Newsletter June 1999

Hockey Rocks ‘n’ Rolls in Tom Nevers

At the old Navy Base in Tom Nevers, behind a high, chain-link fence, you will find a sophisticated board system that encloses an in-line skating rink. Well maintained and attractively landscaped, this rink is home to the Nantucket Roller Hockey League.

"What we are trying to do is create a safe environment where kids and adults can play hockey," said Ken Norton, director of the youth division of the league. Norton explained in a recent interview with Alan and Cynthia Hall of Nantucket Television that the league used to play on the basketball courts located behind the Cyrus Peirce Middle School.

"We worked out an arrangement to lease the land from the town," said Norton. With the help of several individuals who had access to heavy equipment, league board members and supporters removed an old asphalt surface located in the area where they would build their rink. "We contracted with Mike Lamb, Inc., to lay down a new asphalt surface, and purchased a state- of-the-art chain link/board system that provides a much safer area than behind the school," he added.

The Nantucket Roller Hockey League, founded in 1995 by Gordy McClay and Chris Shannon, is a non-profit organization operating under the guidelines of the Nantucket Park and Recreation Commission. The organization has progressed from a general pickup game into an organized adult league that is sanctioned and insured by the USA In-line Hockey Association. The rink is named for Gordy McClay, who was stationed on the island for three years in the U. S. Coast Guard. "Gordy was instrumental in raising the interest for hockey to this level; he’s a man with an incredible amount of charisma and a drive that is infectious," said Norton.

According to Norton, there are between 28 and 35 children, ranging in ages from 8 to 15, who participate in the Youth Roller Hockey program, and the adult league attracts up to 80 skaters during the summer months. "To encourage the families on the island to get more involved, the Nantucket Roller Hockey League has gone out and purchased $1,000 worth of equipment," said Norton. "Having your own pair of in-line skates is the only requirement." All other safety equipment, a helmet, elbow pads, shin guards, gloves, and sticks, can be borrowed while parents determine whether your child wants to make a commitment to the sport.

Alan Hall of Nantucket Television asked Norton how he felt the transition for the league would be when Nantucket Ice completed their ice rink. "As soon as they unlock the doors to the rink, we're going to go from here to there," he said. "We'll start buying ice time and using the facility, that’s our goal." Scott Corbett, league president, agrees that the transition from pavement to ice will be easy and natural.

Corbett confirmed that The Nantucket Roller Hockey League will evolve into the Nantucket Youth and Adult Ice Hockey Leagues once the ice rink is operational. He also feels that the skill level required to play hockey using in-line skates is much more difficult to achieve than when skating on ice. "With the experience our Nantucket kids are getting at The Gordy McClay Rink, the transition to ice will be easy," said Corbett.

Corbett is also looking forward to collaborating with the Nantucket Ice organization in August when Boston Bruins alumni Ted Donato and Tim Sweeney come to Nantucket to conduct a free youth roller hockey clinic. "I used to skate against Ted back in high school when he played for Quincy," Corbett explained. "It will be fun to skate with him again."

During the summer months, the youth roller hockey program is offered on Thursday afternoons from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. For adult roller hockey registration and general information you may contact Ken Norton at 228-2045.

LIGHTS, CAMARA, ICE SKATE

Alan and Cynthia Hall and Gene Mahon of Nantucket Television have just completed taping a promotional video for Nantucket Ice, featuring shots and activities from the Martha’s Vineyard Arena, accompanied by interviews with Nantucketers Brian Davis, Bambi and A. J. Mleczko, Quint Waters, and Ken Norton, Director of Youth Hockey for the Nantucket Roller Hockey League. To schedule a screening, or to obtain a copy of the video, please call Dauna Coffin at 228-2516 or visit our website @ www. nantucket.org/ice/.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

This is an exciting time for Nantucket Ice. Our organization has come so far in such a short period of time, and we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But before we can break ground in September, we need to raise an additional two million dollars. Someone recently said to me that the last two million will be the hardest to raise. A daunting goal to be sure, but we at Nantucket Ice feel strongly that the passion of N’Ice supporters to build and endow an ice skating rink is so strong that we will achieve our goal, and Nantucketers will be skating in their own rink in the year 2000.

