1 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Each week we come together right here, we talk about 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: all the topics important to you and the place where 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: you live. Great to have you back with us this week. 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis. April Bragg is coming up here in 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: a few weeks and instead of sitting there in front 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: of the PS five or the iPad, the City of 8 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: Boston instead is hoping kids from all over the city 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: will come out to Garvey Park and get involved in 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,959 Speaker 1: the upcoming Mayor's Cup street hockey tournament. Kids are not 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: just in this for the bragging rights or running off 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: some steam, although that helps. The winners also walk away 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: with a super cool prize. Damian Mergardo is the man 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: over at Parks and Reck helping to pull all this together. 15 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: He's been on the show before. He's back with us 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: now and Damien, it's good to have you back. This 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: really is such a great tradition for these kids. 18 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: It's a lot of fun about everyone would come down 19 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 2: just you know, friendly competition, you know, competing for the 20 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: Mayor's Cup. It will be friendly for a little bit 21 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 2: and then when we start getting down to the elimination rounds, 22 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: it changes a little bit, but. 23 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: You know, maybe not so friendly after that, but that's okay. 24 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a good thing, I think, to make 25 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: sure that kids have that experience. Yeah, and I love 26 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: the fact that you start super early. We're talking like 27 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: mites and squirts. Let's talk about the different divisions that 28 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: kids can compete in. 29 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, so the mites are six year olds to eight 30 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 2: year olds. Roughly, they might sneak in a couple of 31 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: five year olds there, but if they're there, they can 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 2: usually play. Squirts are nine to ten year olds, and 33 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: then we've got our pee wee's that are eleven to twelve. 34 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: And this year here, you know, we tried it last 35 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,639 Speaker 2: year didn't really work out. We always have girls playing, 36 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: usually on the co ed teams. We're trying to do 37 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: girls divisions this year, you know and last year. So 38 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: we have a U eight division for the girls and 39 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: the U ten division, which again is you know, I 40 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: think right now as it stands, I think we definitely 41 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: have three U ten teams, So it would be great 42 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: to get at least two eight teams so we can 43 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: have a girls championship. 44 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: That would be awesome. How many teams can you have 45 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: for each regional division here. 46 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 2: So it's you know, it would be it would be 47 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: incredible to have and a lot to have eight in 48 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: every division. But as it stands right now, I believe 49 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: we have eight in the mic division, four in the 50 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: pee wee's, four in the squirts I think, and two 51 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: and yeah, and two in the ten girls. So okay, 52 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: it'll look it good, you know what I mean. I'm 53 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: a big more of the maria. I'll figure it out. 54 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: I have a whole week to figure it out. So 55 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: we like to do, you know, obviously parents like to 56 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 2: bang it out in two days. Yeah, An, you know 57 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: there's a lot that goes into it. 58 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: We are outside, so what's going to happen if there 59 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 1: is rain or God forbid snow? I mean this is 60 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: New England, so anything can happen. So this is happening outside, 61 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: But do you have a rain plan just in case? 62 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: So, like I said, we usually push it. We start 63 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 2: on a Monday, which gives us a whole entire day 64 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 2: because us we're lucky enough to have Patriots Day here 65 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 2: in New England. Yeah, marathon Monday, So while the marathon's 66 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: going on, will be at Gavy Park in Dorchester playing 67 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: street hockey, and we'll just keep I guess playing a 68 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 2: mother nature that we don't get rain but we do 69 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: have the whole week, so I kind of permit the 70 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: park out for the whole entire week, and it gives us, 71 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 2: you know, ah, a pretty good window, you know what 72 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: I mean. If we get a rainy week, I'll just 73 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 2: after reschedule for all weekend someplace down the line. That's 74 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: you know, we don't have an indoor sight at parks 75 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: of wrecks so well, and. 76 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: Would kind of defeat the purpose of street hockey, wouldn't it. 77 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it does. We're lucky to at Garvey Park. We're 78 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: lucky that our street hockey court has lights so we 79 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: can play into the evening, usually having the championships in 80 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: the evening, which is really The kids think it's really cool, 81 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: as you know, you played to play under the lights 82 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: is fun. I mean, I played under the lights sports 83 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: and it's it's good time. So absolutely, you're pretty cool 84 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: when you're playing at night. 85 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, right, especially if you're like six seven years old, 86 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: you're out there like wow, it can be this is 87 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: so cool. And it's important to note. I think these 88 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: kids don't really have to have a ton of experience, right, 89 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 1: that's the beauty of street hockey. Literally just show up. 90 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, literally, you know I say it all the time. 91 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: The best way to introduce any youth to street hockey 92 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: is what to hockey in general, is to give them 93 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: a stick lit a ball, just like you would with basketball. 94 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: Have someone just give you some sort of like how 95 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: to hold a stick if you're a lefty, if you're righting. 