Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 24 : Spring 2015 | Page 9

Presque Isle
Youth amateur hockey
Hockey
aroostook
an overview
by bob davis
Aroostook Amateur Hockey (also known
as Presque Isle Youth Hockey) was formed
around the year 2000 when all youth
hockey programs were taken over from
the Presque Isle Recreation Department.
Teams were formed in accordance with
Hockey Canada and USA Hockey rules
and regulations. We had to play in District
2 of Hockey New Brunswick because there
were no other teams other than Houlton
(45 miles away) that were in Maine and
close enough to play. The next closest
Maine teams were in Bangor, 160 miles
to the south. There were seven Canadian
rinks and minor hockey organizations in a
50 mile radius of Presque Isle, so it only
made sense to play in Canada. They didn’t
all mesh together seamlessly, but we worked
together.

the organization and spend countless hours
coaching, planning, administering, keeping
score, running the clock, registering players
with USA Hockey, running to meetings in
the US and Canada, washing and sorting
uniforms, organizing new and used hockey
gear for new players, taping sticks, fixing
helmets, tying skates, drying a tear, driving
to practices and games, attending and
organizing fund raisers, and many more
things.

None of this comes easily. There are many
challenges to running a program that
has to meet the rules and regulations of
organizations in two countries. Just the
coaching requirements requires several
hours each year in online classes covering
everything from development of players to
bullying to medical emergencies. This, of
When PIYH first started there were only course, takes leadership at several levels, so
four teams with about 10-15 players per recruiting and retaining the right people in
team. Now that the organization was each position is critical.
parent driven; fund raising, coaching,
scheduling and play all improved. Parents As a parent of a child who is now 23, a
talked positively about what was happening past president, a manager and current head
at the rink; so friends, relatives and siblings coach of my grandsons team, I have been
joined in the fun. Now PIYH has eight “around the horn” a couple of times. My
teams with 122 kids playing along with 32 perspective now is a little different than
certified coaches and managers.
when I started, and I use that perspective
to help parents deal with the frustrations
“Where your treasure is, that’s where your and joys of having their child play
heart is” is a famous quote, and it applies hockey. I impart to the parents right at
to youth hockey in spades. Volunteers run the beginning of the season that I am not

SPRING 2015

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