Maine’s boys hockey coaches have discussed leaving the Maine Principals’ Association and making boys hockey a club sport in an effort to improve the health of the sport.

In fact, prior to last winter’s season, the coaches were considering a non-sanctioned season when the MPA and hockey officials were struggling to reach a pay agreement.

The coaches had even booked The Colisee in Lewiston for potential finals for Super 8 and state tournaments.

“We threatened to secede if they didn’t pay the refs,” Falmouth coach Deron Barton said. “We were ready to do it. Our secession plan is the plan that we are proposing. We don’t want to leave the MPA, we want to partner with them.”

Leaving the MPA is still a possibility, but the coaches acknowledge that there would be obstacles to doing so.

“It probably is,” Edward Little coach Norm Gagne said, “but I don’t know how many school administrators will say, ‘OK, we will let you go on a club basis.’”