It's Ice Time

Still sacked out from your turkey nap? If so, well you wouldn't be reading this. Chances are we're all recovered from what I hope was another great holiday for all of our readers out there. Of course, my best wishes to you and yours.

Just in case you didn't know, in the process of Turkey day, the football, and the naps, The Record and Herald News put out its 2006-07 High School Ice Hockey preview. It was done by....you guessed it, yours truly.

Once again I'll be covering hockey for both The Record and Herald News, and despite it being football championship week, I'm interested in what is to come in this new season on the ice.

Included in the preview was not only the breakdown of each division that has at least one North Jersey team, but I also unveiled the preseason Top 10, a story on the new rule changes, which should have a great impact, a detailed list of 10 players to watch, and various important dates to remember.

High school hockey has grown by leaps and bounds over the course of the last decade, and since I got on the beat in Dec. 2003, I have witnessed that growth first hand.

Dumont has a new program this season. DePaul was new last season. The Record's coverage area now has 29 ice hockey programs. It's no longer a minor sport in my eyes.

No, it's not as popular as basketball. It probably never will be. Hockey is a sport that is played mostly by kids who play it year round. They specialize in the sport. Rarely do you find hockey players who play other high school sports.

It's also one of the most expensive sports to play. Not only does all the equipment cost money, ice time is at a premium, and the bills get high. Still, the kids playing it absolutely love it. They would have to if they're willing to attend a practice at 9:30 on a Sunday night, or 6 on a Tuesday morning.

Just to let you know, once the high school football season is put to bed, I'll be blogging about ice hockey, too. So, stay tuned, and get ready to light the lamp.