WEST LEBANON — Organizers have canceled the annual Make-a-Wish All-Star Hockey Classic, the latest summer high school all-star game to succumb to the coronavirus pandemic.
The girls-boys doubleheader featuring top Vermont and New Hampshire senior ice hockey all-stars had been scheduled for June 27 at Stowe (Vt.) Arena, a change from the classic’s traditional home at the University of Vermont’s Gutterson Field House. Ongoing renovation of UVM’s athletic facilities forced the move to Stowe, but the pandemic ultimately shut the event down.
In a Wednesday afternoon email, game co-chairman Cathy Foutz cited “COVID-19 and the necessary restrictions placed on indoor recreation facilities, and the prohibitions of contact sports and gatherings of groups of people” for the decision.
Concord-area schools had plenty of representation on the New Hampshire teams. Concord’s Nicole Jones, Erin Doherty and Abby Corbett were to join Brady-Trinity-West’s Haley Hildreth and Rae Roberts on a squad co-coached by the Crimson Tide’s Patrick McDonough. The Granite State boys roster included Concord’s Parker Taylor and Matthew Hauschild, the state’s Division I player of the year.
The pandemic had previously claimed the Twin States’ summer lacrosse, field hockey and soccer showcases.
All that remains of the schedule are two football games, both on Aug. 1: the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl at Castleton (Vt.) University and the CHaD East-West Game at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The latter was rescheduled from a late June date by the pandemic.
Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.