Roller hockey is wheeling to new heights in Okotoks this year.
The Okotoks-based South Central Alberta Inline (SCAI) Hockey League is gearing up for its second season with a number of exciting additions with Calgary Roller Hockey’s adult hockey loop under its banner and other news in the lead up to puck drop next month.
“We’ve expanded to take on Calgary, they’re running twice a week, and we’re doing a development league once a week at the Piper (Arena),” said Nick Ruigrok, SCAI chair.
“(Calgary) was a for-profit league and we’ve merged with them as a not-for-profit, so everything will be under South Central Alberta as of next year. We’re running the registration separate this year, just trying to figure out what we’re going to name everything.”
ESPN will be televising the championship game of the adult league in Calgary in July with the SCAI also announcing partnerships with Bauer, who stepped up to help the league with training aid. Professional Skate has also linked up as the equipment supplier.
Registration is open until March 15 with the development league getting underway in early April and running on Tuesdays for 12 weeks out of the Okotoks Recreation Centre.
The Okotoks league offers programming in the U11-U13 and U7-U9 age groups while the Calgary league has offerings from U11-U18, junior, adult to professional divisions.
Ruigrok said roller hockey, played at 4-on-4, is ideal for multi-sport athletes, benefitting everything from footwork, puck possession and fitness.
“It’s more basketball, lacrosse strategy, it’s a different game,” he said. “Pat Maroon played roller growing up and ended up in the NHL. His comments have always been very supportive of less structure. The 4-on-4 makes it more creative with way more puck possession so it really builds your confidence with the puck.”
The league is looking for volunteers and business opportunities as it continues to grow.
For more information, go to scalbertainline.ca.
