By Donnie Webb, The Post-Standard

Playing for the ice hockey team at Thomas Proctor High School in Utica was always something of a cool dream for Matt Gozy. He started skating when he was 2 and now, going into his junior year of high school, the right winger hoped to make an impact. Instead, Gozy was hit with the hardest check of his life. The Raiders' hockey team has been terminated.

With New York reducing its education spending by $1.3 billion and public school districts left to deal with painful cuts in budgets, high school and junior high sports programs are feeling the trickle-down squeeze.

Proctor is among the hardest-hit schools in Central New York from the budget fallout. In addition to slashing the hockey program, Proctor also eliminated fall cheerleading, indoor track and all of its modified or junior high athletic programs.