Hockey helper

Mike Sciacca

HE IS

A high school student with a strong work ethic.

JM McNulty is only a senior in high school, but the soon-to-be

18-year-old has a job that he loves in a place he calls “home away from

home.”

JM, which stands for John Michael, works in three capacities at Coast

2 Coast Inline Hockey Center in Huntington Beach. He’s an official

scorekeeper, referee and an assistant for the center’s hockey clinics and

camps.

His dedication to his job, which finds him at the center an average of

five days a week with the occasional seven-day run, has drawn praise from

the Coast 2 Coast staff.

“He’s one of the finest youngsters you’ll meet and a real pleasure to

have around here,” said Dan Morsk, a director at Coast 2 Coast. “He’s got

a great work ethic and is great with the kids.”

ONE OF THEIR OWN

McNulty has played roller hockey at Coast 2 Coast since the fifth

grade. He played for two years, then gave up the sport, before returning

to the game two summers ago. He currently plays in the Lemeiux Division

and plays once a week at the center.

McNulty has been employed at the center for the past year and half and

enjoys his duties.

“It may seem minor to some, but score keeping is pretty serious,” he

said. “I am responsible for keeping track of goals scored, assists, the

time of a goal, saves, fouls, -- anything to do with the game that’s

going on.”

IN CHARGE

He now skates in an official capacity as a referee for the center. He

had to pass a test to earn the right to officiate.

“I know a lot of the kids playing and they know me, which makes

refereeing a little easier and more fun,” he said.

McNulty also assists Morsk working the center’s camps and clinics for

the younger participants, where youngsters come to learn the game of

hockey.

“We teach them the basics and I help out with the drills and keeping

the kids in line,” McNulty explained.

ALL PLAY, NO WORK

Because hockey is McNulty’s favorite sport and he works in a

family-type of environment, he says his job at Coast 2 Coast seems

anything but work.

“I love hockey and I work with some really great people and kids,” he

added. “A lot of kids my age get a job and don’t like it, but I’m

fortunate where I am.”

* MIKE SCIACCA is the education and sports reporter. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.