From the 9/22 edition of the Lowell Sun (link)
Jennifer Myers, jmyers@lowellsun.com
CHELMSFORD — It has been a dream for nearly two decades.
In the early 1990s John Descoteaux and Rick Dupuis were scouring Lowell looking for the perfect spot to build a street-hockey rink. A parcel on Phoenix Avenue looked promising, until they discovered the soil was contaminated. Then there was a site on Marginal Street, but the price was not right.
“We didn’t have any luck finding land we could afford,” Descoteaux said.
The dream of a couple of St. Louis School kids who grew up playing hockey on the streets of Lowell was put on the back burner.
One day earlier this year, Dupuis was sitting on the back deck of the Gold’s Gym in Chelmsford, which he co-owns, looking over the site that once housed a pool and cabana. The idea struck him like a bolt of lightning — this is the spot for street hockey.
“All of these years the perfect place was right under our noses,” Dupuis said.
Descoteaux and Dupuis are active in the charitable foundation of their friend, champion boxer Micky Ward. Ward overheard them discussing their business plans one day and immediately became excited.
“With money being so tight these days and kids not having anywhere to go or anything to do, this is a great thing to keep them off of the streets and out of trouble,” said Ward.
“Micky doesn’t say too much about anything, but when he heard what we wanted to do, he was like a kid in a candy store,” said Descoteaux. “He has been so excited, calling me every day.”
With Ward on board, the trio also recruited another friend, Mike Comtois, to partner in the business, which they called Greater Lowell DekHockey.
“We should call it three Frenchmen and an Irish kid,” laughed Descoteaux.
Street hockey, also known as DekHockey, has been played for decades on the streets, in parking lots and driveways of cities and towns across the United States and Canada. It was officially organized into a sport in the early 1970s in Leominster by Ray LeClerc, who founded Mylec, a street-hockey equipment company. Today the DekHockey Hall of Fame is housed in Leominster.
DekHockey is played on asphalt. Players wear sneakers, not skates, and the “puck” is a rubber ball. Unlike the National Hockey League, there is no checking and no fighting.
Chris Housser, manager of the Leominster DekHockey Center, originally from Niagara Falls, Canada, was there from the beginning and says the benefits to having a DekHockey facility in a community are enormous.
“It is an entry-level sport, a local neighborhood kind of association,” he said. “It is inexpensive, and we are like a launching pad for kids who want to eventually play ice hockey because they can learn all of the stick-handling skills, how to play a position and work as a team, without having to worry about skating.”
The LDHC boasts 100 teams and 1,200 players, ranging in age from 4 to more than 50-years-old.
In July, Housser and six players from Leominster flew to the Czech Republic to compete in the DekHockey world championships. The 18-member Team USA finished 5-2 in the tournament, beating out DekHockey powerhouse Team Canada 5-4 in overtime.
Meanwhile, back in Chelmsford, the asphalt for the 155-foot-by-75-foot rink was poured yesterday. There are plans for a pro-shop, snack bar and offices. The outdoor rink can be used year-round.
The first games are scheduled for Oct. 17 — but they need players, coaches and referees first.
Dupuis said that part of the attraction to DekHockey is the cost.
“As a kid growing up in Lowell, my parents couldn’t afford ice hockey and today with things the way they are very few families can afford ice hockey,” he said. “Ice hockey can cost up to $2,500 a season for 12 games; DekHockey is $105 for 10 games, the playoffs are free and that includes a jersey. Plus, you do not outgrow your equipment.”
In addition to players, coaches and refs, the budding business is looking for sponsors. All Sports Promotions of Lowell has already jumped on board, buying the scoreboard.
Descoteaux and his crew have also made a deal with the Devil(s) — the Lowell Devils. The Mill City’s minor league hockey team will be sending its players to work with the DekHockey players. Descoteaux said they are looking for anyone ages 4 to 60 who wants to play. Anyone who signs up by Oct. 4, will get a free ticket to a Devils’ game.
Greater Lowell DekHockey, located behind Gold’s Gym at 5 Courthouse Lane in Chelmsford, will hold open houses on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, as well as Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.