RSU 4 joins Poland, Gray-New Gloucester for joint hockey team

WALES — After a several-year hiatus, hockey is back.

Regional School Unit 4 students will play with the 26ers out of Poland and Gray-New Gloucester on a cooperative, Class A team after the school board approved the proposal earlier this month.

There’s no cost to the local district for the first two years, according to Superintendent Jim Hodkgin.

High school athletic director Jim Palmer said parents will transport students to practice and home games at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn. They’ll also share the cost of ice time in an activity fee.

For at least these first two years, RSU 4 players won’t contribute to costs like the coach and an athletic trainer, Palmer said.

The varsity and junior vasity teams are open to male and female players. He believed four to five students might be interested.

Hodgkin said the former Union 44 had a hockey cooperative with Lisbon. It’s been at least five or six years since the students here played on a team. Interest had waned, Palmer said.

The team’s coach is Travis Jalbert. The new season starts in November.

“It’s pretty exciting, it’ll be kind of new to us,” Palmer said. “Once they get into a practice routine and see more of each other, it’ll be fine.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com