The Marblehead School Committee approved an overnight trip Wednesday for the boys varsity ice-hockey team to play a two-game series at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Dec. 12-13.

The nut graf: District staff described the trip as a single-night educational and athletic opportunity that includes games counting as league matches, a tour of the Olympic facility and a speech by Winthrop High School alumnus Mike Eruzzione about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Athletics staff outlined the itinerary: a coach bus to Lake Placid, one night at a local hotel (double occupancy), two games against Winthrop that would count toward the Northeast Conference schedule and an educational visit, including remarks from Mike Eruzzione and a behind-the-scenes tour of the 1980 Olympic facility.

Estimated costs described in the presentation included hotel deposits already paid ($2,000) and rough estimates for rooms, meals and the bus, with total trip costs preliminarily estimated between $8,000 and $10,000; the athletics program indicated it will pursue fundraising to cover student costs.

The committee approved the trip; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: The athletics department will finalize logistics, continue fundraising and report back with a final budget and roster before the trip.