as 2 and 3 years old in fun exercises teaching them to skate and learn the game of hockey. "If they learn to love it when they're younger, even if they don't continue on to high school or whatever, eventually they're going to play somewhere," Rosoff told the magazine. "Hockey's for life." The program not only helps children get started in skating, it is noted for promoting exercise, socializing, basic skills and teamwork. We are pleased that the dedicated coaches got some national recognition.
CHEERS to another skating-related success story. The Plattsburgh State men's hockey team and Student Association have worked together the past two seasons to bolster student attendance at games. The student section has also seen increased participation from a student-run group calling itself the Hard Hattians, who attend almost every home athletic event. The Duke's Diner Pep Band is in its second year and continues to grow. The students and band normally populate the northeast corner of the Stafford Ice Arena, and Cardinal hockey fans tell us they provide great spirit. One fan recently wrote to say: "The band and their music and the student section with their enthusiasm for the game are a welcome addition to the Field House and the long-time family friendly atmosphere that exists in Cardinal Country." Now, how about the college and students making an effort to increase attendance for the women's hockey team? The women have proven themselves to be perennial contenders — sometimes more successfully than the men's team — but attendance at their games is still woeful. The women are giving their all; can't Cardinal fans reward them with some well-deserved attention?
While we are on the subject of hockey, JEERS to some of the Plattsburgh State hockey faithful for the way they operate their motor vehicles while departing from the Field House parking lot after games. Let's keep the speed and competition on the ice and not in the parking lot and out on Rugar Street. A little more sportsmanship and courtesy on the part of the fans would go a long way toward averting traffic tie-ups and accidents. A couple of flaggers directing traffic in the parking lots wouldn't hurt, either. We know it would be an added expense, but the lot could conceivably be cleared in as little as 15 minutes, so presumably the cost would not be that high — and worth it to avoid the fan aggravation.
— If you have a Cheers and Jeers suggestion that you want the Editorial Board to consider, email it to Editor Lois Clermont at letters@pressrepublican.com.
