Hockey
Tryouts coming soon for North club team
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Any Williamsville North student interested in playing hockey this winter has another option.

For the first time, a North varsity club hockey team of 25 players will be formed. The team will not be affiliated with Williamsville North High School and will play, along with the North JV club team, in the Western New York High School Club Hockey League. All games will be played at the Amherst Pepsi Center. The season starts at the end of November.

North club varsity coach Neil Ritz said the success of the North hockey program and Amherst Youth Hockey precipitated the idea.

In the past, Ritz said players who didn't make the varsity or JV Federation team or club JV team, quit, especially seniors. Now they have another alternative.

"I wish I would have done it sooner," said Ritz.

North will play North Tonawanda, Niagara-Wheatfield, Lockport, Niagara Falls, St. Joe's, Lancaster, Jamestown, and Livingston out of Rochester.

Since the team is not affiliated with the school, Ritz said it is funded through parents and sponsors. Ritz said he would like to raise $5,000.

"We wouldn't have the program of the ground without the cooperation of Amherst Youth Hockey, Bob Rosen (varsity Federation head coach) and Rob Eimer (JV Federation head coach)," said Ritz.

If North's club team has success, Ritz said they can qualify for the New York State playdowns held in Long Island.

Tryouts for the JV Federation team were held Tuesday and from 6 to 7:50 p.m. Friday at the Pepsi Center. The varsity Federation team tries out Wednesday and Friday starting at 3:30 p.m., also at the Pepsi Center.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com