A new youth soccer division grows from Hampden program

Penobscot County’s participation in the Maine State Youth Soccer Association will increase significantly this year, thanks to the efforts of a few local coaches and soccer officials.

After two years with Hampden being the only city or town north of Lewiston to field a team in the association, the MSYSA will welcome not just a few more teams, but a whole new division into the fold for the 1992 fall season.

One of the key people behind the creation of the MSYSA Northern Division is Louis Janicki of Hampden.

“We’re looking at having maybe six to eight clubs in the division this year,” said Janicki, who coaches one of the Hampden teams and is a member of the MSYSA Board of Directors.

The fall league is for boys and girls, ages 15 and under.

Teams will be added from the Ellsworth, Orono and Newport areas. Additional teams may come from Belfast, Hermon and Glenburn.

This enterprise started two years ago when Janicki and Dewey Martin, also of Hampden, became interested in starting a youth soccer travel team. At that time, the northernmost area with teams was Lewiston.

Despite that significant geographical obstacle, Janicki and Martin fielded two teams from Hampden in 1990.

“Obviously, we had to do a lot of traveling that first year,” said Janicki. “But the turnout by the kids was very good and they all had fun, so we decided it was worth it.”

Others did too. Participation swelled the next year and Hampden fielded seven teams.

This year, with the creation of a northern division, the northern championship teams will be able to play the southern champs at the end of the regular season.

Current plans call for the league to play a six-week season beginning the day after Labor Day. Wins and losses will not be tallied in order to emphasize player improvement and play.

Following the end of the regular season on Oct. 30, a postseason tournament will be held Oct. 31-Nov.1 at Orono. The division champs from that tournament will play the southern champs the following weekend.

“We will struggle, just as we did our first year,” Janicki said. “But two to three years down the road, we think we’ll have an established, good-quality league.”

Meanwhile, Janicki and other organizers are concentrating on getting boys and girls registered. To register or obtain more information, parents or players should call Janicki at 862-6760.