More than 30 children ages 3 to 11 took to the ice on the first night of Mischa’s Little Stars, a free youth hockey program that began this month at Merrill Fay Arena in Laconia.
The program is offered at no cost to families through the Mischa Fay Foundation, which is providing ice time at the rink named for Mischa Fay’s father. The sessions are coached by New England Wolves junior hockey players and program staff associated with the Wolves.
“After two skates on the ice, you're going to see a huge improvement in these kids,” said John McKenzie, who works with the New England Wolves and helps run Mischa’s Little Stars.
The initiative has a dual purpose: to lower financial and logistical barriers to youth hockey and to honor the memory of Mischa Fay, a 17-year-old Wolves player who died in 2023 during a mental health crisis. Fay’s family has been influential in local skating and hockey; the Winnipesaukee Skating Club was founded by his father and the Merrill Fay Arena is the longtime practice home for regional youth teams.
Program structure and support
- Age range: 3 to 11 years old.
- Location: Merrill Fay Arena, Laconia.
- Organizers: Mischa Fay Foundation and New England Wolves junior players and staff.
Andrew Trimble, co-owner of the New England Wolves, described Fay as central to the club’s youth program and said the foundation’s support has helped spread the Wolves’ presence.
“But nobody has grown the sport more like Mischa Fay because they're getting involved with the program and wearing a jersey that says his name on it. And that's very special to us,” Trimble said.
Program leaders cited equipment cost as a common barrier to entry for families; hockey gear can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and the free sessions are intended to let children try skating and hockey without that initial expense.
Organizers said Mischa’s Little Stars will run weekly. The New England Wolves will continue to staff coaching and skills sessions, while the Mischa Fay Foundation covers ice time through donations and the foundation's backing.
Families interested in enrolling were directed to contact program organizers at Merrill Fay Arena or the New England Wolves for session times and registration details.
