Tuesday's All-Star Game a Big Deal for High School Hockey

Paul Lofgren grew up in Boston, where he played hockey on frozen ponds since he was five. It's about the most traditional and most typical background for a hockey-loving personality.

In New England, hockey is part of the sporting culture, which extends into an entrenched, talented youth system players in this area simply can't match.

Lofgren, now an area resident and the commissioner of the high school club hockey Montgomery Hockey Conference, said that could change soon.

With increased interest in the sport, and more events such as the MHC's All-Star Game Tuesday at the Wheaton Ice Arena, Lofgren thinks public high school hockey is on the rise.

"I do see the talent eventually, we're probably like five, six, seven, eight years away from that, but I do see it eventually getting to that point," Lofgren said. "In other places, high school hockey is like college level. We're not there yet."

Lofgren and MHC Secretary and Treasurer Jennifer Smith believe Tuesday's game was the first All-Star game that featured exclusively Montgomery County players.

In the past, the best players from the county participated with others from around the state of Maryland as part of the Maryland Interscholastic Hockey League, the umbrella organization in which the MHC operates.

The West team beat the East team, 6-5, in Tuesday's game. The league's playoffs remain in the upcoming weeks.

"We're getting organized," Lofgren said. "We've never had this sort of organization."

There are 11 teams in the MHC this season, including a few teams with members from two high schools.

MHC organizers hope that number can increase to 12 or 13 next season. High school hockey's continued growth depends much on if it can reach varsity sport status, according to Lofgren.

Now, parents bear the brunt of the responsibility when it comes to costs. Lofgren said it cost about $13,000 to rent ice time at area rinks this season.

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association requires 40 percent of state high schools to offer a sport before it can become a sanctioned varsity sport and receive funding. Lofgren estimated about 20 percent of Maryland public schools have club hockey teams at the moment.

"It's very expensive to afford a team," Lofgren said. "That's the key right now."

The game, even if it's a club sport, means the same to the players. Wootton High School senior P.J. Hall plays for the popular Montgomery Blue Devils youth hockey organization, which features high-level travel teams.

But playing for Wootton means a lot to him. And he hopes others get the same experience in the future.

"Representing my school and wearing the captain's 'C' proud and making sure my school doesn't get beat is a big deal you know," Hall said. "Especially during my senior year. In the playoffs, the emotions will come out."