JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch hockey program didn’t want to sacrifice the middle school program.

Sandra Jerich, President of the Knoch Hockey Association, decided to go out and find more players.

Using connections in the Western Pennsylvania hockey community, Jerich found five players — four from Slippery Rock and one from Moniteau — to get the Knights up to the minimum 12 players to field a hockey team.

The Knoch School Board approved the co-op with both districts Wednesday by a 7-1 vote.

“Knoch’s a small district and hockey is an expensive sport,” Jerich said. “It’s hard to get enough gets in the district.”

Jerich’s proposal was initially turned down by the athletic committee due to concerns over co-ops.

Knoch has a junior varsity and middle school team that competes in the PIHL. The Knights haven’t fielded a varsity team since the 2011-12 school year.

Hockey is a club sport and doesn’t receive money from the district. The school will still allow the team to use its name, logo and colors.

“We’re really greatful to those kids and parents, those kids are going to be traveling an hour to our home ice,” Jerich said. “Hockey for a season costs around $1,500 a kid. We’re a non-profit that operates in the red. It’s not like anybody is making money off high school hockey.”

The four students who joined from Slippery Rock are Hannah Lindey, Ryan Davis, Kyle Errera and Izabella Hays. Moniteau’s Seth Nicodemus will also play. The members of the team from Knoch are: Michael Riley, Joel Cendrowski, Lance Cotton, Jacob Golab, Kam Guthrie, Came Jackson and Scott Moody.

Knoch will be coached by first-year head coach Maverik Goepfert. He was an assistant with Knoch last year and graduated from Butler High School and Slippery Rock University.

“At that age group, I want to teach them responsibilities,” said Goepfert, who works as an accountant. “I think the main thing is growing up to be an adult. Showing up to practice and games well-prepared and being accountable for their own actions.”

The Knoch Hockey Association hopes to re-instate the varsity program when there are enough interested kids back in the program.

“I’m hopeful that it will work out,” Jerich said.