Silver at NARCH

Times Reporter    

 

The Wheatland Inline Hockey Association took two teams – a U12 and a U14 – up to Ardrossan for the 2014 North American Roller Hockey Championships Tournament from May 24-25. Over 20 teams attended the tournament for different levels. Wheatland’s U12’s went on to win a silver on the B-side; the U14’s lost both of their games.

“They loved it, and they’re really excited,” Wheatland Inline Hockey Association president Lynne Kozma said. “You could see the difference between their challenges at the beginning to the final; like how much they learned and grown. They were very pleased.”

Kozma mentioned that both of her teams felt they could have performed better had they had practices to increase their skills; the boys (all from Strathmore) had no floor time.

“They both did phenomenal for what we’ve come from,” Kozma said.

The groups have a tournament in Red Deer from June 6-8: the Battle of the Wheels. For that tournament, the boys have already had three practices. Players unfortunately can’t practice inline outdoors due to rocks, dust, and moisture, which would damage their expensive wheels.

Lack of practices isn’t decreasing the interest, however. Kozma has many newcomers to her teams.

“Out of the kids we took in the older group, only three have been to a tournament before. Out of my younger group, five have played inline,” Kozma said.