Kailyss Linnell (center) with a team of winners. photo/courtesy Portland Hockey Trust
Power Play
Conversations with the parents of athletes inevitably turn very quickly to the subject of expenses. Enrollment in a private team can cost hundreds of dollars per month for some programs; equipment and travel expenses can add up to thousands. And most sports parents will say hockey is the most expensive. Only lacrosse and football rival hockey for the amount of gear needed to play, but it costs more to rent an ice rink than to rent a field, a gym, or even a swimming pool.
Twenty-eight years ago, a group of Portland residents recognized these costs were prohibitive for many local kids, so they formed the Portland Hockey Trust. It provides free skating and hockey lessons for Portland children in the third, fourth and fifth grades. All the equipment has been donated, the coaches are volunteers, and the ice time is funded by the City of Portland.
Former Portland superintendent of schools Tom Edwards was among the founders of the trust. Edwards, who started the hockey program at Jack Middle School, continues to serve as the organization’s president. A couple other founding members continue to be involved, but the program is always recruiting volunteers.
Kailyss Linnell, the Trust’s current head coach [and, full disclosure, my nephew], says the mission hasn’t changed. “We want to share the joy of ice skating and hockey with kids who might not have the chance otherwise,” he said.
Linnell recalled being a beginner in the program. “It was incredibly rewarding to be around other kids who wanted to play hockey and learn how to skate. There’s a lot of friendly competition — emphasis on friendly.”
During practice, the young players have instruction and drills, then a snack, followed by some sort of game. The games vary, but over the eight-week session players advance to a final championship tournament. The trophy is awarded to the winning team, then returned to its spot in the trophy case, minimizing the clutter and the expense of buying trophies for every winning player.
“The reward for hockey is playing hockey,” Linnell said. “Winning is nice, but we try not to let the kids get too hung up on that.”
Dedicated hockey families tend to pass skates, sticks and pads down to younger family members, friends, and others players within team clubs. As a result, “most of our gear is older than the kids who are wearing it,” Linnell said.
A t-shirt sale brought in some money from friends and families last year, but the need for another fundraising project was apparent. Linnell, who enrolls Central Maine Power customers in the Maine Community Solar program, suggested a partnership to his boss. Portland Rising, a new ultimate disc team, had already raised some funds by partnering with Maine Community Solar, so the company readily agreed.
Linnell explained that solar farms in Maine are partially funded using tax credits, so we’re all paying for solar power generation, but only some customers are benefitting, because you have to subscribe to a specific solar farm to get the 10-to-15 percent credit applied to your bill. During this fall’s hockey session, Maine Community Solar will contribute at least $50 to the Portland Hockey Trust for each new enrollment into its program facilitated by the Trust.
Linnell pointed out that the discount is guaranteed in both law and the enrollment contract, and customers can quit the program without charge. Skeptics – and who wouldn’t be skeptical of a deal that offers up to 15 percent off your light bill? – can check out the Community Solar page on the Maine Office of Public Advocate’s website. Readers who want to hear more about community solar, the Portland Hockey Trust, or both, can text “Bollard” to Linnell at (207) 809-9403, or e-mail him at KailyssL@mainecommunitysolar.org, with “Bollard” in the subject line.
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