-The Brattleboro Hockey Association (BHA) has a long tradition of fielding competitive youth teams that can hold their own against hockey programs from bigger towns in western New England.
The latest group of BHA players to hang a championship banner in Withington Rink is the 10U South team. They beat Westfield, Massachusetts, 4-2, on March 9 to win the Greater Springfield League Championship.
"This is a very big deal for Brattleboro as we are the smallest hockey association in the league and the only one outside of Massachusetts," wrote proud mom Carmen Willson in an email to The Commons last week. "All the others have many more players to pull from, and most have multiple teams in each age group and division. Our team has 11 kids, two of which are 8 years old."
Wilson wrote that "there are typically few fans in the stands on the Brattleboro side, not for lack of support but because the team is made up of only a few families! There are three Willsons (twins Madeline and David, and younger brother Adam), two Winslows (twins Sean and Collin), two Clevelands (cousins Emma and Emmett), and the rest of the crew - Connor Swank, Miles Becker, Braden Gouger, and Nick Libardoni."
Bill Willson, John Cleveland, and Brattleboro Bears boys' varsity ice hockey coach Eric Libardoni are the coaches of the BHA 10U South team.
The banner-hanging celebration at Withington Rink will take place at a date to be announced, and the team has been invited to be part of the Parade of Champions as hosts of the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds, the American Hockey League team affiliated with the NHL's St. Louis Blues, at the Mass Mutual Center on March 21.
Rosters announced for Rotary All-Star Classic
• Several members of the Brattleboro Bears boys' hockey team have been selected to participate in the 39th Rotary All-Star Hockey Classic scheduled for Saturday, March 22, at the Essex Skating Facility.
Men and women in their senior years are selected from high schools across Vermont to participate in this event. The women's game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and the men's game will commence at 6 p.m.
In the men's game, Brattleboro forward Alex Dick will be on Team Austin. Teammate Evan Wright, who finished his high school career with 102 goals, was selected for Team Austin, but will not be able to play.
The women's game will not have any Brattleboro players participating, but Emma Bazin, a Bellows Falls student who has played at forward for the Hartford Hurricanes, made the roster.
Bazin, a standout field hockey player for BF, concluded her high school ice hockey career on March 9 as the Canes won their second straight Division II title. Bazin, who is No. 2 on Hartford's all-time girls' hockey goal scoring list, knocked in an insurance goal in the Canes' 2-0 win over Middlebury in the championship game at UVM's Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Tickets for this event are $10 per person, which includes admission to both games. They can be purchased online at rotaryclubofessex.org.
All of the net proceeds that are raised from this event are used by the Rotary Club of Essex to support local food pantries, provide winter coats for children in need, fund scholarships for local students, and to support a number of health and environmental initiatives locally and internationally.
Bazin, Brown honored by VBCA
• Freshman Jaden Bazin of Bellows Falls and sophomore Brayden Brown of Twin Valley were selected to the Vermont Basketball Coaches' Association (VBCA) Boys Outstanding Underclassmen list for 2025, which selects eight of the best returning high school boys basketball players in each division.
Bazin was selected in Division III. He helped the 11-11 Terriers reach the Division III quarterfinals by scoring 16 points and pulling down 19 rebounds in a 67-62 win in triple overtime over Green Mountain in a first-round matchup. Although the Terriers were soundly beaten by top-seeded White River Valley in the quarterfinals, Bazin will be counted upon to spark the team next season.
Brown made the Division IV list, and made school history by scoring his 1,000th career point in his sophomore season. He led Twin Valley to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, where they were defeated in the quarterfinal by No. 4 Williamstown. Nearly all of this year's Wildcats team are expected back next season.
Rec. Dept. announces spring programs
• The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department is offering these youth sports programs this spring:
• Gymnastics: For those 5-14 years old. The cost for the eight-week session is $100 for Brattleboro residents; $115 for non-residents. Classes will run from April 1 to June 9, with no classes April 14 to 18. Classes will take place at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. All classes must have a minimum of four kids to run. Everyone should bring a water bottle to each class and wear tight fitted clothing.
• Intro to T-Ball: For youths born between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021. The cost is $20 for Brattleboro residents; $35 for non-residents. Players will meet once a week for practice beginning the week of May 5 and will continue through the week of June 6. Note that the practice day, time, and location are to be determined and based on the schedule of the volunteer coaches. Intro to T-ball will only run if there are multiple volunteer coaches to help run this program.
• Small Fry Baseball: For youths born between Sept. 1, 2015, and Aug. 31, 2018. The cost is $40 for Brattleboro residents; $55 for non-residents. Practices will begin the week of April 21, weather permitting. Games will begin the week of May 5 and continue until early June. Youth will learn the fundamentals of baseball, stressing safety, skills, and fun.
