"Pro Hockey Players"

[Rebecca]

I would like to know what everyone's definition is of a 'pro' hockey (roller) player.

Please do not just generalize and say MLRH or PIHA players. Please elaborate and give specifics. For example, don't just say 'a paid player'. Say how much, what form, what type of compensation, etc etc....

MLRH is considered 'elite amatuer' while PIHA promotes paid players yet no one that I am aware of is actually receiving a 'salary' right now, and there are also a few players on teams who cleary are not of a 'professional skill level' but fill the roster.

Thanks!

Rebecca

[NLane]

That's a hard question. As a mom who paid for many a national quest for gold out of pocket I think of any team who does not have to pay for hotel, travel or uniforms and plays a "national" final event is as close to pro as inline hockey can get. Usually this level of play is high. I have no idea what the college definition is. My son feels that pro is only when you are paid money that you can spend on anything you want (not lodging, travel, etc.) is it pro. I guess it depends on where you have been, where you stand now and where you want to go (as a player). All three locations could have different reasons for their definition of pro.

[macmill1]

If you receive financial compensation beyond that of travel expenses, I would consider that 'pro'. Getting uniforms, hotels, flights, entry fees, and equipment covered, I would say not pro.

Anything above not having to pay for anything, I consider to be a professional. To me, the term 'pro' means that you are getting paid to play, not playing for free.

I would say it has nothing to do w/ level of play. Olympians are not considered pro for playing in the olympics -- the highest level for many sports.

Al MacMillan

[NLane]

And how many have won the men's basketball?

[macmill1]

They aren't considered "professional" because they played in the olympics. They are professional basketball players based on their large NBA salaries and numerous illegitimate children.
Al

[SpeedDemon]

HAHA that was funny.

Anyways, to chime in on this one, I think there's two levels of professional athlete.

There's the level of the major professional sports, where your sole profession is the sport which you participate in. You are paid to play the sport, plain and simple.

The second level is the 'minor' professional sports, in which everyone has a primary occupation unrelated to the sport (in most cases). However, the individual is expected to devote at least 50% of his/her free time to the sport in which they are playing. This means training, playing, practicing, etc. Major League Lacrosse and Indoor Soccer are good examples of this, I think.

This is the way I explain it to people who ask me about 'pro' inline. Having played in most of the pro and semi-pro leagues that have floated around since 1997, anyone that knows me knows I've always just spoken about any of them as 'semi-pro.' This is mostly because I don't hear about a lot of players in these leagues going to the gym every day, training on the rink 3-4 days a week, or even practicing at all. Or how about when you see players taking smoke breaks during games and stuff (can't tell how much of a pet-peeve this is of mine). I mean c'mon, lets sit outside in full uniform and smoke a few cigarettes during halftime and let the fans wonder why they bothered paying to watch someone like their Uncle Louie from New York City who only visits on Thanksgiving, and has to go out front a smoke a Marlboro every 5 minutes during dinner! That adds a ton of legitimacy to a semi/pro league!

I'm sure the smokers are going to flame me (no pun intended) but there's my two cents. No one's getting paid or much reimbursement at all. This is why you'll continue to get rosters with sub-professional talent (like me!); because it's just fun to play good hockey.

[John_S_Osborne]

LOL! Sean Gallagher from the Sting used to smoke at halftime! Hilarious, man. I used to laugh everytime I saw him in full goalie equipment smoking.

I couldn't agree with you more about the whole semi-pro thing. If *I* was an example of a "professional" inline hockey player, I think even I would laugh! I think it was just fun to go out and play against some of the better talent in the region, even if my knees only let it last a game and 2 shifts.

Who knows... maybe I'll get signed as a "free-agent" to the Riot and you'll have to play with me, Naz

- john

[NLane]

My point (because I think you missed it!!!) is that the "pros" are a league above the "olympians" when it comes to basketball. The same may hold true for other sports....

[NLane]

The semi-pro label works for me. I know the way the MLRH Warriors feel this past year was as close to pro inline as they may ever see.

[Hit_U_Hard]

I would have to agree with this guy.

[Hit_U_Hard]

I sure hope not this past year was by far my best year of hockey. B

[SpeedDemon]

Don't get me wrong, I still do think that there's a good bunch of teams out there that can be considered professional-caliber. Some are in the MLRH, and most are the industry-sponsored tournament teams like Mission and Tour. I thought the MLRH made huge strides this year in recruiting decent players (in the East, at least) and putting on a good show.

But most teams aren't at the level I would consider to be billed as professionals of the sport. Most rely on natural skill, two hours of open hockey a week, and nothing else. I think if even a quarter of the players devoted some time to building on this natural skill by practicing and training more often, you would see a 1000% increase in the competition level in the semi/pro leagues.

That would also mean I'd be cut! But I'm willing to make some sacrifices for the sport!

[Hit_U_Hard]

Actually most teams have 2 practices a week for 2-3 hrs only cause they do have to work the next day the play on the weekend

[Benny_Gulakiw]

You can consider one definition by going to the NCAA rule book on eligibility. We had a fight with them back in 1998 with our Junior Wings. We had some young players who were gearing up to play college ice hockey and also wanted to play elite travel roller hockey to hone their skills and stay in shape. They asked about ice hockey eligibilty and we asked the NCAA. They had a specific rule about this already in place that said if a player plays for an organization where they were provided with anything that gave them an advantage, if they were given equipment, provided with travel or accomodations, given free ice/rink time or obviously cash, they would forgo their eligibility. Also, by extension, if a player who played for an organization that was sponsor or supported by a professional organization would also be considered an ineligible player. That meant that because the Buffalo Wings operated the Buffalo Junior Wings, what we thought was an amateur team, any player who played for the Junior Wings would not be eligible to play collegiate ice hockey. This ruling came directly from the NCAA. Basically, there are subtle ways around this.

With that said, my opinion about what makes a "pro" player goes along with SpeedDemons. A "pro" player is one who is compensated; who does not pay to play and receives fee travel, accomodations and perhaps free equipment. A "pro" player can also receive financial compensation in the form of a per diem and/or a salary. Also, as was the case with the NARHL, if a player plays for the opportunity to be compensated through an available prize pool, that player is also consider a "pro" player even though their team finishes poorly and they receive no cut from that prize pool. The fact that that pool was available makes them "pro". This goes along with the PIHA. The players have the opportunity to be compensated by receiving a percentage of the net gate revenue. Now I don't know the what's actually going on with the PIHA, but it could be possible that if things go badly with that league that none of the players could receive any money. They would still be considered "pro" players because compensation was available to them.

So it's easy to say if someone is a "pro" player, but you have to define what level of pro player. I think that is determined by the level of compensation. Right now, the best "pro" roller hockey players play in NARCh Pro because they receive the highest level of compensation (although TOHRS Pro may be close). The level of "pro" goes all the way down to semi-pro where a player has to pay to play but there is also some level of compensation as well.

Benny Gulakiw
Vice President of Operations
Buffalo Wings Roller Hockey

[NLane]

Excellent information. That would stand the inline community on their collective ears if colleges ever decided to put scholarship money back on the table!