The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Take your shot
Panthers Ice Hockey Club involving youth for almost 60 years
The Elyria Panthers’ Ice Hockey program has been providing Elyria and Lorain County’s youth with the club sport since 1960.
After 58 years, the program has grown to support many from ages 3-18 in the county and in its community at Elyria’s North Park Ice Rink, according to Lee Frank, who has been the club’s president for 13 years.
As a football player and enthusiast from Elyria, the 47-year-old Frank said he never had much experience in the sport of hockey, but found a love for it after his oldest son Logan, 16, became involved at a young age.
He has another son Wyatt, 10, who also plays in the club sport. His sons attend Midview Schools.
The club accepts boys and girls into its AJ Vincent Beginners Program up to their high school club program with their seasons running from October to March.
Frank said young participants come from all over, especially high school boys and girls who do not have hockey teams at their schools.
Frank said the program receives many students from different school districts in the county because the club’s facility, 901 Duffey St., is the furthest rink west of Cleveland.
Almost 170 youngsters and teens are taking part this season.
The Elyria club is part of the Cleveland Suburban Hockey League, which includes competitors from affiliated clubs in Rocky River, Parma, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and
more.
The club has many participants who began in the beginners and youth programs and continue to compete in the high school’s Cleveland League, Frank said.
“Kids start with our beginners program, which includes learning to play hockey and skate,” he said. “They learn the basics, do drills like cones and learn to pass and shoot. Then (later into the season) we pull six to eight of them who will then compete in their first crossor
half-ice games (playing on smaller portions of the ice).”
He said practices or games for beginners are split into three to six sections with an average of 30 to 60 youngsters, both boys and girls, participating.
Age groups begin at 8 and under, to 8-10, which consists of playing cross- or halfice games with the use of a lighter puck and no scoring while players focus on development.
The next age groups before the high school level are 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under where the score is kept and penalties can be called. In 14 and 12 and under, players can get physical.
Frank said that although there aren’t enough older girls to play in their own league in Elyria, the girls who do compete are just as quick and talented as the male players.
Frank said as a parent and president of the club, the most he gets out of it is seeing the children smile.
“Watching them enjoying the game and being involved in team sports, I think it’s important that kids do different activities,” he said. “It’s fun being able to watch kids go from not being able to stand up, to barely being able to skate, to then handling the puck better than I do. I can teach them how to fall down.”
Having something like the AJ Vincent program for youths is a way of giving back to the community, he said.
“Creating an environment for children to have a really good experience — that’s what we try to do here,” he said. “We try to make it fun for every kid who comes through here. This sport is extremely tough, if you can imagine doing everything on a thin steel blade. Sometimes the kids make it look easy. It’s fun to see them to be able to do that by making strides.”
Frank explained the program is named after an Elyria teen and hockey player, AJ Vincent, who was 18 when he was killed by a drunk driver in 2010.
Every December, Vincent’s friends will play in a charity game in his honor and raise money for the beginners program, Frank said.
Aaron Bradley, secretary of the club, has been involved for four years since his sons Cade, 9, and Owen, 7, joined.
Bradley said he’s seen kids grow with their confidence from beginners to older levels.
“They are evolving and progressing with other players in a short amount of time,” Bradley said. “From skating, to passing, to playing, you’ll see a difference in a year.”
Bradley added the rink is the only one in the county so they want to provide the opportunity for families and their children at an affordable rate.
“We want the kids on the ice as much as possible,” he said.
Prices for beginners to skate are $150 and $50 to rent equipment. Rates extend up to $1,000 for high school players. Frank said Elyria residents’ fees are discounted.