BANGOR, Maine — The uncertainty of the government shutdown is forcing families to make difficult financial decisions right now. For some, that might mean putting youth sports on the back burner.

"People still are struggling, we want to be able to give them the opportunity to play hockey if they want to play hockey,” Lee Miller, the president of the Maine Junior Black Bears , said.

The Maine Junior Black Bears are working to make sure kids in Penobscot County aren't kept off the ice this upcoming season.

"There's gonna be other bills that are backed up for them, so we're gonna work with them,” Miller said.

The Junior Black Bears are pausing upcoming season payments for families directly affected by the government shutdown.

"If we can take one thing off of somebody's plate as far as

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