HANGING IN THERE
CBA Hockey battles frustration as high risk sports are postponed
ALBANY, NY » The last nine months have not been normal for a single person, but for Christian Brothers Academy Hockey, keeping things as normal as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic has been important in the hope that a 2021 season could happen.
“From a hockey perspective, obviously it looks different preseason wise and off season wise than years past,” said CBA Athletic Director and Ice Hockey Head Coach Blaine Drescher. “We’ve gotten the kids together a few days a week over the past two months, basically doing skills and conditioning. There’s only so much we can do within the guidelines and parameters.”
“We’ve been handling it pretty well. We’ve been skating on Mondays and Wednesdays,” said five-year varsity player Ryan Dollar. “We’re all pretty frustrated too because we know the pro sports are playing and they are figuring it all out and we aren’t getting that opportunity as well.”
On December 11, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association an
nounced that winter championships were officially cancelled for the 2021 season and that high risk sports would need to wait longer than the January 4 start date originally scheduled to have any sort of season.
“That will frustrate a few people,” said Dollar after NYSPHSAA announced the push of the high risk sports start date. “It’s my senior year so that is a little frustrating. I’m hanging in there. I am still trying to enjoy it.”
“It was different for them to adjust to some of the rules and regulations when we are together. We’re wearing masks when we are out on the ice, which naturally you’re used to playing a certain way all your life and then that changes,” said Drescher. “They’ve been willing to do that because they are grateful for the opportunity to get back out on the ice.”
CBA currently is in the building and educating on campus.
“We are usually marching everyday at school and go over and hang out in the locker room before practice, but there’s none of that right now,” said Dollar. “We’ve got to get dressed in our cars. It’s a lot different now. I hope we get to have senior night but I’m not sure. I know my parents would love that night.”
The Capital District High School Hockey League which functions as the Section II Hockey league originally prepared for games to start as early as January 6. That will now change at the advisory of NYSPHSAA.
“The fear is that they are not going to be able to have a season,” said Drescher. “That’s where the fear is.”
CBA’s season ended last year at the hands of Saratoga in the sectional semifinal with the Blue Streaks.
Saratoga went on to lose to Bethlehem in the final but Bethlehem was never able to represent Section II in the state tournament due to winter championships last season being postponed, and then eventually cancelled.
“We have a number of players coming back from last year that have that bad taste in their mouth,” said Drescher. “As soon as we opened the doors to the ice rink the guys were working hard throughout the course of the preseason. That is where the frustration is because they know we have the potential to be successful this year if we are to move forward with a season.”
“We’re absolutely prepared to readjust the schedule and get out onto the ice when the governing bodies view it as safe to do that,” added Drescher.
As 2020 draws to a close, the new year brings a sense of hope that things will be better moving forward.
Drescher and Dollar will have an experience they will never forget in 2020 and will have plenty of lessons to take away from it that will make them stronger leaders and people.
“As an Athletic Director, you always want your student- athletes to value the program that you are running. I truly am seeing first hand how important high school athletics, and not just athletics, being around your friends and having the opportunity to compete is important and how important that is to the overall educational experience.”
“I’ve learned from all of this that I’m a pretty positive person and I can work through a lot of things because I know a lot of people who are struggling with it,” said Dollar. “I’m thankful for everyone I have and everyone who helps me through it all. With the support system I have at school and at home it makes me feel safe.”