SLIDESHOW: Battle Between Blue Vs Red at Musterfields

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FRAMINGHAM – Chris Pisano grew up playing hockey and street hockey.

Now a Framingham Police officer assigned to the Framingham Housing Authority, he approached the Authority about starting a street hockey program.

Framingham Housing Authority Executive Director Paul Landers, who also grew up playing street hockey, was 100% in.

“We started the program in March,” said Landers.

It cost a couple of thousands of dollars to get the program off the ground.

“We purchased the net, the sticks, the balls, and then Chris took over,” said Landers.

Officer Pisano said he started with the basics with the kids, who ranged in age from elementary school to high school. About 20 kids started with the program.

The youths met every Thursday for a while to practice their skills, and then when the weather was nicer they began playing at the Musterfields’ basketball court.

Yesterday, August 10, was the culmination of the program’s first season with a game between the youths, with Officer Pisano in net for the game. Pisano was a Flyer on the Framingham High squad.

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In the other net, the youth took turns, but school resource officer Kathy McGrath and Lt. Harry Wareham also had a turn in net.

McGrath, who played when she was younger, stopped several shots.

“I’m competitive,” she said.

She was not the only competitive adult on the court.

Framingham Housing Authority Commissioner and City Councilor Janet Leombruno scored a couple of goals, and was relentless going after the ball.

Former School Committee member Noval Alexander, an athlete at Framingham South High, jumped in as he was not going to let Framingham North alumni Leombruno have all the fun.

The adults were not the only ones having fun.

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The youths were competitive but cheering each other on and giving high-5s after each goal scored.

The blue team won by several goals, said Leombruno. “Make sure to not that that in your report,” she said jokingly.

In the end it was not about winning, but team building.

“Next year, I want to have tournament,” said Officer Pisano, who said it was great to see the smiles on the youth’s faces.

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