I was originally asked to write about my daughter A. J. in this column. At first, I thought, do they really want to hear more about A. J.? Tom and I have three wonderful children. A. J. just happens to be better known in and around Nantucket. Everyone must realize the pride and excitement we felt while watching her play for the U. S. Women’s Olympic hockey team in Nagano. And, this winter we had the thrill of watching our daughter play her final hockey season at Harvard, finishing with a record of 33 – 1 and winning the national championships. Then it hit me, the feeling and strength of human passion. A. J. had a passion early on to play hockey despite the obvious drawbacks to being the only girl on a boy’s hockey team. As her skill level developed, her passion for the sport of ice hockey only grew stronger. It was her passion, along with dedication, commitment, and determination that helped her achieve a spot on the women’s U. S. Olympic team and propelled her to the level of success she achieved this year playing women’s hockey at Harvard.

In just the same way, the passion of the Nantucket Ice organization, past and present, is what has sustained our dream to build a community ice-skating rink since 1995. The same dedication, commitment, and determination I have seen in my daughter, I have experienced with fellow Nantucket Ice board members, trustees, advisors, volunteers, and community supporters. Although we may be a diverse group, we all believe in our project and believe in working together to achieve our goal. Most importantly, we all recognize the passion this island community feels for our dream to build a skating rink for the enjoyment of all Nantucketers, young and old alike.

I cannot wait to see the joy on a parent’s face when their daughter or son assists on their first goal or lands their first figure-skating jump. We have been there and it is so much fun to watch your child succeed. At a recent Nantucket Ice executive committee meeting, I realized that most of the committee members had grown up in and around skating rinks and most had also introduced their families to the same wonderful ice-rink experiences they had enjoyed as children. We all know first hand how great a skating rink will be for this island. This is what fuels our passion to raise the balance of the funds. Our kids were all known as rink rats, and we at Nantucket Ice all wonder and look forward to discovering which island kids will be known as the first Nantucket rink rats.

Ice Not Betting on Windfall From State

In the June 10 edition of the Inquirer and Mirror, an article appeared stating that Nantucket Ice was included in the Senate version of the proposed State budget for $2 million. Imagine if this proposed financial assistance from the State of Massachusetts actually developed into a reality. However, politics being what they are, the liklihood of this bond being approved is extremely slim. We feel it would be irresponsible for the governing board of Nantucket Ice to count on these funds. And, we hope that you, our supporters and future Nantucket Ice skating patrons, continue to send in your contributions despite this remotely possible windfall. The reality is we need to raise an additional $2 million before September, and we are relying on the continuing support of private individuals, corporations, and foundations to meet this goal. Let’s open the doors to an ice skating rink for Nantucketers in the year 2000!

N’ICE RECOGNITION

To the donors whose contributions are directly related to our March 1999 newsletter: total contributions received to date have surpassed $21,000! This is a tremendous tribute to the generosity and commitment of our supporters.

Thanks to all of you:

to the Tupancy-Harris Foundation for the pledge to our campaign in the amount of $500,000;

to Buzz Brown, who has donated a 1974 Zamboni ice machine;

and to all our supporters whose general contributions and payments toward pledges total $122,840.13, since April 1, 1999;

to those who have made pledges since April 1, 1999:

Anonymous individual: $50,000
Anonymous private foundation: $50,000

And thanks to our in-kind supporters:

to Don Allen Ford for their support and inclusion in their summer advertising campaign;

to Matt Pitta of WQRC and Ocean 104, for his interest and interview with Bambi Mleczko on Sunday, June 13;

to Alan and Cynthia Hall and Gene Mahon of Nantucket Television (Channel 13) for all their hard work in producing the Nantucket Ice promotional video. To Nantucketers Brian Davis, Porter Fraker, A.J. Mleczko, Bambi Mleczko, Ken Norton, and Quint Waters, for appearing in the video and expressing your support. And, to Paul Belanger, Operations Manager, and Kurt Mundt, General Manager, of the Martha’s Vineyard Arena, Inc., for not only your appearances but also for your enthusiasm for our project and your valuable resource information;

and to the Nantucket Community: without you, this skating-rink project could not be realized.

MEET SOME N’ICE NANTUCKET KIDS

An interview with Luciana, age 11, and Cassie Moran, age 9. The sisters are students at the Nantucket Elementary School and have lived on Nantucket since 1992.

N’Ice: Luciana, why would you like to have a skating rink built on Nantucket?

Luciana: It would be a good meeting place where you could see your friends and have fun! Cassie: It would also be a great place to have a birthday party. If there’s a rink next year, that’s where I want to have my party!

