Poudre Schools adding girls lacrosse, ice hockey in 2016-17

AURORA — Poudre School District will add girls lacrosse and ice hockey in the 2016-17 school year, according to an official declaration sent to the CHSAA office on Thursday.

The host school in both cases is still to be determined.

This is just the latest addition in hockey, which continues to grow. This season, Denver East will join the Peak Conference. Mountain Vista, Cherry Creek and Resurrection Christian have all added programs in recent years.

“We’re always excited to expand our sport, something that’s been happening over the last few years,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello, who oversees hockey.

Additionally, Coronado had been considering dropping it’s hockey program, but has decided to keep it.

The new girls lacrosse program will be the first addition in recent years. It will be the second team in Northern Colorado, joining Thompson Valley.

“It’s a positive for the sport to get some more representation in the Northern part of the state,” said assistant commissioner Harry Waterman, who administers lacrosse. “Hopefully it’ll give (Poudre’s district program and Thompson Valley) two years to start developing more players in each of their districts.”

More growth in girls lacrosse could be on the way.

“There’s signs of us gaining some more girls programs in the next cycle on top of this,” Waterman said.