Hogan Tire Inc., and The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring the 10th year of The Hogan Tire Shoot-Out. This event was started in 1997 and it is a skill contest, similar to that of the NHL’s All-Star Skills Contest. Bill Higgins, owner/operator of Hogan Tire Inc., said, “We have supported many activities in the Greater Houlton area. With the growth of hockey in the area, we continue to work with The Houlton Parks and Recreation Department to try and continue to promote this activity where a child can have some fun and test their hockey skills at the same time. We thought that some of the categories in the NHL contest would fit the bill. This has worked in the past and we hope to continue this event.”

There will be four events in which participants will try their skill at skate sprint, puck skills, radar shoot, and target shoot. The “Hogan Tire Shoot-Out” is open to all MSAD 29, MSAD 70 students, and members of the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association. This event is open to all participants’ ages 7 to 17 years. Participants will be placed in age groups of two to three year increments.

The youngest group, being 7 to 8 year olds, continuing through the oldest group, 15 to 17 years old.

The breakdown by age group is as follows:

Prizes will be awarded to the youth in each age group, placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each event. Along with the individuals prizes there will be door prizes drawn that are VERY SPECIAL. They are autographed pictures, pucks, hats, and hockey shirts that will be signed by Ray Bourque or Paul Kariya. Individuals will have to be present to win.

The “Hogan Tire Shoot-Out” will be held at the John A. Millar Civic Center on Sunday, February 4th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Each participant must wear a helmet, gloves, and have a hockey stick.

A limited supply of those items will be available at the Civic Center. There is no fee for this event. Please contact the Civic Center at 532-1313 for any further information.