Some take a day off and head to the beach to relax, soak in the sun, the sand, the water, the sights and the fresh air. Some think their lake is a beach, but head there with the same spirit as though it were the Pacific. But in the case of one group, a day at the beach means roller hockey and that's how they've spent every Saturday afternoon dating back to 1991!
That's right! Beach hockey - Southern California style! Newport Beach on the peninsula to be exact. And on any given Saturday, no mater what, you'll find these die-hards at water's edge on the tarmac playing hard and having fun for hours on end.
It was 20 years ago this past Saturday, Aug. 9th when arguably the most earthshaking and game-changing event in the history of hockey took place, with the Kings acquiring superstar center and Canadian national treasure Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers in the biggest blockbuster trade of all time. It changed the face of hockey and roller hockey in Southern California. While I am unaware if this group was aware of the historical significance of the day, they were nonetheless celebrating that spirt in the best way possible - playing hockey.
So, the next time you think of hockey at the beach, or think about a stroll on the boardwalk between the piers at Newport and Balboa, bring your skates or just gawk at a great game and a group of guys who have been keeping the spirit of hockey alive at the beach for over seventeen years.
Great post. This brings back a lot of memories for me, as I played at the beach in Santa Monica for years, including a couple of NHL Breakout tournaments held there.
I hope to eventually get a Photo Gallery back on Inline Hockey Central, and once I do, I'll put up some of the photos of the beach hockey we played back in the day. Here's one, however, that I get a kick out of -- mostly because I was skinny! -- but also because of the old Mylec shin guards and the original Rollerblade Lightning skates, purchased at SportMart for about $129.99. The good old days!
The kid in the photo is my Little Brother Jared Adderly. I was his Big Brother of Greater Los Angeles for nine years.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL - That picture is PRICELESS Richard - bring back the beard!!!
I wish I had pics down the Jersey Shore when I was young....between Seaside and Long Beach Island I played with a lot of people down there over the summers - God, those were the days....
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL - That picture is PRICELESS Richard - bring back the beard!!!
I wish I had pics down the Jersey Shore when I was young....between Seaside and Long Beach Island I played with a lot of people down there over the summers - God, those were the days....
Adam I wonder if I actually played against you down there when we were kids....I looked like i was 12 at 12 and you probably looked like you were 30 at 12.
LOL
Im back and I will not be sitting around on my butt!
I also love the morons that are still on the board.
Jeff Haze
We played with a ball, and those skates were pretty ballistic. My main concern was stick slashes against the shin, and those Mylec pads did the job back in the day.
As for the beard, Adam, it would be scraggly and gray, so forget about it. lol.
Hey Richard,
Brush the moths off the 'ol Mylec shin guards, grab a stick and whatever skates are laying around and come join in the fun someday, eh? You'll even find some of the RHI guys skating there fairly regularly.
Some take a day off and head to the beach to relax, soak in the sun, the sand, the water, the sights and the fresh air. Some think their lake is a beach, but head there with the same spirit as though it were the Pacific. But in the case of one group, a day at the beach means roller hockey and that's how they've spent every Saturday afternoon dating back to 1991!
That's right! Beach hockey - Southern California style! Newport Beach on the peninsula to be exact. And on any given Saturday, no mater what, you'll find these die-hards at water's edge on the tarmac playing hard and having fun for hours on end.
It was 20 years ago this past Saturday, Aug. 9th when arguably the most earthshaking and game-changing event in the history of hockey took place, with the Kings acquiring superstar center and Canadian national treasure Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers in the biggest blockbuster trade of all time. It changed the face of hockey and roller hockey in Southern California. While I am unaware if this group was aware of the historical significance of the day, they were nonetheless celebrating that spirt in the best way possible - playing hockey.
So, the next time you think of hockey at the beach, or think about a stroll on the boardwalk between the piers at Newport and Balboa, bring your skates or just gawk at a great game and a group of guys who have been keeping the spirit of hockey alive at the beach for over seventeen years.
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Originally Posted by rhhof
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