10/09/2026
Way to go Ella!
A photo that had to be taken
By John T. Ryan
Plattsburgh, October 3, 2026 – Last Saturday morning, after attending the Honor Flight ceremony, I was traveling home when I noticed a group of adults and kids outside a building on Sharron Avenue that I still think of as Plattsburgh Bowling Lanes, not as an ice rink. I felt compelled to check it out.
Today the building is the Ameri-Can North Sport Center. One of the adults said they were waiting for someone to come along with a key. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young girl approaching with a huge hockey equipment bag over her shoulder and a drink in both hands, followed by her dad. It took me only a split second to realize that I had to take a photo. I grew up before this area had organized youth hockey. Seeing a young girl with such energy and enthusiasm was something special!
11-year-old Ella Monahan plays on the Junior Cardinals 12U coed team. Her dad, Stephen Monahan, said Ella has been playing since she was four. When I asked what she likes about hockey, Ella responded, “I don’t know, I just like it.” Ella’s team practices twice on weekdays and plays games on Saturday and Sunday. She attends Stafford Middle School.
Stephen Monahan said youth hockey is alive and well, with about 220 kids participating in Plattsburgh Youth Hockey, plus there’s Chazy Youth Hockey and North Country Youth Hockey in the Champlain-Rouses Point area.
I enjoyed speaking with Ella, her father, and the other adults Saturday morning. As someone who loves photography and takes photos almost every day, Ella’s was a photo I had to take. Thank you, Ella and Stephen Monahan, for your cooperation. Who knows, I may become a hockey fan!
