Rockport may get junior hockey team Group of investors hope to build ice rink

Dave LaCouture, who was a valuable role player and leader on the University of Maine’s first national championship hockey team in 1992-93, is hoping to bring an Eastern Junior Hockey League team to Rockport next season.

A group of local investors in the Camden-Rockport area has applied to build a 61,239-square foot facility in Rockport that would include a skating rink and four tennis courts. They would be in two separate buildings linked by a lobby.

The rink would seat 300 and, if the project receives the proper approval, the ground-breaking would take place in March with completion in the fall. The ice surface will be 200-by-85 feet which is the same dimension of the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena.

LaCouture would be the rink manager and he would also be the general manager of the junior team. He is currently coaching and managing the Walpole Stars (Mass.) in the Eastern Hockey League.

“The league is looking to expand. I think we’d get league approval. We’d have to find the funding,” said LaCouture. “We have a 12-team league right now with teams in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The players are from 15-20 years old and we play around 60 regular season games before the playoffs.”

The high school-aged players would attend Camden Hills High School.

The Eastern Junior Hockey League is an amateur league that sends several players to college programs every year. The University of Maine’s Chris Heisten and Mike Mantenuto played for LaCouture.

LaCouture said he would be content being the general manager “because I’d like to spend time running the facility and getting youth hockey started in the area. But I’ll bring a coach with me.”

He added that he would also like to see figure skating develop. He envisions taking the ice out of the rink after the EJHL playoffs and using the facility for things like in-line hockey and indoor soccer.

LaCouture said he is excited about returning to Maine with his family: wife Amy, son Christian and daughter Taylor. His wife, the former Amy Henderson, is from Orrington and is a Brewer High School graduate.