Players will be assigned a team and will have 2 to 3 practices and games a week. Each child will need to bring their own glove, water bottle, and appropriate footwear (sneakers or cleats) to each practice and game. Note that gray pants are required during games. The Rec. Dept. has a limited selection and range of sizes of pants available upon request. Each player will be assigned to a team as well as a practice location.
• Youth T-Ball: For youths born between Sept. 1, 2018, and Aug. 31, 2020. The cost is $35 for Brattleboro residents; $50 for non-residents. During the T-ball season, youths will learn the fundamentals of baseball, stressing safety, skills, and fun. Players will be assigned to a team and will have one practice and one game per week.
Each child will need to bring their own glove, water bottle, and appropriate footwear (sneakers or cleats) to each practice and game. Each player will be assigned to a team as well as a practice location. Practices will begin the week of April 21, weather permitting. Games will begin the week of May 5 and continue until early June.
• Girls' Youth Softball: For those in grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. The cost is $45 for Brattleboro residents; $60 for non-residents. Players will learn the fundamentals of softball, stressing safety, skills, and fun. Players will be assigned to a team and will have two to three games and practices a week at Living Memorial Park or away against neighboring towns.
Each child will need to bring their own glove, water bottle, and appropriate footwear (sneakers or cleats) to each practice and game. Each player will be assigned to a team as well as a practice location. Practices will begin the week of April 21, weather permitting. Games will begin the week of May 5 and continue until early June.
• Girls' Youth Lacrosse: For those in grades 2-6. The cost is $20 for Brattleboro residents; $35 for non-residents. The season will begin the week of April 21, depending on field conditions. Practice will be held 1-2 times per week. Participants should provide their own equipment (mouthguards, cleats, or sneakers, water bottles, stick, and goggles). This group is strictly skills and drills-based and will not play any games against other towns. A minimum of 10 participants is required to run each age group. The practice date is to be determined.
• Boys' Youth Lacrosse: For those in grades 2-6. The cost is $20 for Brattleboro residents; $35 for non-residents. Players will have two practices a week and will focus on fundamentals and skill building. A minimum of 10 participants are required to run this program. Participants should provide their own equipment (mouth guard, cleats/sneakers, a water bottle, a boys lacrosse stick, and helmet and pads.) At this time this group is strictly skills and drills-based and will not play any games against other towns.
Individuals can register online at vtbrattleboroweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web or in person at the Rec. Dept. office Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Gibson-Aiken Center. Beginning March 28, a $10 late fee will be assessed. If there are special needs required, let them know at least five days in advance. For more information, call 802-254-5808.
Clothing and kids sports equipment swap in Vernon
• A clothing and kids sports equipment swap will be held at the Governor Hunt House Community Center at 322 Governor Hunt Rd. in Vernon, on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Clothing and sports equipment donations will be accepted at the Community Center on Monday, March 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday, March 25, and Wednesday, March 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Only items that are clean and in good usable condition without stains, rips, or damage will be accepted at drop off.
Organizers say there is no cost or obligation to donate or shop. All are welcome. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 9 of the winter/spring season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on March 13 saw Renegades (31-14) continue their hold on first place, with Sandbaggers and Full Monty (both 27-18) tied for second, followed by Wayne's World and Slo Movers (both 26-19), Charlie's Angels and Double Trouble (both 24-21), Niners (21-24), and Let 'Em Roll (17-28).
Debbie Kolpa had the women's high handicap game (283) and series (741), while Mike Pavlovich had the men's high handicap game (247) and Kevin Napaver had the high handicap series (714). Sandbaggers had the high team handicap game (883) and series (2,593).
Napaver had the men's high scratch series (714) with games of 247, 246, and 221, while Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 659 series with games of 233, 226, and 200, and Pavolich had a 610 series with games of 222 and 210.
Robert Rigby had a 599 series with games of 214 and 213, while Peter Deyo had a 594 series with games of 215 and 207. John Walker had a 587 series with games of 239 and 182, Jerry Dunham had a 540 series with a 193 game, Milt Sherman had a 539 series with a 187 game, Rick Wescott had a 512 series with a 181 game, and Pete Cross had a 187 game.
Kolpa had the women's high scratch series (558) and game (222). She also rolled a 177 game. Carol Gloski had a 503 series with games of 183 and 172.
Randolph T. Holhut, deputy editor of this newspaper, has written this column since 2010 and has covered sports in Windham County since the 1980s. Readers can send him sports information at [email protected].
This Sports column by Randolph T. Holhut was written for The Commons.