Lower Merion Hockey Vying For State Semi Final Berth Wednesday Night

The Lower Merion Ice Hockey team is just five games away from a state championship and will head to Havertown Wednesday night to play in the Flyers Cup tournament. Should they win Wednesday, the team will head to the state semi finals in West Chester Thursday night.

Coach Dan Pike wants to drum up support for the icemen by rallying students on a fan bus for Thursday's game.

Wednesday's game starts 8:45 p.m. at the Skatium, 1002 Darby Road, Havertown. Should the Aces emerge victorious, Pike wants to get a fan bus to take students to the state semi-finals at 6:45 p.m. Thursday March 9 at IceLine rink at 700 Lawrence Drive, West Chester.

The fan bus leaving from Lower Merion High School for the game, but only if 25 kids sign up.

Here's what Pike is doing to get people there and increase the school spirit for the team:

• Offering free tickets to first 25 kids who sign up Tuesday for the Wednesday game;
• Met with senior "Spirit Heads" and "Dawg Pound" to help build excitement;
• Got someone who will wear Bulldog mascot costume at game;
• Trying to get parents to decorate the school on game day, sell merchandise and baked goods at game and have a 50/50 raffle;
• Got a high school student whose brother used to play for the team 12 years ago to sing the national anthem;
• Urging parents to get their family and friends to fill the bleachers at the Skatium Wednesday night to show that the community is behind the team.

If the Aces win the state title, it will be the first time ever that the trophy case will feature a hockey trophy.

This is a big deal for the team, as last season they finished with a 2-15 record.

For more information, Coach Pike can be reached at piked@lmsd.org.

Image via Paul L. Dineen via Flickr