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Lexington adult league puts 'Fans in the Stanz'

12/12/2012, 8:00am MST
By Dave McMahon

Special to usahockey.com

Fans in the stands aren’t typically part of the adult hockey experience. If dad’s watching the kids on hockey night, maybe the youngsters will be running around the rink. The Zamboni driver might be tempted enough to stop in his tracks to watch a breakaway.

But in Lexington, Ky., adult hockey organizers pack the place at least one night each season, all in the name of raising money for charity.

The annual affair at the Lexington Ice Center has been dubbed “Fans in the Stanz.” No admission is charged to watch players in the Lexington Amateur Ice Hockey Association strap on the skates. Instead, players in the adult league collect items to be raffled and donations are encouraged. The Fans in the Stanz themselves participate at a spectacularly impressive rate.

“In 2006-07, our charity was Hospice of the Bluegrass, which assists terminally ill cancer patients and their families,” said Jim Martin, who couldn’t skate six years ago but is now one of the chief gurus of the league. “Our goal was to raise $2,000, and we ended up with around $4,500.”

Two C League games are featured on the game night. A DJ sets up shop and plays music during stoppages in play.

“We also throw t-shirts to the Fans in the Stanz and we have a mascot for the kids,” Martin said. “We’ve had the event for about five years, but this past season is the first time that we did it for charity. We feel it was very successful. And it really gave everyone a good feeling to be able to help out the community. It’ll be part of our season for as long we’re here.”

Being part of the adult hockey season is becoming a more popular each year in Lexington. The Lexington Amateur Ice Hockey Association set a record this winter by fielding five C-level teams. The club also has four teams in its B league.

Martin, a Kentucky native, might be the poster child for the sport’s success in Lexington.

“A lot of folks who play are from up north and out east, the midwest -- people who had played hockey where they came from,” said Martin, who started playing hockey as a 32-year-old. “We’ve had pro teams in Lexington at different times in the AHL and ECHL. I went to some of those games, and it looked like fun. I found out about the adult league, and I love it. It’s the greatest.”

Martin took a couple of Learn to Skate lessons, and has never looked back.

“I went to those Learn to Skate sessions and the instructor was a player in the adult league,” Martin said. “He said the league was all about having a good time. Don’t worry about how good or bad you are. We still get a lot of people coming out for the first time, and they keep coming back, too. This year we have about eight brand new people who have never played before.”

The Kentucky High School Hockey League’s six-team Lexington division also has started to become a feeder program of sorts for the adult league. Many of those players matriculate into the adult league. This season, there are 100 players registered in the league. The twelve referees in the entire city are able to find work thanks to the league.

The interest level – and full benches last year – warranted the formation of a fifth C-level team this season. The co-ed leagues also include five women this season.

Lexington currently has a fall/winter season and a winter/spring season. Rates are $260 per person for a 20-game season. Part-time players can play 10 games for $165. Ice times are 8:30 and 9:45 p.m.

For the first time, the C League this year will carry over its standings from the early session and have a playoff tournament in April. The B League opted to keep its typical January playoff before starting the winter/spring season.

“We try to experiment with different setups to make it fun for the players,” said Martin, vice president of the league board that includes president Daryl Gregory and officer Paul Adelfio. “We solicit input from the players and try to do whatever they encourage us to do.”

Lexington players are generally agreeable to a road trip every year. A Lexington all-star team has played in a tournament in Nashville the past three seasons.

“We got killed the first time, and then took second the next year,” Martin said.

As with every other area of adult hockey in Lexington, progress is being made.

Check out http://www.laiha.com for more information.

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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