NORWOOD — Norwood-Norfolk Central School’s 2025-26 varsity hockey season has been put on ice due to low roster numbers.

Norwood-Norfolk Central School Athletic Director Becky Byrns, who has held the position for 21 years, said the district was unable to secure enough players to compete safely.

About 10 players initially expressed interest. Six or seven students from Norwood-Norfolk and the Madrid-Waddington Central School district, which cooperates with Norwood-Norfolk for hockey, opted instead to play for St. Lawrence Central School this season. Of those players, one senior from Norwood-Norfolk and one from Madrid-Waddington will be allowed to finish their athletic careers competing in Section 10.

NNCS hockey coach Nate Bressard, who was hired for the season that will not take place, said he has organized and plans to offer hockey skills clinics for local children to help them continue developing their abilities.

Byrns said high school hockey programs typically aim for a minimum roster of 15 players. State rules require at least 10 available players to start a game; if a team drops to nine, the contest results in a forfeit.

Byrns said this is the first time during her tenure that Norwood-Norfolk has been unable to field a hockey team. She cited the cost of the sport and the district’s low-income population as possible contributing factors.

Despite the cancellation, the district plans to budget for hockey next year and hopes to return the program to the ice. Byrns said the team would likely be young, with seventh- and eighth-grade players required to pass an advancement process to compete at the varsity level.

Norwood-Norfolk officials said they remain committed to the program and are optimistic about reinstating hockey next season. The school has offered hockey for more than 70 years.

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