Tag Sale to Buy Ice Time for Masuk's Hockey Team

Masuk Panthers hockey players will lace up their skates and pull on their jerseys for their first game of the season this December. But first they'll have to raise enough money to afford the ice to play on.

Since last year, players' families have had to foot the nearly $30,000 bill to access the rink for practice and games at Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton.

Townspeople can provide an assist by shopping at the Panthers' annual tag sale to be held at Harmony Grange Hall — at the corner of routes 110 and 111 — this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Please come out and consider supporting your hometown team," Maureen Bowler said Tuesday. "A craft fair is also on site, so come by and check it out."

Bowler's oldest son, Tim, played high school hockey for four years before graduating from Masuk and her son, Owen, a Masuk sophomore is playing this season.

She said items to be sold at the tag sale include furniture, sports equipment, games, books, clothing and electronics.

"We're still looking for donations of items," Bowler said. "People can call me to pick things up."

Bowler can be reached at 203-445-1169.

"We are going to be raffling off a fall leaf cleaning for $10 a ticket," Bowler said. "Some players and dads raked the winner's yard and used leaf blowers last year."

Tickets are being printed and will be sold at Masuk football games and by hockey players door-to-door, according to Bowler.

Funds will also be raised with an ad book and a tin can.

"We're going to be shaking a can a couple times," Bowler said. "It will be out for donations during the games."

About $1,700 was raised at last year's tag sale.

Rising costs

As the economy struggles, school districts across the nation have been devoting smaller portions of their budgets to sports programs. Some high school sports teams remained viable through pay to play, and others shut down altogether.

Masuk High School's athletes have to pay a fee to participate in their sports, but the ice hockey team, because of equipment and ice time, is the most expensive to play.

Last year, the Board of Education stopped paying the some-$30,000 cost for ice rink time for practices and games. But because the bill had to be divided up among players' families, there was no additional fee to play, according to Joann Zakrzewski, a hockey mom.

"It cost in excess of $1,300 per player," Zakrzewski said "We didn't have a surcharge last year. But because of raises in charges for other sports this year, we have a $100 fee and the ice cost."

The surcharges for all sports were raised by $100 this year. The costs can add up for families who have multiple children playing on teams.

"There used to be a $1,000 cap per family," Zakrzewski said. "Now there is no cap."

For hockey, expenses go beyond the surcharge and ice time.

"We buy all of our pads sticks, helmets and skates, and the school provides the jersey," Bowler said.

But like other school sports, Zakrzewski said the district provides bus transportation to games and for the referees. Parents and students drive to the practices.

Zakrzewski said the cost of ice time will be divided among about 15 players this season.

"We're probably going to cut back on the ice time this year, because we have less players," she said.

It's a family affair

Zakrzewski's son Tim played hockey all four years at Masuk before graduating last year and her younger son, Daniel, a freshman, is going to play this year.

Despite the cost, Zakrzewski said students and their families love the sport enough to keep it going. In fact, several current players had older siblings who played on the team before them.

Former hockey player, Jack DeMota, graduated from Masuk and his brother, Joe, a freshman this year, plans to follow in his footsteps, according to Zakrzewski. Another player, John Cairns' brother Tim also expects to lace up his skates as a freshman.

"Drew Madison will be a senior and his brother, Adam, who enrolled at Masuk this year, may join him on the ice," Zakrzewski said. "Sean Schezlin, he has three older brothers who played Masuk hockey in past. Sean is a sophomore."

"They're best of friends," Bowler said of the boys who play. "It keeps them in shape. It keeps them out of trouble. It gives them something to do in their free time. It keeps them disciplined."

Zakrzewski believes some families are discouraged from having their children play hockey at an early age because of the cost, which Bowler said has been rising every year.

When asked if the program was ever close to shutting down, Bowler said, "We've been feeling the threat for three years."

"Two years ago, we were taken out of the initial budget," Zakrzewski said. "They were going to cut hockey as a sport. We had to fight to keep it and got it reinstated."

The following year, she said hockey was taken out of the school board's budget again, but was saved when parents agreed to pay for the cost of the ice.

The team's weekend tag sale is one effort to keep the hockey program alive.

"Anyone looking to make a donation, come on by," Bowler said. "We'll have our can out there."

Those wishing to make a donation can make checks payable to the Masuk Ice Hockey Parents Cub and mail it to PO Box 424, Monroe CT 06468. The club has 501c3 status as a nonprofit organization.