Connor Williams doesn't fuss about not having the newest and cutting edge hockey gear for his games at Seneca Valley.

He isn't the first in his family to have worn the shoulder pads and pants he uses for the Raiders' varsity games.

“I try to hold onto stuff for as long as I can before it breaks,” Williams said. “I use my older brother's pants and shoulder pads. He's about three years older.”

With the cost of playing high school and club hockey, many Butler County hockey players end up juggling school, sport and academics.

Playing for a school team, with gear and costs added in, runs about $2,500 a player without including travel costs.

A club team can cost the same for lower levels, while Triple A club hockey will add up to around $4,000 plus travel costs.

All school teams are clubs and not sponsored by the schools.

Seneca Valley coach Anthony Raco estimates about half of his team works in some capacity either year round or during the summer.

“The only difference this year is there are more underclassmen that are getting employed, which is good to see,” Raco said. “Their parents are pretty good about helping them go out, be responsible and manage their money.”

Butler coach Pat Hammonds said about six of his kids have jobs, while Mars coach Steve Meyers said several of his kids also work during the season.

Hammonds said his group is a diverse one when it comes to time management.

“I think most of them are pretty responsible that holds jobs,” Hammonds said. “They seem to realize they are limited with their time, so they have better time management skills.

“But the other kids are great too, some of which tend to focus more on school and grades.”

Working at a store that sells equipment helps Williams save money. When he's looking to buy a stick, he typically buys ones that are at least a year old.

He bought a stick a few weeks ago that was normally $260, but after the mark down and his discount, cost only $130.

“That's one of the perks of working there,” Williams said. “You can find gear that is good and you can use.”

Planning ahead helps the kids who work and the coaches.

Marcus McCall plays for Butler and the Pittsburgh Huskies AA 18-U amateur team in addition to working as a cashier at a grocery store. He gets his schedule well ahead of time.

Before running a register, McCall did some construction work.

“I've had a couple conflicts with work, but we've worked it out,” McCall said. “I usually give them my schedule three months in advance for all the games and practices.”

Raco sends out his practice schedule three weeks before the next month to give people time to plan. During the summer, he makes practice voluntary, while during the season it is mandatory.

Seneca Valley's Parker Faix added a job this year after he decided to drop playing for his club team in New Kensington last season.

He felt working as a server at a Cranberry restaurant would prepare him better for the future.

Until he had a job, his parents would pitch in for everything except for sticks.

Now that he works, the split is closer to 50/50.

“I just felt like playing on two hockey teams took up a lot of time,” Faix said. “Working would better focus me toward the real world. As I got older, I slowly started to lose those dreams that I would go anywhere with hockey.”

McCall, who typically works three days a week, says it's a busy schedule, but he makes it work.

Even if it's tough to be alert at work sometimes.

“I'm dozing off a little bit. It can be long hours when no one is there,” McCall joked. “It gets kind of boring, but I stay awake most of the time.”