Sanction a Puck Whacker league

[puckwhacker]

We are currently entering in the new Puck Whacker season. We are looking for people intersted in sanctioning some leagues and tournaments in places around the country and Canada. We are in the infant stages, and we are really looking to build hockey in areas where no hockey is currently played. In other words, we want to grow hockey in communities with no current rinks, but that doesn't mean we won't include communities that already do.

Eventually we will be adding, districts, states, regional and national tournaments as soon as we get enough leagues and tournaments sanctioned.

We plan on this year being a growing year and then we will work our way towards the championship tournaments.

Check out our website for more information...

<A HREF="http://www.puckwhacker.com" target="_new">http://www.puckwhacker.com</A>

[Brooklynite10]

No offense, but the last thing inline needs is another league or tournament series.

[puckwhacker]

None taken. We are trying to be completely different. We offer both inline and ice, and we use the 3 on 3 format on a small rink. It is a much different game.

Also, we don't want to compete with the other series, we want to offer an alternative to places that don't have hockey in their area.

[bling45]

First off before I say anything I want to state Im all for the progression of inline hockey, I love it and have been involved with it at all levels for many years...Inline hockey is a great sport, BUT(and I know this statement has been dicussed many many times over) inline hockey is, has and always will be compared and in the shadow of ice hockey...I understand completly they are two diffrent sports but have many similer aspects....Sadly in my opinion inline hockey has just about reached its high point, possiably one day it may make its way into the olympics or X-games(yes,yes I know we dont like to consider inline hockey as an extreme sport, but it would be great for exposure) But thats it, there will never be a "true" Pro league, players will never be able to be paid anything more than cheap meal money....My point being in all this is,Why not "another" tourny series or league? Im not sure you completly read their website, Its actully a pretty cool idea they have going if they were actully able to get it all together. It has a little something for everyone who enjoys inline hockey from the street and ball players through the rinks and ice....So just think about inline hockey as whole and how its grown and evolved over the years to what it is today and that it really dosent have anywhere else to go...Also think about that others may be interested in playing something diffrent and new...So I say bring on this bushwacker league and lets see how it turns out, there is always room for something new in inline hockey...Good luck to the people of Bushwacker

[SirCoach2U]

I think you may have missed the point of this company. They aren't (IMO) trying to compete with Narch, or similar. They are trying to promote the grass roots level of hockey. What if your team was a "so-so" low-level beer league team and you wanted to go play in a tourney for fun. You knew you weren't any good, you just wanted to play in a tournament and have some fun. This would be a great chance. You don't have to worry about being dominated by stacked teams as you would see in Narch, or similar.

One of the things I find interesting about our sport is that "everyone" seems to want it to grow, but it seems like at the same time, we only focus on promoting the high levels of competition. "What can we do to get our game on ESPN" type thinking.

We should also be looking at what we can do to develop our players of tomorrow. What opportunities are out there for the novice level players?

I don't know...not trying to argue. I just like the Puckwhacker concept. Great idea guys!

Florida State University Roller Hockey Team - Head Coach
State Wars Team Florida - Head Coach

[Brooklynite10]

I understand that developing future talent is important but I feel that lower level teams can get all they are looking for in house leagues and local tourneys. If it works then I guess I would be wrong. I have nothing against the Puckwacker guys, I just feel like the concept will not suceed. I do wish them luck

[Carlotski]

I too, am all about the growth of the sport, but not like this. There tournaments on paper seem ridiculous. I have not been to one but by the way that its described on there website, If I was the rink manager there is no way that I can afford something like this. I have to pay for there team to fly down to my city, so they can tell me how to advertise it, not them, sounds like im doing all the work and they are having fun traveling for free. Just my thoughts.

[puckwhacker]

In a way you are right, that is why we are moving away from the tournament series and toward having people sanction their own events. The tournaments have become too expensive for us to operate. That is why we are trying to encourage the local scene. We are trying to encourage local areas to start their own hockey programs, and we are trying to help them get organized.