All systems are go for John Bapst Memorial High School’s first varsity hockey program beginning this fall, Principal Joe Sekera and Athletic Director Bob Cimbollek announced during a Friday press conference at the Bangor school.

The program will be funded by outside sources for the first four seasons, but Sekera said, “We’ll re-evaluate the funding after two years.”

At that time, the financial future of the program will be outlined by Sekera, Cimbollek, and the school’s board of trustees.

“At that point we’d see if the school would be willing to pick up the tab after two more years or if outside sources would have to continue to fund it after the initial four-year period,” said Cimbollek.

The Friends of John Bapst Ice Hockey is the boosters group responsible for the funding and President Art Archer said the group is confident it can foot the bill “based on what we’ve raised so far.”

The price tag for the first year is $22,000 and Archer figures they will have to come up with $20,000 per year for the remaining three years.

“We’re going to have a variety of fund-raising projects and we’re also going to the corporate sector,” said Archer.

Cimbollek said the team will be on the ice five days a week, including games, and will compete in Eastern Maine Class B.

It will practice and play its games at either the Alfond Arena in Orono or the Sockalexis Memorial Ice Arena on Indian Island. Alfond Arena is being expanded and its availability is unknown.

Cimbollek said he doesn’t foresee a numbers problem for the team. He said 21-22 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors indicated in a survey this year they would be interested in playing hockey next season and there also could be significant numbers from the incoming freshmen.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the coach had to make some cuts,” said Cimbollek.

As for a coach, Cimbollek is advertising for one and he hopes to name one by the start of the 1991-92 school year.

Cimbollek thinks the addition of an ice hockey program is a positive one.

“It’s certainly going to help our athletic program and the school,” said Cimbollek. “The time is right for it. The hardest thing will be whether or not the Friends group can sustain the funds over a long period of time. But now that we’ve announced that we’re going ahead with the program, I think a lot more people will get involved.”