JV Locker Room

The Scots Hockey program is one of only two remaining boys hockey programs in the Saint Paul Public School district.  After enjoying a long and storied history in the state, the program fell dormant but thanks to the vision and dedication of alumni and future Scots families, the program was resurrected in 2016.  Now players from both Central and Highland Park Sr. High Schools practice and play together at their home rink, Charles M. Schulz-Highland Arena.  The Scots Hockey Booster Club was able to build a varsity locker room in 2016.  Nearly 10 years in, it's now time to get a JV locker room built.  

Having a "home" for your gear and your team has several benefits.  First, it's a game-changer for the logistical challenges families face transporting their player's gear.  JV players tend to be the youngest on the team and therefore don't typically have their driver's licenses, and access to a vehicle isn't always assured.  Both Central and Highland Park lack adequate secure space in which JV players can store their equipment during the school day resulting in families having to get their players from school and their gear from home to the rink for practices and games.  Additionally, practice and game times often require these transportation 'gymnastics' during work hours, further complicating family's lives.

Second, having a "home" for your team contributes significantly to team cohesion.  JV teams typically include the youngest and newest players to the high school hockey program.  In Saint Paul, players join Scots from four different youth hockey associations which means they do not know one another aside from the few who they skated with during youth hockey.  Having a single location to gather, dress, prepare, and process your practice and game experiences allows for both the intentional and informal interactions that contribute to team cohesion.

Third, having a "home" cultivates a sense of belonging.  The Scots JV team includes the youngest and newest players, come from four different youth hockey associations, and attend one of two different high schools.  Although paths may cross casually in other settings, having a "home" where gear is stored, visual branding reinforces team identify, and which happens to be co-located at our home ice and next to our varsity team's locker room, cements the understanding that each player belongs in the Scots program.

And finally, having a "home" for the JV team signals legitimacy and sustainability to youth and families considering their high school hockey options.  In Minnesota's highly competitive hockey landscape, players have options.  What sets Scots Hockey apart is that we are a hockey home who welcomes everyone, cultivates a sense of community among players and their families, and allows hockey to remain fun.  We want youth players and their families to see the Scots Hockey program as an attractive and viable option as they continue their hockey career.