N’Ice: Before moving to Nantucket, did you ice skate at any of the local rinks?

Luciana: No, we were too young, but we did go ice skating over on the Cape this past March at the Charles Moore Sports Center.

N’Ice: Did you have fun? Tell us about it.

Cassie: I fell down and slid across the ice. I almost knocked someone down that was skating by. It was a blast. Luciana: We skated around in a circle and my dad grabbed my hands and spun me around. It was so much fun.

N’Ice: Do you like to figure skate and would you consider playing girls’ hockey?

Cassie: Yes, I want to play hockey too, but I want to play co-ed hockey against the boys! Luciana: I love figure skating and I would like to play girls’ hockey. I would also like to learn how to do both better.

N’Ice: We’re glad to hear you want to play girls’ hockey. Did you get to meet A. J. Mleczko (Nantucket native and U. S. Olympic Gold Medalist) when she came to the island in 1998?

Cassie: Oh yes, I was standing in the front row at the Pacific Bank, and she talked to me a lot. I asked for her autograph. It was very exciting.

N’Ice: Do your parents ice skate?

Cassie: My mom tries, but she can’t stand up very well on ice skates. Luciana: My dad loves to play hockey. He plays roller hockey on the weekends in Tom Nevers.

N’Ice: Thanks girls, and once again, what would you think about having a skating rink on Nantucket?

Cassie and Luciana: It would be great! We can’t wait.

N’ICE DREAM CLOSER WITH MAJOR GIFT

The Tupancy-Harris Foundation announced in May a pledge of an additional $400,000 to Nantucket Ice for its capital campaign to build and endow a year-round community ice-skating rink on Nantucket.
In presenting this gift, foundation representatives expressed confidence that the skating rink "will become a reality."

This brings the total amount pledged to Nantucket Ice by the foundation to $500,000, the largest gift Nantucket Ice has received from any foundation or donor to date.

"Nantucket Ice is deeply grateful to the Tupancy-Harris Foundation for this generous gift," said Bambi Mleczko, Nantucket Ice President. Mleczko commented that the N’Ice organization has set a goal to raise $2 million this summer in order to meet the $5.5 million needed to begin rink construction. "This is another very positive development toward seeing our dream materialize," said Mleczko.

A Special Invitation to Friends of Nantucket Ice

Think for a moment on any of the important things you have accomplished. Doubtless you will find your dreams enmeshed in those moments of personal glory. A. J. Mleczko made a similar discovery on the gold medal platform at the Nagano Olympic games. Her visions of victory on the world stage, born in the rinks where she spent her youth, became reality as the "Stars and Stripes" rose high above the ice of the Big Hat Arena.

For those of you who weren’t there, allow me to conjure up the images of that special day when Nantucket surprised A. J. with its own version of a ticker-tape parade. The air was bitterly cold, but it didn’t deter any of the townspeople who lined the streets. A fire engine brought A. J. up the cobblestones of Main Street; the cheers of the crowd, especially the children, clearly brought a smile to her face. Once the ceremony concluded, A. J., fingers frozen, stayed on the street until every child had gotten her autograph and touched the gold medal.

This year, her fans watched as she captained her Harvard hockey squad to the national championship, shattering scoring records in the process. They shared her pride as she accepted the Patty Kazmeier Award as the top player in Women’s College Hockey. A. J.’s character and determination have made her a role model for young boys and girls on the island and an inspiration to all of us who are working toward bringing ice skating to Nantucket.

This is a critical time for our campaign. Although we have raised over $3.5 million in gifts, pledges, and donations, we must raise an additional $2 million by September 1999 to cover the current estimated building costs. Your participation in many aspects of our island community is of great importance to us all. Your support of Nantucket Ice, and our capital campaign, would be an invaluable endorsement, not only as a monetary sum, but also for the confidence it places in our community.

It would seem appropriate that this final fund raising appeal be not only in honor of A. J. and all that she stands for, but also in celebration of all our island athletes – school teams, other organized teams, and Special Olympians. Nantucket Ice has established a Giving Table (see reverse side) in order to have permanent recognition in the rink of all our generous donors. Please take a few minutes of your time to consider our project; it will make a tremendous difference to the island. With your help, we can make our dream a reality, and allow Nantucket’s families to raise the flag in our community rink.

See you on the ice.

Nantucket Ice Major Gifts Committee