SpeedHockey Article

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

For anyone who gets California's Orange County Register newspaper, there's a good story on SpeedHockey International on page 3 of the Sports section. It's written by an Odeen Domingo.

Odeen?

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Benny_Gulakiw]

Hey Rich and others,

Here's that article you were referring to:

Friday, September 12, 2003

Here comes hockey for speed freaks
SpeedHockey is a new roller hockey game that is played in a condensed rink.

By ODEEN DOMINGO
The Orange County Register

Imagine a hockey game with 16 goals and 46 shots - in the first half.

That is SpeedHockey, a new roller hockey game that organizers hope will attract fans quickly, as quickly as the game is played.

"It's a fan-oriented and fan-driven sport," said Rob Laurie, advisory board chairman of the upstart International SpeedHockey League.

SpeedHockey is more than a reincarnation of roller hockey.

The rink is only 85 feet with protective rubber covers on the corners.

There is a two-point arc 32.5 feet away from a 3-by-4 recessed goal. No offsides or icing.

Strap rollerblades on three players and one goalie for each team, arm them with hockey gear, drop the puck and you've got SpeedHockey.

"The game is easy to follow, there are no stoppages," said Bob Elder, league commissioner. "Players will be hauling down (the rink), and the action is constant."

The game will be on display Saturday night at the Bren Center at UC Irvine. Team USA will face Team Canada in an exhibition game.

Elder, who was president of the defunct Roller Hockey International (RHI) league's Anaheim Bullfrogs, said Saturday's contest is a "showcase" to give people a taste of the International SpeedHockey League, which will begin its inaugural season in May 2004 with 8-10 teams around the country.

"Saturday's game is worth watching to any kind of hockey fan," said Laurie, a seven-year professional roller hockey goalie and goalie of Team USA.

"First of all, no one has seen this sport. And second of all, the sport provides a lot more (action) in a condensed rink. There will be scoring chances every 10-15 seconds. In the NHL, it takes 2-3 minutes for a halfway-decent shot."

Elder said the exhibition will feature "a top ensemble as far as inline hockey" is concerned.

Besides Laurie, who led the USA Hockey Inline National Team to the gold medal in the recent PanAm Games in the Dominican Republic, roller hockey stars Victor Gervais, Hugo Belanger and Christian Skoryna also will play Saturday.

"The game is great for kids and for fans," Elder said. "The rink is smaller and faster with the rubber corners. The action will be more east to west. It's similar to indoor soccer and arena football.

"We're trying to add to the sport. Not reinvent it."


Benny Gulakiw
President
Inline Hockey America