By JIMMY LAWTON

LISBON -- Ogdensburg City School board has shot down a merger agreement that would have let a Lisbon student play hockey for Ogdensburg.

The decision was made at previous board meeting, but revisited Tuesday after Lisbon resident Karen Wert reiterated her request board of education.

Wert said she has been struggling unsuccessfully to get her son Harrison on the team, but concerns that Ogdensburg residents could lose playing time, kept the school board from approving the merger.

Currently Ogdensburg has hockey sports mergers that allow Heuvelton and Morristown students to play on the team, but Superintendent Timothy Vernsey said that under the new policy implemented by the board and the demand for spots on the hockey team, those students could face a similar problem.

Vernsey said sports mergers are accepted on an annual basis and the mergers that allowed Heuvelton and Morristown students to play on the team will need to be revisited when and if merger requests are made.

Vernsey said the district has a long history of allowing students from other schools to join its sports teams, so long as it does not take ice time away from Ogdensburg residents.

Unfortunately, for Lisbon student Harrison Wert, interest for hockey this year is high. Vernsey said the school, following Section X guidelines, only dresses 20 players and that adding Harrison to the team could potential cut playing time for Ogdensburg residents.

Vernsey said there are already nearly 30 kids on the hockey team, meaning roughly 10 players already aren’t dressing for games, despite being on the team.

In a letter addressed to the board that was not read publicly by the school clerk, Wert pointed out that state law does allow the school to suit more than 20 players, regardless of Section X guidelines, a point of which board members and were previously unaware.

But regardless of the legality, Vernsey said the recommendation for a 20-player limit is there for a variety of reasons ranging from ice time to the amount of actual room provided on the bench.

“There are reasons to stick to the rules,” he said, adding that playing time is key issue.

Board members expressed sympathy for the circumstances, but refused to bend on the merger issue, despite the fact that an exception to the player limit exists.

Although Wert and board members went back and forth civilly for sometime on the issue, the main concern was the fact that Harrison’s addition to the team could strip time from Ogdensburg residents.

Vernsey said hockey is a popular sport with a limited roster and it could continue to be a tough issue for the school moving forward.

“I think we all feel for the mother and the kid. I wish we could sign it and let the kid play, but we have to look out for our students first,” he said. “Certainly if we can accept mergers that are not going to hinder Ogdensburg kids participation then we are going to do that. But in the case of hockey we have that problem,” he said.

Board member Larry Mitchell said he completely understands the issue as a coach for Kiwanis baseball and acknowledges the unfortunate circumstances. He said that things get tricky when you get into public sports because taxpayer money supports the programs and facilities. He said because city taxpayers are footing the bill, they need to be considered before students from outside the area.

Wert said it’s a frustrating situation, because Harrison has played in Ogdensburg minor hockey for several years. His father, Paul Wert, coaches minor hockey and helps teach and shape the players that make up Ogdensburg’s hockey team.

She said the majority of the team Harrison has grown up with will be playing for Ogdensburg’s hockey team next year and meanwhile he has nowhere to go.

Wert said Canton Central School isn’t accepting sports mergers for hockey this year either. Wert said hockey is a large investment in money and time and her son has spent years honing his skills only to be stonewalled from playing.