The Lightning Soccer Club’s U12 Fire boys were among several teams to enjoy success at holiday weekend youth soccer tournaments around New Hampshire.
The Lightning Soccer Club’s U12 Fire boys were among several teams to enjoy success at holiday weekend youth soccer tournaments around New Hampshire. Credit: Courtesy photograph

White River Junction — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department is seeking adults interested in becoming volunteer youth basketball coaches this winter.

Hartford offers basketball programs starting in kindergarten and going up through grades 5 and 6 for both boys and girls. Goals for the program include teaching the importance of physical activity and the fun involved in it, the element of sportsmanship and the concept of accountability. Grades K-2 play in an in-house program, but grades 3-6 will compete against similar age-group teams from around the Upper Valley.

Practice and game times vary during the week, mostly likely between 5-8 p.m. on weeknights and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on weekends. Potential coaches are asked to have an updated application on file while also undergoing coach training and a background check.

The season officially begins with a meeting for grades 3-6 coaches on Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Hartford Town Hall. A meeting for K-2 coaches as well as the Smart Start youth program will be held in January.

For more information, contact Hartford Parks and Rec at 802-295-5036.

On the Pitch

Fever, Fire Win Tourneys

Epping, n.h. — The Lightning Soccer Club’s U12 Fever and U14 Fire boys soccer teams charged to championship wins in their respective divisions at last weekend’s Seacoast United Columbus Day tournament.

The Fever was a perfect 4-0-0 in the U12 tourney, outscoring foes 17-3. LSC beat GPS NH South (5-0) and Bayside FC (5-1) in group play, topped Mass City FC in the semifinals (3-1) and defeated Aztec U12 Premier in the final, 4-1.

Cabot McLaren and Zach Tracy scored in the first 15 minutes of the final to get the Fever going. Otto Bourne add a chip goal over the Aztec goalkeeper in the second half. Zach Miles, Charlie Forbush and Sean Smith also scored during the weekend, while Forbush joined Sixten Nolan and Cayden Van Dolah on the defense in front of championship keeper Henry Cotter.

The Fire enjoyed similar success in the U14 tournament, beating Mass City FC in the semis and Aztec in the final, both on penalty-kick shootouts. LSC, which beat GPS NH Elite and Mass City in group play, used PK conversions from Daniel Mladek, Tucker Chapman, Connor Hamlin and Tinashe Muhlauri and two Jack Maynes saves to win its semifinal tiebreaker.

The Fire played Aztec to a 1-1 draw through regulation in the final, getting a goal from Mladek before the competition equalized late in the second half. Maynes proved the hero again, making two more saves before burying his own spot kick to clinch the title.

Midfielders Chapman, Beckey McCarthy and Owen Smith owned possession of the ball for much of the weekend. Maynes had the help of defense from Hamlin, Palmer Okai, Jack McGrath, Jack Ross, Seth Carl and Jack Gardner through four games in which the Fire allowed just two goals in regulation play.

The LSC U13 Storm also competed at Seacoast, going 1-0-2 to reach the finals, tied with the hosts in points. Seacoast took the title with a 2-0 decision.

The bulk of LSC’s other travel teams competed in a tournament in Nashua, N.H. Their results are summarized in the chart found on this page.

On the Ice

Free Youth Clinics

West Lebanon — The Hanover Hockey Association will host a pair of learn-to-play-hockey clinics for youths this weekend at Campion Rink.

Saturday’s session is for boys and girls ages 4-8, and runs from 10:30-11:30 a.m. A Sunday session for girls ages 8 and older is set for 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Both learn-to-play clinics are for youngsters with no prior hockey experience. Full equipment is recommended, and Stateline Sports will be on hand with equipment to loan to players who require it.

Space is limited to the first 50 players that register online at www.hanoverhockey.org. The clinics are free of charge.

For more information, contact HHA initiations coordinator Kristin LeRoy at kristinkgood@yahoo.com for the Saturday clinic or Elizabeth Dann at ewdann@gmail.com for Sunday’s girls clinic.

Learn to Play Hockey

West Lebanon — Now open for the skating season, Campion Rink has started a new season of learn-to-play hockey clinics on Wednesday mornings.

The clinics run from 9-10 a.m. each Wednesday; the current session goes through Dec. 20, with a new session set for Jan. 3-March 21. The program is designed for those new to the sport who wants to learn the skills of the game and wish to develop a passion for it, all in a comfortable and safe environment.

The focus will be on improving skating and stickhandling skills as well as understanding team play.

The program is co-coached by skating professional Nicole Cochrane and hockey coach Tucker Garrity-Hanchett. The cost to join is $100 for the full session or $15 per class on a drop-in basis. For more information, email info@campionrink. org or call the rink at 603-643-1222.

On the Run

Foliage Five Set

East Thetford — The Upper Valley Running Series continues with the Foliage Five road race on Sunday at the Union Village Dam Recreation Area.

The race covers a 5-mile route within the recreation area, beginning and ending atop the dam. It begins at 2 p.m., and proceeds from the event help fund an Upper Valley Running Club scholarship that will benefit an area high school runner heading to college.

The entry fee is $15, and signups are available through www.racewire.com. T-shirts are available for $10 each while supplies last. Contact Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department director Paul Coats at 603-448-5121 or paul.coats@lebcity.com for details.

Up, Down, Around 5K

Lebanon — The Lebanon Outing Club is set to host its Up, Down and Around 5K trail race to cap the running season on Oct. 28.

The race takes advantage of the various types of terrain the Storrs Hill Ski Area has to offer. Billed as part run, part hike and part natural obstacle course, runners will challenge their trail skills and get a taste of what’s to come when the Winter Wild uphill running series come to the hill later this winter.

The race starts at 10 a.m. Online registration is available through www.ultrasignup.com at a cost of $15 for youths and $20 for adults.

For more information, visit the Storrs Hill Ski Area page on Facebook or call 603-448-4409.