Janicki fills void, copes with critics

Everyone has an opinion of Lou Janicki, manager of T.J. Ryan Center in Brewer.

In recent weeks, the opinion of him in the Brewer Youth Hockey community probably was unanimous – and unfavorable.

When he announced plans to form his own in-house youth hockey league, affiliated with his PenBay Mariners junior team (ages 16-20), and that the Brewer Youth Hockey teams would be losing their ice time, the reaction was swift, overwhelming, and passionate.

So he abandoned those plans and Brewer Youth Hockey’s ice time was reinstituted.

Janicki certainly has made enemies in his nine years running the arena, but who wouldn’t in his position?

Make no mistake about it: Like him or not, the bottom line is that there wouldn’t be a T.J. Ryan Center without him.

And there would have been a huge void because the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena is also used by the Black Bear men’s and women’s basketball teams, and Bangor’s Sawyer Arena simply couldn’t handle all the volume.

Janicki saw the need for another ice facility a decade ago, took the initiative, and got it built.

It has certainly helped the Brewer economy.

He also transformed the facility into an indoor soccer arena after hockey season.

The soccer surface may have been cement with a thin rug on it, but it still served its purpose.

Eventually, the Maine Sports Complex (also known as “The Bubble”) was built in Hampden, designed primarily for soccer with a soft SprintTurf surface.

“We had 34 teams the first year and got up to about 70 at one stage. We kind of started the indoor soccer thing. We got a lot more people playing the game and that’s why the Bubble is here. There was a market for it,” said Janicki.

By trying to establish the PenBay youth program, Janicki simply wanted to expand his business. Brewer Youth Hockey encompasses just one-third of his business.

Their outcry was understandable.

The city of Brewer had gone to bat for him in the past.

Janicki admits he was “blindsided” by the public outcry to the situation.

And he was smart enough to rectify the situation.

“One of the big issues with all the rinks around here is the ice is pretty much sold out now. And there is a very narrow window for the primetime ice, which is from 6 to 8 at night,” said Janicki. “[Forming PenBay youth hockey programs] isn’t something that went on for a long period of time. Once the reaction was recognized, we moved on and Brewer Youth Hockey will be being their ice here.

“I probably should have marketed it better to make it more palatable and I should have spread it out over a long period of time versus having it come to a head just before the season. Those criticisms are valid.”

Janicki doesn’t feel he is difficult to deal with.

“We have 350,000 come through here every year and most are satisfied with the ice and the service we provide. But there’s always the exception. Part of it may be business [related] and part of it may be personality. And the people who are unhappy tend to be the most vociferous,” said the 52-year-old Janicki.

He said he has maintained the same philosophy he has always had in dealing with people: “be fair, firm, and consistent.”

He said he has had “a lot of fun” running the facility and has developed a lot of friendships. He is his own man and always will be.

Like him or not.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.