The McNally Senior All-Star Field Hockey Game is always a showcase for some of the best players in Maine. This year, it’s the centerpiece of a big field hockey party.

The McNally game will be played at noon today at Colby College as part of the second annual Maine Field Hockey Festival, featuring 27 high school teams.

The players in the McNally game are 2010 graduates who received all-state honors last fall.

Jeannine Paradis, treasurer of the Maine Field Hockey Association, said plans also call for an alumni game at 5:30 p.m.

“We haven’t heard from a whole lot of alumni, but they tend to just show up without calling,” Paradis said.

Admission for the games is $5 for adults or $3 for children and seniors, with a family rate of $15. Proceeds benefit the Family Violence Project.

Colby Coach Amy Bernatchez said the festival used to be part of the Maine Games, but when that arrangement broke down she decided to keep the tournament going, both to showcase high school players and get them exposed to Colby.

Bernatchez said she invited all other Maine college head coaches, and that some of her players will be volunteering their time, as will some officials.

“This would not work if we did not have a lot of people helping out,” Bernatchez said.

Paradis added that having the McNally game in the middle of the showcase will result in a bigger crowd, with many of the new fans being possible future McNally game participants.

“We can give the kids a break so they can watch these seniors play, and maybe aspire to that and see what the Maine Field Hockey Association does for the players,” Paradis said.

The festival games will be seven-on-seven, with three games per field. The games will be played width-wise, rather than length-wise, on Bill Alfond Field and Seaverns Field (Colby’s football field).

Southern Maine schools participating in the festival include Gorham, Greely, Kennebunk, Lake Region and Thornton Academy. Other schools making a long trip include Camden Hills, John Bapst and Leavitt.

The championship game is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

“It’s not just central Maine teams, like last year,” Paradis said. “It should be very competitive.”

 

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