96 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: Athletes can play street hockey. Any athlete you can. If 97 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 2: you can run, you can play street hockey. It's pretty easy, 98 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: you know what I mean. Like we're lucky throughout the 99 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: you know, another program we run is the Willie o 100 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: Re Street Hockey Crew. Throughout the summer, we're at different 101 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 2: neighborhoods all over Boston and giving kids hockey sticks and 102 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: balls and goalie equipment and trying to introduce them to hockey. 103 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: It's just the numbers go up and down. You know. 104 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: I think right now we're on a little bit of 105 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: a downslope, so it even you know, it's great the 106 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: Bruins right now possibly in the playoffs, so that that 107 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 2: helps generate a little bit. Speaking of Ruins, you know, 108 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: the Ruins are a huge sponsor of all our Mayor's 109 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: Cup hockey stuff, Boston Bruins Foundation, P and G. Gillette. 110 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: They help out. 111 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're a great team, and I love how they 112 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: work in the community. I mean, yes, of course they 113 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: bring us championships when they can, but it's really cool 114 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: that they're out there inspiring these young kids. And even 115 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: if you again, you don't even need to skate, you 116 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: literally just have to put on your sneakers, maybe grab 117 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: some pads. Do you have pads for them? How are 118 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: they protected? 119 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: So they we do have some of the goalie equipment. 120 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 2: We have goalie equipment. Okay, so team doesn't have goal 121 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: equipment because that's usually the biggest turtle, right. 122 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 3: We have sticks. We have some gloves, not a ton 123 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 3: of gloves, but usually a lot of the kids have gloves. 124 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 3: A lot of parents have extra gloves. They come with 125 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 3: all their extra gear. 126 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: You don't obviously, as you know, you don't have to 127 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 2: wear a helmet or a cage in street hockey. If 128 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 2: you want them, I would want you to, you know 129 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: what I mean. I'm a hockey player, lost teeth and scars, 130 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: and you don't want to go down that road. 131 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: No, not at six years old. If we can avoid it. 132 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: Although it is baby teeth so they probably would grow back, 133 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: but still I would like to avoid cosmetic surgery on 134 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: April vacation. If we can avoid that, yeah, exactly. Well, 135 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: then how much does it cost for a team to 136 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: get involved here and how can they register? 137 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: It is free. You can go to Boston dot gov. 138 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 2: Backslash Sports go on Boston dot gov. If you go 139 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: to Boston Park's erect we have all of our programs 140 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: that we're running. There's a bunch of flyers out there. 141 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 2: Our social media has been blasting out there with There's 142 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: a QR code that you can scan to register and 143 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 2: also reach out to me, which is Damian dot Margato 144 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 2: at Boston dot gov and I can guide you along, 145 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 2: help you along on how to register a team. Registration closes, 146 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 2: I think what in the beginning of April. See what 147 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 2: we are numbers wise, This past week we had seven 148 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 2: teams like just all of a sudden pop up in 149 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: a role. So that's why we're at like eighteen teams now. 150 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 2: So we're very, very fortunate. Every year it goes up 151 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 2: a little bit, which again I love, so. 152 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: Not a bad thing and you don't need to be 153 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: in a certain neighborhood because again this has taking place 154 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: over at the Garvey Park in Dorchester, but any part 155 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: of the city, Alston, Brighton, East Charlestown, Roxbury, Mattapan, you 156 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: can take part. 157 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 2: Yes, we have a right now. We currently have a 158 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: team from you know, we have teams from Parkway, we 159 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: have teams from Hyde Park, we have a team from 160 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: Ulster Brighton, Dorchester Soelthie. Actually, for the first time in 161 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 2: a very long time, we have a team from East Boston. 162 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 2: East Boston guys. 163 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: So there you go. 164 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm very excited about it. So so yeah, anywhere 165 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: in the city. We even let you pick. You know, 166 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: if you have friends that live outside the city, they're 167 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: more than welcome to play with you, as long as 168 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: your team is predominantly City of Boston incidence. 169 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: That works. Yeah, grab a couple ever kids, or maybe 170 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: in Arlington kid if you know they're really good in 171 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: the goal and just be like, hey, what are you 172 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: doing on April break? Come on down. Okay, So again, 173 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: Boston dot gov. Just go to parks and rec and 174 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: sign up. You said till early April is pretty general, okay. 175 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: Cool, I mean, anybody that wants to come out and 176 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: watch your two. You more than welcome to It's fun. 177 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: We have a good time down there. We were at 178 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: Mochly last year. It was a real lot of fun. 179 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: Just go look at some of the pictures we have. 180 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: They have a good time and these kids get very competitive. 181 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: You win a ring a ring, okay, Oh yeah, it's 182 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: no joke, you know, so. 183 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: We don't mess around. I love it all right. Well, Damien, 184 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: thank you again for your time. I really appreciate it. 185 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 2: Thank you for your tech. 186 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again 187 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 188 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.