A recent article about the decline of youth hockey participation in Maine raised important concerns, but also overlooked key dynamics and solutions that could help the sport thrive (“Maine youth ice hockey is losing players. No one is sure how to stop it,” Jan. 10).
As the president of Midcoast Youth Hockey – Junior Polar Bears, I see a very different picture in our region. Our program experienced 146% growth last season and is approaching another 25% growth this season. These numbers paint a clear picture. The issue is not a lack of interest in hockey — it’s a lack of available ice time and modern facilities to meet growing demand.
Youth hockey programs across Maine are thriving when they have the resources and ice time to do so. The challenge isn’t that kids aren’t interested in hockey or that families can’t afford the sport — it’s that many families are forced to make difficult decisions because ice time is scarce and facilities are outdated.
In our region, competition for ice time is fierce. Every single arena is operating at or near capacity, juggling youth hockey, high school teams, clinics, camps and college programs. When rinks close or fail to modernize, the ripple effect forces players and families to drive 30 to 60 minutes — often in the early morning or late at night — to find practice and game slots. This is not sustainable. As I always say, “The only thing that could negatively impact demand for ice time is a lack of ice time.”
Advertisement
The article’s focus on high school hockey teams consolidating misses a larger reality. Many players are shifting to club hockey because it offers more ice time, better coaching and higher levels of competition. This is not about cost. Families are investing more in hockey because it brings their kids joy and growth opportunities. What’s needed is a solution to make hockey accessible and sustainable for all levels of play — not just those who can afford to travel to other regions.
The closing of several rinks over the past decade, while concerning, doesn’t signal a lack of interest in hockey. It highlights the need for better-designed facilities that can meet demand and operate sustainably. Single-sheet rinks are no longer viable — they lack the capacity to host tournaments or generate the revenue needed for long-term operations.
A dual-surface facility, strategically located in Brunswick, would be a game-changer for the Midcoast region. It would not only meet the growing demand for ice time but also provide an economic boost to the community. Dual-surface facilities have the capacity to host regional tournaments, clinics and recreational leagues, generating $1.4 million to $2.2 million annually in economic activity. This model has been proven successful in other parts of the country, where public-private partnerships have enabled towns to build and operate financially viable arenas.
A new dual-surface facility in Brunswick wouldn’t just serve youth hockey. It would also support middle and high school teams, adult recreation leagues, figure skating and adaptive skating programs. Programs like adaptive skating, especially for veterans with disabilities, honor Brunswick’s military heritage while making skating more inclusive.
This type of investment solves two problems at once. It ensures local players have access to sufficient ice time, reducing the need for long drives, and it helps prevent the consolidation of high school teams by supporting feeder programs. The numbers don’t lie — when kids have the chance to play, participation grows.
Advertisement
We need to stop thinking about hockey as a sport in decline and start addressing the real barriers to growth: limited ice time and outdated facilities. Rather than pulling back on investment in rinks, we need to move forward with smarter, community-driven solutions. A dual-surface arena in Brunswick is one such solution, and it’s time for government and business leaders to work together to make it happen.
The article noted a lack of a “plan to build hockey back up.” Here’s the plan: Build the infrastructure, and the players will come. Hockey isn’t fading — it’s waiting for the ice.
A student was killed in a crash involving a school bus in southern Maine on Tuesday morning, officials say.
The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. near Edna Libby Elementary School in Standish, authorities said, and MSAD 6 School Superintendent Clay Gleason told News Center Maine it involved a student and a school bus.
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce confirmed that an elementary school student was struck by an MSAD 6 school bus and died at the scene. He said Route 35 was shut down between Route 114 and Moody Road for the crash investigation.
MSAD 6 serves the towns of Buxton, Hollis, Limington, Standish, and Frye Island. Standish is a town with about 11,000 residents about 15 miles west of Portland.
Advertisement
The child who died was a student at Edna Libby Elementary School, the school district said. Joyce said only one student was on the bus at the time of the crash — the half-brother of the student who was killed.
“The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, will be reconstructing the accident, providing more information as we get it,” Joyce said. “What we do know now is we have a child that’s deceased. It’s tough anytime of the year, but not a good time of the year for a lot of families.”
Gleason said Edna Libby Elementary School planned to dismiss students at 11:30 a.m. to allow parents or caregivers to be with their children and for staff to receive support. All after school activities in the district were canceled, though the school day went on as scheduled in all other district schools.
“I have been in communication with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and a full investigation will be forthcoming to determine how this tragic accident took place,” Gleason said in a message to the school community. “In this difficult time please keep those directly impacted in your thoughts – first and foremost the family of the student, as well as the students and staff of Edna Libby. Speculation or blame on social media is not productive or helpful and is disrespectful to the memory of the student and their family.”
Support services are being provided for the bus driver and the family, Joyce said.
Advertisement
No additional information has been released, but officials said they expect to have more to say later in the day.
PORTLAND (WGME) — The Maine Jewish community says the attack in Australia has left them mourning and on edge.
It comes amid an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, online and in our communities.
Members of Maine’s Jewish community say they have no choice but to take these increased threats seriously, especially in wake of the tragedy in Australia.
They are now increasing security, like during the menorah lighting for the first night of Hanukkah outside Portland City Hall Sunday.
Advertisement
The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine says they’ve been coordinating with local law enforcement across the state since Sunday about heightened threat levels.
They say the attack in Australia is just the culmination of an increase in antisemitic actions that have been seen across the world in recent years, which Maine has not been isolated from.
“There were about, almost 16 antisemitic incidents, documented antisemitic incidents in 2024,” Jewish Community Relations Council Director Zach Schwartz said. “That represents the same increase that Sydney saw, which is a three-fold increase, so yeah, we could say by the numbers, that there is multiple orders of increased antisemitism in the state.”
The alliance says the story of Hanukkah is also more relevant than ever amid these attacks.
They say amid dark days, the Jewish community still finds ways to come together in hopes of lighting the way for a brighter future.
Advertisement
Governor Janet Mills issued a statement on both the shooting in Australia and at Brown University.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (7)
“My prayers are with the victims of the tragedies in Providence and Australia, and I hope for the full recovery of all those injured. Innocent people, like those gathering for school or to celebrate their faith, should be free from fear of hateful acts such as these.”
An image from Michael T. Fay’s Facebook page shows him in front of the location on Allen Avenue in Portland, one of the franchises ordered closed. (Facebook screenshot)
Eight Subway locations closed last week by state regulators have reopened.
MTF Subway franchise owner Michael T. Fay has confirmed that all of his franchise locations in Maine are open for business, following the closure of eight of them last Wednesday.
Maine Revenue Services ordered what it characterized as “several” Subway locations closed for “for noncompliance with Part 3, 36 M.R.S.A.,” which primarily governs Maine’s sales and use tax.
Advertisement
The agency did not elaborate and would only reiterate Monday that, “Due to confidentiality requirements, MRS cannot comment on individual tax situations.”
In an email to the Sun Journal on Monday, Fay confirmed that eight of his locations were affected by the ordered closures, after the state revoked the registration certificates for each location.
Fay stated that none of his employees were laid off by the company.
MTF Subway locations affected:
Blue Hill
Brunswick
Advertisement
Hampden
Lisbon Falls
Portland
Topsham
Westbrook
Advertisement
Wiscasset
Advertisement
A long-time journalist, Christopher got his start with Armed Forces Radio & Television after college. Seventeen years at CNN International brought exposure to major national and international stories…
More by Christopher Wheelock
