My father formed the Manasquan Hockey Club in 1971 and ran it independently until Manasquan High School became a varsity program in 1996. He never took a salary, and he ran the program on a shoestring budget, re-investing all funds back into the program. During that time the program had 3 levels (Chiefs, Warriors, and Braves) for older players, current high schoolers, and grammar school kids, which allowed hundreds of hockey players to begin and continue to play, and it growed the game in the area exponentially. He then was the High School programs first coach after a nearly decade long petition to allow varsity status to the Warriors Hockey program. As varsity coach, he declined his salary so the school could purchase more ice time and away uniforms, as they already had home uniforms due to his pen sales and advertising on the jerseys. For those first two years, he also ran combination practices incorporating both an on ice component and an off ice street hockey component, which he did right at the High School parking lot.
His Varsity teams at Manasquan never had a losing season, and made the NJ state tournament in his 2nd year when the NJ Public school tournament was just one large bracket. (small and large schools combined-not the 3 public brackets that it has today)
In 1993, he formed the Manasquan Street & Inline Hockey camp and ran that program until about 2005. This summer camp for kids was the introductory program for most hockey playing kids in the area within the 1975-1990 birth years, and became the feeding program for many years to come for the Varsity program. Jim Dowd was a guest speaker for many summers as well as current USHL skills coach Oktay Armagan. I believe the cost per kid of this camp was $75.00 (but it might have been $55).
In addition to that, he also taught the level 1 hockey clinic and learn to skate programs (for free so I could skate) at the Ocean Ice Palace in Brick, which at the time was the only indoor rink in the area, from 1985-1998. Between 1995-2000 he also ran their summer hockey camp, which was a 6 week long camp that featured overnight dormitories, multiple on ice sessions, a swimming pool and of course street hockey. Thousands of kids participated in these camps including current NHL players and coaches.
As one of the kids that assisted in the construction, putting the screws in the wood at the original street hockey rink in Manasquan around 1993 (it used to be located on the unused section of tennis court now where the pavilion stands), no single person comes anywhere close to doing as much for grassroots hockey in Manasquan, NJ and the neighboring towns than Rick Trimble. My Dad. He did this while avoiding all fan fare, shunning executive or committee boards and bureaucracy, and refusing payment for his services.
My father is a true testament to community service, involvement, outreach and probably most of all humility.
Life is short. It also is really fragile. Now more than ever our kids need positive role models and activities that are they can not only be passionate about, but that are not cost prohibitive. My Dad provided opportunities like these every day to kids in coastal New Jersey.
The New England Wolves program that I Co- Own with Tim Kunes has always placed an emphasis on community involvement, and I thank Tim for sharing in this vision. For as we complete one season and move onto another, I implore all youth hockey coaches and directors to do more… but spend less. Be pro-active in grassroots athletics. Do your best to be like Rick Trimble. My Dad. Our kids really need it.
Its not all about wins and losses, but those things can certainly be a byproduct of the effort you bring into doing the right thing.
My Dad lived a simple motto:
THE RULES OF LIFE
Show Up
Pay Attention
Do your best
Tell the Truth
Thanks Dad.
Sincerely,
Andy
Great and enjoying read Andrew. I’m sorry for your loss.
That’s a great post. Very true. Rule 5: STAY IN THE BACKGROUND