It was mentioned – almost casually – at the May 12 school committee meeting that the committee might want to consider, once again, cutting the high school’s hockey team. The words were uttered by School Superintendent Margaret Iacovelli during her superintendent’s report.

She had also mentioned the possibility of cutting middle school sports.

“We’re still waiting for the stimulus money,” Iacovelli said.

She was hoping to know more after May 20, the day business manager Melissa Devine was scheduled to attend a meeting on the subject.

Iacovelli had estimated an additional $133,000 in cuts in state funding would result in a $1 million deficit for next year.

Any cuts, however, were tabled at the time. Some of the members of the Johnston High School Hockey Parents Association were among the audience and had a “here we go again” look in their eyes.

After holding meetings about fundraising ideas, they have come up with several in order to try to save the hockey program and the team.

“They want to cut the hockey,” said Jen Tonucci, mother of a freshman who had hopes for playing on the team for the next three years. “It’s so disappointing – it’s always hockey, no other teams. The majority of the hockey players, they only play one sport, because it consumes all their time.”

She pointed out players are required to keep their grades up to be able to play.

Tonucci and other hockey parents, working with businesses in the community, have slated the first fundraiser to be held at UNO Chicago Grill in Smithfield Commons today, May 28. When diners present a coupon with the hockey team’s name, a portion of that evening’s tab will be donated to the team. Coupons, which can be used for the whole day, will be available in the school’s office.

On Thursday evening, students from the team will be selling raffle tickets for gift baskets. A second UNO fundraiser will be held on June 4. The restaurant has held similar fundraisers for the high school and other area charitable organizations.

Another fundraiser will be held at Angelika & Me Salon on Killingly Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. The salon has recently held fundraisers for the victims of the L’Aquila earthquake and holds annual cut-a-thons for the American Cancer Society, in memory of Johnny Lobello, a young Johnston resident whose life was taken by the disease.

Proceeds from a cut-a-thon ($5 for children and seniors, $8 for adults) will be donated to the team and salon owner Sue Pellegrino has offered the students the opportunity to hold a car wash in the salon’s parking lot on the same day.

A third fundraising opportunity has been provided by Mastery Martial Arts, which has four academies: in Johnston (Centredale), Smithfield, Cranston and Warwick. The business is well known for its continued fundraising efforts on behalf of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation.

“They are willing to help – they are making flyers,” said Tonucci. “If someone joins to try out their one month trial offer, pays $99 and has our flyer, Mastery will donate the $99 back to our team. They’ve also donated gift certificates and T-shirts.”

Flyers will be available at the UNO and car wash fundraisers.

“I’ve been trying to get as many fundraisers planned as possible – trying to get area businesses involved,” she continued. “These kids look forward to it – they really love this sport. Anything we can do to help keep this team together we will do [because] these kids deserve to be able to keep playing hockey - and it’s the hockey cheerleaders as well.”

The reasons the hockey team is on the chopping block are the same – trouble meeting the minimum numbers required to play and the costs involved in team transportation and ice time rental. The team practices and plays at Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink.

One of the main arguments to keep the middle school sports teams is they feed the high school sports teams.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure the hockey team remains intact,” said Ray Domaingue, president of the JHS hockey team parents’ association and father of one of the players.

He plans to address the subject at the next school committee meeting in June. The hockey team had 17 players last year, but six are seniors – new players join as incoming freshmen and others will be recruited.

Anyone interested in donating a raffle prize or helping to sponsor a fundraiser can contact the hockey team parents’ association through the JHS office.