Keystone State Games

[Cosbyscoop]

The first weekend of August 2003 a few dozen hockey teams traveled from throughout the state of PA to the Philadelphia area to play in a state level tournament called the Keystone State Games (National Games going on now in CT.). It is a shame that a tournament of this caliber cannot find an indoor enclosed facility to play the event. When you go to a basketball game you play on a basketball court. When you go to a baseball game, you don't play on a softball field, so how about when we go to an Inline Hockey tournament we don't play on an Ice hockey rink? Are we spoiled? I don't think so. With so much planning and coordinating riding on an event, contingencies must be considered. The event was hosted at BRYN ATHYN College, a roofed ice rink facility with no side walls and a concrete floor. Due to rain no games were played here and ultimately the event was canceled. With all the inline facilities out there now, there must be ONE place that can make sure the key state level games happen without a hitch... or better- actually take place! Don't wish to throw stones to break down but want to take inline hockey from what is perceived as the idiot cousin to the welcome family member of mainstream sports...and it won't happen like this.

Sincerely,

Scoop

[MBurke]

Agreed. When they were in Wilkes-Barre last year it was understandable, as the closest inline rink is Williamsport. Being in the Philly area should have afforded them at least 5-6 suitable facilities to go to, though.

Mike Burke
Commissioner
Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
http://www.ecrha.net

[yokes]

Talk to Jamie at Marple Sports Arena he is always looking to have something there and with two rinks and eight locker rooms there is a ton of room. Jamie loves hockey and if he thinks it can help he will usually do whatever he can, he can be reached at 1-610-338-0111, mostly there during the day.

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[gpersch]

I spoke with The guys who run the Keystone games many months ago about using my facility. They never got back to me. I think they obviously went for the cheapest price offered to them for the event. Look what happens when you go cheap.

[goaliesaurus]

Being one of those parents, I do feel that the State officials owe the inline hockey family something. It is not just a matter of the money though, it is a matter of a group of kids being disappointed and let down. The organizers need to make it up to the kids and not next year. If we wait until next year, I fear many parents will not have trust in the games, no matter who is fixing the problem.
If the organizers make a correction now and schedule a Fall State Tournament with the trimmings the games should have had they may restore the faith in the various groups that were let down in Bryn Athens. I think you could use the Williamsport facility with much success, as it is a central location to all.

[MDE3]

That is hardly even believable - given the number of good available facilities in the Philly region. If price was the issue as is inferred later on in these posts - the person responsible should be held "personally responsible" in some form for the losses of time and money incurred by the disapointed participants.