Exposure to in-line

Times Reporter    

 

Into its fourth year, the Wheatland In-line Hockey Association began their Exposure Camp on April 13 at the Strathmore Family Centre. 

President Lynne Kozma is running four age groups – U8, U10, U14, and U16 – with 82 players, and still room for more.

“We’re really growing,” Kozma said. “Numbers are up by 22 this year. It’s very exciting.”

Though exciting, Kozma mentioned that the lack of floor time in Strathmore is hurting the association.

“If we continue to grow at these numbers, we’re going to be in trouble,” she said. “Indus has a league. Didsbury has a league. We could be playing games against them but we have no night times. We can’t play against other towns but we’re growing to that ability.”

Some of Kozma’s players have never played hockey before; 75 per cent of her younger age groups are on in-line skates for the first time.

 “My whole goal is to give kids advantages for the hockey season,” she said. “In the older age groups, they’re seeing the kids go from Tier 6 hockey to Tier 1 hockey. Their hockey sense is improving, their skating is improving, and their puck-handling is improving.”

In-line hockey is 4-on-4 rather than 5-on-5, and therefore improves defensively play, Kozma mentioned.

“You have to set up in a box defense,” she said. “You can’t play cat and mouse like you do in ice hockey.”

As for chasing around the rink, Kozma also says that in-line will improve stride on the ice as well.

“You open up your stride. If you have short and choppy strides, you’re going to fall,” she said. “You can’t coast playing in-line. You have to keep your feet moving. It’s exhausting.”

The option of in-line hockey for the summer is more affordable too, Kozma says. Wheatland In-line even advertises used equipment for kids to use during the summer.