My fellow citizens, many kids in our Rutherford, East Rutherford, Carlstadt and Maywood community have a passion for ice hockey, yet our school system does not cater to this interest. This gap in our extracurricular menu forces them to attend private schools to pursue their love for the sport. Unfortunately, this move impacts not only them but also our community at large. When these athletes transfer elsewhere, our district loses not only potential sports stars but also bright minds that contribute significantly to our test scores. 

In the United States, nearly 353,500 kids aged between 7 and 17 play ice hockey (USA Hockey, 2018). This statistic highlights the high interest in this sport among the youth. Moreover, studies have shown that students who participate in school sports often perform better acadically because the discipline, commitment, and team collaboration inherent to sports carry over to their academic pursuits (American Journal of Pediatrics, 2018).

By offering ice hockey at Rutherford High School, we not only retain and nurture our local talents but also grow stronger as a community. Given these benefits, our plea is simple and straight: That Rutherford High School and its board seriously consider establishing ice hockey as a recognized sport within the school system.

We need your support to make this happen. Please sign this petition and lend your voice to the young ice hockey enthusiasts among us. Let us show our children that their interests and their futures truly matter to us.