Alumni Classic Hockey Games Hang in Limbo

Alumni hockey games are nothing new here in Ohio, especially during these days when the calendar turns from December to January. After another holiday meal, hundreds of players now in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s lace up their skates, throw on an old sweater and hit the ice for three periods and a load of memories. The games are more of an excuse to catch up with old friends, though, not beat them into them submission.

But alumni hockey games where the players on the other side of the rink were never your teammates? Where those players were always your opponents and rivals? Alumni games that pit, say, Cardinals and Cougars against each other for an hour or two?

That is something new.

That is also exactly what might unfold New Year's Day at the inaugural Alumni Classic at if a few more of those alums in their 20s and beyond register to play.

The event sprang from the mind of Valerie Bosch, the certified ice technician at Mentor Civic Arena, during one of her many laps around the rink cleaning the ice.

"You have a lot of time to think," she said, "when you're on the Zamboni."

Why not pit players who battled each other years or decades ago on opposite sides of the ice? she said. It seemed like an opportunity to good to let slip away – especially after recent - games attracted hundreds of fans – but the event might wither before it grows.

The event is scheduled to feature alumni from Lake Catholic, Mentor, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin and Riverside High, but not every alumni base has been responsive. The cost of registration is part of that hesitation – the cost is $20 per player, though $5 of that goes to a charity selected by each school. Each team will need a dozen players in order for the games to run properly.

Bosch said a final decision on whether to play the games will probably be made Wednesday. Until then, the Alumni Classic hangs in limbo.

If the event does go on, Mentor alums will play Lake Catholic alums at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader. Notre Dame Cathedral Latin alums will play Riverside alums in the first game at 6 p.m.

If you are a former player of any of the four schools and are interested in playing in the games, call Bosch at the Mentor Civic Arena at 440-974-5730 or log on to www.CityofMentor.com/play/iceskating for more information.