Youth hockey changes in the works for upcoming season

It’s tough to think hockey when the beaches are jammed and the pool water is in the low 80s, but the Lynn Youth Hockey and Salem/Swampscott Youth Hockey board members have had a busy off-season working out the details involved in merging some of the teams.At this point, the Learn to Skate and Mite programs will be merged for the upcoming season and certain teams at the Squirt, PeeWee and Bantam levels will be combined. This is the first step toward completely merging the two programs, something both boards have approved, for the 2009-2010 season. The creation of a Greater Lynn Youth Hockey program still needs approval by District 2 and the state before it can happen.Donovan said the merger talk began last spring when Salem/Swampscott president Gino Cresta approached him about the possibility of putting some teams together for the 2008-2009 season.”That’s where it all started,” Donovan said.Although Lynn’s numbers (travel team players) have held at about 168-170 this year, Salem/Swampscott’s have declined to about 95, Donovan said.”We probably could have gone another three to five years, but then we might have found ourselves in the same situation (low numbers),” Donovan said.Donovan said Lynn had a couple of teams at the Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam levels that were too big. There were too many players for two teams and not enough for three. Salem-Swampscott was in a situation where it had enough players for one team at certain levels, but not enough for two. The merger would create “C” teams. The Midget (high school players) level won’t be affected.Donovan said the merger between Lynn and Salem/Swampscott wouldn’t be unique. He said Everett and Revere both had their own programs at one time, but are now merged, as are East Boston and Malden.”The numbers are dwindling for a number of reasons,” Donovan said. “Economics are one reason, but also, as more select teams pop up. They take kids from town teams. Players have a lot more to choose from.”On the money side, Donovan said Lynn travel players pay $1,300 for a full season (Midgets only play half a season due to high school hockey). That doesn’t include the cost of equipment or tournaments, which can jack up the bill considerably. Donovan said Lynn’s rate is one of the lower ones around. Salem/Swampscott’s is a little higher.Donovan said change can be difficult, but he thinks in the long run it will be a positive thing.”They (Salem/Swampscott) kind of reached out to Lynn Youth Hockey. It made sense geographically,” he said, noting that the teams both use Connery Rink and the coaches and board members know one another.”They have some great hockey coaches and board members over there,” Donovan said.One of the main goals, Donovan said, is to strengthen the Learn to Skate program and the Mites program.”That’s the foundation of the hockey program,” he said.Donovan said it will take some work figuring out the coaching logistics, but he’s confident everything will work itself out.”I think when we put our heads together, it will take off,” Donovan said.