A successful agreement has been reached between the Hillsborough Hogs and the management of SportsPlex to ensure continued access to the ice for the upcoming season.
The formal announcement of the deal was made on Monday via the SportsPlex Facebook page following a period of mediation. While specific details of the arrangement were not immediately disclosed, SportsPlex officials did indicate that there will be some administrative adjustments moving forward.
The future of the Hillsborough Hogs had been uncertain for the past few months, as the organization’s board and SportsPlex officials encountered difficulties in reaching a consensus on the management of the program’s ice schedule, player registration, and player and coach assignments.
Despite Orange County’s ownership of the SportsPlex, Recreation Factory Partners has been responsible for managing the facility for almost two decades. Meanwhile, the Hillsborough Hogs youth hockey program has been operated by Triangle Youth Hockey of North Carolina for 44 years, offering house programs, clinics, and games against teams from various areas of North Carolina.
Additionally, the SportsPlex is home to the Carolina Thunder travel hockey league and other ice rink programs.
Andrew Stock, the General Manager of SportsPlex, emphasized the need for changes to optimize ice time at the hockey rink in light of the increasing popularity of ice sports and recreational skating over the past two decades.
Concerns had arisen among Hogs supporters and officials who feared that the management was attempting to remove Triangle Youth Hockey of North Carolina, especially after rejecting proposals to free up ice time by reducing the number of practice nights, Hogs teams, and consolidating programs for young players. While some of these suggestions were acknowledged by SportsPlex officials, others were deemed potentially detrimental to their ability to cater to a larger number of local children.
The official announcement on Monday, jointly signed by TYHNC board leaders Andrew Stock and John Stock, reaffirmed that the Hogs’ program will remain unchanged for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The goal is to collaborate in the growth of youth house hockey, player development, cost-effectiveness, and the preservation of the longstanding legacy of the Hillsborough Hogs program and youth hockey at the Orange County Sportsplex.
This agreement marks a positive step forward in ensuring the continuity and prosperity of the Hillsborough Hogs youth hockey league, and paves the way for an exciting season ahead, scheduled to commence later in the year.