FARMINGTON – Portland has their Pirates. Lewiston has their Maineiacs. And starting today, Farmington will have their Flyers.

On Wednesday night, the Western Mountains Hockey and Skating Association met for the final time before the group of 7- to 12-year-olds will hit the ice at the nearby Kents Hill School arena.

The team is named the Farmington Flyers.

The association was formed last year by a group of skating enthusiasts in the community who wanted to bring hockey to an area that has few opportunities for competitive skating. It has already gotten brawny backing from National Hockey League team the Philadelphia Flyers, who donated 20 uniforms.

At the meeting, the club got strong support from those close to home when a dozen parents shelled out $175 to get their promising pucksters on the ice.

That amount covers ice time and instruction for 12, 90-minute sessions as well as insurance through USA Hockey. As more kids join and more outside funds slide in, more ice time will be afforded.

The kids were even more excited than their parents or club organizers, grinning and buzzing with chatter as they sat at classroom desk at Mount Blue High School.

Their tiny feet barely reaching the floor, one boy even wore a Philly Flyers hat, his face lost under the wide rigid brim that signifies a new hat. Other children played keepaway with another Flyers hat, each trying it on for size before it got snatched away.

The game stopped immediately the moment club President Jeff Leonards began to talk hockey.

“We’re kind of inventing our own wheel here,” he admitted. “But we have people who are really pumped to get out and do the coaching thing.”

Club Treasurer Roger Bolduc said that although the price seemed steep, it was a worthwhile investment. “This is pretty cheap for something that should become a big part of their lives in the winter. I am optimistic the team will grow.”

The first order of business, which will start this Saturday, is to get kids comfortable on their skates. The hockey piece will come in later, and eventually, the team will scrimmage other clubs.

Mount Blue High School is the only Class A school without a hockey program, and WMHSA hopes it can help change that by getting a core group of young players who will be ready to compete at the varsity level when they enter high school.

“We can virtually guarantee that kids will learn a lot and have a great deal in the process,” Leonards says.

The interest is there, he said, citing a recent free hockey clinic the club offered a few weeks ago, that drew in 20 kids.

Long-term goals are to build an indoor rink in the area and open up the program to all ages and abilities.

The team will also appear on a float in the Chester Greenwood parade in Farmington this December. Initially, play was only open to those ages 8 to 11, but on Thursday, club officers decided to open it up to ages 7 to 12, in hopes of attracting more girls and boys to the ice.

“I’ve always thought is looked like a really cool sport. When I do watch it, it looks fun,” said Mac Sturtevant, a 10-year-old from Livermore Falls who was keyed up about joining the team.

He’s skated before on local ponds and on the public outdoor rink in his town and even been to a few Pirates games with his Boy Scout troop. He plays football and thinks hockey will be a good sport to pick up because it’s rough, like football.

“I just think it’s going to be really exciting. I just can’t wait to play,” he said. “I’ll see how good I am, and if I am really good, I’ll keep going with it. I hope I’ll score lots of goals.”

For more information about Western Mountain Hockey and Skating Association or to become a member, contact Jeff Leonards at 778-0035 or log onto www.farmingtonflyershockey.org. Scholarships may be available.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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