There will be varsity girls ice hockey in the state of Maine beginning for the 2008-09 season.

At least 11 teams will be competing, according to Maine Principals’ Association executive director Dick Durost.

“It’s time [for it],” said Durost, who pointed out that the measure to add girls varsity hockey received unanimous approval from the ice hockey committee, the management committee and the membership committee.

“We will have 11 teams and there are approximately 20 more club teams out there,” said Durost.

Larry LaBrie, the assistant executive director, said it is possible some of those club teams will be ready to field a varsity team in 2008.

“We aren’t going to close our doors,” said LaBrie, who indicated that they would have to make the commitment by next spring when the schedules are likely to be compiled.

The 11 schools that have already signed on for varsity status are North Yarmouth Academy, Lewiston, Scarborough, Winslow, Portland, Deering High of Portland, St. Dom’s of Auburn, Gorham, Greely of Cumberland Center and York High School.

“Almost all of them have had club teams in the past,” said Durost.

LaBrie said there has been a league in southern Maine for club teams for several years and the time is right to add varsity girls hockey.

“The girls have worked hard and their parents have worked hard to sustain it,” said LaBrie.

Durost said they will adhere to the Title IX philosophy of equality between the boys and girls teams.

That includes playing the same number of games as the boys, having the same amount of ice time for practices and games and using the same sites for the playoffs, according to Durost.

“Everything will be equal,” concurred LaBrie.

Durost said it is conceivable that there may be changes made on the boys side to accommodate the addition of girls hockey.

“We may take a look at reducing the number of games. The boys currently have 20 countable games. That’s more than in any other sport. And there’s no limit on non-countable games [i.e., preseason tournaments or games against teams from other states],” said Durost.

The availability of ice and the cost of transportation will also be entered into the equation, according to Durost.

The girls teams will be lumped together into one division for the first season and Durost said they will stick with tier scheduling that they implement on the boys side.

Tier scheduling is designed to prevent mismatches by having teams of similar ability play each other more often than they would play a team that is significantly better or worse.

There were 51 high school boys teams last season, but two of them, Foxcroft Academy of Dover-Foxcroft and Stearns High School of Millinocket, have since dropped the sport.

There are four divisions: Eastern Class A, Western A, Eastern B and Western B.

There were just six boys teams in the state 30 years ago.

Durost and LaBrie agree that the addition of varsity girls hockey will encourage the club teams or other communities to look into the feasibility of adding the program.

“Once we get through the first season and people get to see the tournament, there will be a lot of pressure locally for schools that already have club programs to turn it into a varsity program,” said Durost.