GORHAM, Maine — If you’ve noticed fewer kids lacing up skates for youth hockey in Maine, you’re not alone. But there's a dad in Westbrook who is taking action to change that.

Ryan Griffin grew up playing hockey in Westbrook and now sees the same passion in his son. He said the sport helped shape their lives for the better.

"It changed his life around," Griffin said. "Grades went up, friendships went up, communication went up."

But today, he’s watching hockey programs shrink across the state.

“When I played, our school had two high school and middle school teams,” Griffin said. “Now the teams are combined with two other schools. Hockey is a dying sport.”

According to USA Hockey data, youth hockey participation in Maine has been steadily declining since 2005. The 2022–2023 season saw so

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