Inline Hockey in the 2004 Alberta Summer Games: Too Hot for Ice!

by Shawn Bullock, Inline Program Coordinator, Hockey Alberta
and Marty Alexander, Communications & Promotions Coordinator, Hockey Alberta In Line Development Committee

Attention all hockey players! Hockey Alberta In Line (HAIL) is pleased to announce that if you were a first or second year Bantam or even a second year Pee Wee hockey player this past season, then you are eligible to possibly play inline hockey in the 2004 Alberta Summer Games taking place in Okotoks/High River/M.D. of Foothills July 22-25!

This year marks the second time that inline hockey will be a part of the Alberta Summer Games. So if you would like to learn more about the sport of inline hockey and have an opportunity to participate in the Alberta Summer Games then come out to your zone?s selection camp.

Inline hockey is a fast paced, action packed sport is played 4-on-4 plus a goalie on each side. There are no two-line passes, icings or offsides making this sport more high scoring than ice hockey. In fact, `cherry picking? is even encouraged!

If you want the chance to improve your hockey skills, then inline hockey is the sport for you! With continuous end-to-end action using a lighter puck than ice hockey there are some amazing highlight goals in this sport. Besides being an excellent conditioning activity this flashy sport develops hockey players passing skills, puck handling, play making abilities and muscles used in hockey.

The province is split into 8 different zones for the Alberta Summer Games. Each zone will be hosting a selection camp for any athlete, male or female, born in 1989, 1990 or 1991, regardless of their ice or inline hockey playing experience. These try-out camps will take place June 11? 13, 2004 at various locations across the province. Each team will consist of 12 skaters and 2 goalies. The 16 goalies and 96 skaters that make the eight zone teams will then have one team-training weekend (July 9-11) prior to the Alberta Summer Games competition.

The Alberta Summer Games are a unique experience for the youth of Alberta to come together to celebrate sport. Athletes from all different sports will commence not only to compete in sport but to develop new friendships. The Alberta Summer Games is a chance for athletes from the same zones that might normally battle against each other to play on the same team and thereby compete against athletes from the rest of the province.

If you or someone you know is interested in playing inline hockey in the Alberta Summer Games, contact the appropriate Director of Operations for your zone for selection camp details! Registration deadline is June 4, 2004. You can also find all the information that you will need on the Hockey Alberta website (http://www.hockeyalberta.ca) or contact Shawn Bullock ([email protected]) at the Hockey Alberta office in Red Deer at (403) 342-6777, Ext. 20. For more information on the Alberta Summer Games visit http://www.albertagames.com/

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The Alberta Summer Games provide an outstanding venue to show case and promote our sport. The athletes that attend our selection camps and the fortunate ones that move on to the games are able to compete against the best inline players within our province. The Alberta Summer Games provide an experience for the athletes that they will remember for a lifetime. The games will also foster new friendships that will out last the memories of who placed first. I look forward to attending the games and I would like to extend an invitation to all inline and non-inline hockey players a like to attend their respective zone selection camp. Good luck to all!

Kevin Sharp
Hockey Alberta In line Provincial Coordinator

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What are the athletes saying about their inline hockey experience in the 2002 Alberta Summer Games held in Camrose?

This whole roller hockey experience has been amazing. It is the most I have had playing hockey. The group of guys are so fun to hang around with and the hockey is set up to be as fun as possible.

Ryan Starko-Bowes, Edmonton
Zone 6 (Edmonton) team


In the 2002 summer games my team lost our first two games and won our last two for a fourth place finish. Even though we didn't win, it was a great experience and it helped me to improve my skills and gave me a chance to play against players/teams of high calibre.
Karl Stollery, Camrose
Zone 4 (Parkland) team

My experience at the summer games was very good. I got to play roller hockey against some very skilled players from across Alberta and I feel the experience made me a better player overall. I also got to meet some new people and had some fun times while staying in Camrose.

Nick Harris, Calgary
Zone 3 (Calgary) team


I played goal in the 2002 Summer Games. This was my first year playing inline, and I gained valuable experience and skills. I made many new friends and received great coaching. Playing in this tournament has given me opportunity to go on and play at a higher level of inline hockey. I would encourage anyone who is interested to go and try out for their zone teams.

Jesse Chenard, Camrose
Zone 4 (Parkland) team

It was one of the best times I?ve had playing any sort of hockey. The competition was strong with our zone being of the stronger teams. Just being with friends all of the time, it was a great experience. You make some new friends from guys playing on your team from different towns, and with other guys and girls from all over Alberta. The only thing would have made the Summer Games even better, was a gold medal! J For me, it was a great time that you would want to be in every year if you could.

Kellen Kunyk, Sherwood Park
Zone 5 (Black Gold/Yellowhead) team

It was an honor being selected to play in the Alberta Summer Games. It was a great experience staying in the athletes village and I made a lot of new friends. The calibre of the inline hockey was very competitive and making it to the final gold medal game was awesome although we lost. The experience has carried me on to more competitive playing. The team I played for was a great group of guys that I still have contact with today and I had lots of fun.

Matt Johnson, Leduc
Zone 5 (Black Gold/Yellowhead) team

The Alberta Summer Games for myself was on the most fun experiences that I?ve ever had. The setup for inline hockey gave us time for team bonding. Our team became close friends and we had a great time. The sport itself to me was great experience. The difference between ice hockey and inline hockey was extremely noticeable. Everyone there was there because they loved the game. No one was there to fight or go out and hurt someone. Everyone was there to compete and have fun. I have never experienced true competition before in hockey like I did at the Summer Games ? it was awesome! I loved the competition and all the talent Alberta had to offer and really enjoyed playing against these other players. The closing ceremonies were pretty awesome and so was getting a bronze medal in the first year that inline hockey was introduced into the Summer Games.

Jonathan Platzer, Cold Lake
Zone 7 (North Eastern Alberta) team
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