(Courtesy SoCalStreetHockey.com) The action will be intense at Hockey Fest
They may not be wearing blades underneath their shoes, or skating on a sheet of ice. The puck may be orange in color instead of black, and a ball instead of a puck. But other than the ascetics, those participating will be displaying just as much determination and passion as their professional ice skating counterparts.
The Los Angeles Kings and So Cal Street Hockey are co-hosting a one-day street hockey tournament on Saturday August 29. It’s called “StreetLA By TeamLA” and it will be part of the weekend-long Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fest ’09 celebration.
“This is a great opportunity for us to help promote the sport at a grass roots level”, said Chris Crotty, Manager of Fan Development for the Kings, and the team’s point man for the tournament.
There are two different tournaments scheduled to take place. One will feature some of the top street hockey teams and players from the region in what’s being called the ‘Open Adult Division’. Terry Cox of SoCal Street Hockey is quick to point out that while none of these players are NHL-ready, many of them will display a high level of skill and intensity.
“A lot of the players in the Open tournament played college ice hockey, and have been playing hockey at a high level for a long time”, Cox stated. “Fans watching the action will be impressed with the great passing skills of these players, and it should be a competitive tournament.”
As spirited as the games in the Open tournament figure to be, there will be equally as much zeal in the ‘friendly’ tournament, known as the ‘Recreational Adult Division’. Cox feels this is a great opportunity to showcase the interest in the sport in the region.
“Basically, all you need is to pick up a stick, and anyone can immediately play and have fun”, Cox commented. “Considering that there is no body checking allowed, it allows for a unique opportunity for anyone to take part in the sport.”
And even though Cox is excited about both tournaments, including the inclusion of teams travelling from out of the region, it’s not too late for teams to join in the tournament. The cost is $650 per team of 15 players, and each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games. The fee includes passes for each member of the team to the Hockey Fest. It also includes a $20 gift card to the TeamLA store.
“The hope is that if this goes well, we’ll continue to help facilitate street hockey tournaments in the area,” Crotty mentioned. “We think has the potential to be a great asset for the Hockey Fest weekend.”
“Teams from as far as San Diego and San Francisco are coming in for the tournament,” Cox confirmed, “and we hope this will allow for us to develop future opportunities to host tournaments in conjunction with the Kings.”
For more information, log onto the Hockey Fest website regarding the tournament by clicking here. And for more on SoCal Street Hockey, including how to join one of their leagues, click here.
In the words of Wayne and Garth from the film Wayne’s World, “Game on!”
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Who Retired JR?
One of the greatest players in NHL history ever produced by the United States will be announcing his retirement. Jeremy Roenick is expected to announce his retirement after a stellar 20-year career on Thursday.
While many around the league will remember Roenick for his brilliance while in Chicago, and his solid play for Phoenix and Philadelphia, the tail end of his career included one forgettable season with the Kings following the lockout. He played in just 58 games for the Kings during the 2005-06 season, scoring just nine goals and adding 13 assists for a total of 22 points.
Many have lamented that lost season with the Kings, where Roenick seemed unmotivated to play hard and off his game. Some have suggested this was because of his various entertainment related appearances and that they took up too much of his time, when he should have been focused on the game. This is a fair assessment, and I don’t blame Kings’ fans for taking a dim viewpoint on Roenick’s time with the club.
Roenick’s style of play early in his career, and the way he threw his body around in those early years, took an obvious toll. Still, it’s hard to ignore those years in Chicago when looking at the big picture of his career. He was a nine-time all-star, and has a bright broadcasting career ahead of himself, as someone who was never shy around a microphone.
Still, Matt Reitz from View From My Seats said it best this week in a column on Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, written by Greg Wyshynski, when asked about Roenick’s time with the Kings: “…there are two different Jeremy Roenicks… the great young player that was electrifying stadiums all over the league when he was with the Blackhawks. He was one of those "edge of your seat players" like Ovechkin is now… He admitted that he came to LA out of shape, complained that his poor play was because his skates didn't fit right (yes, really) and overall looked like he was more interested in his future entertainment career than actually playing hockey. The only compliment that I can give Roenick for his time with the Kings is, ‘At least he wasn't Dan Cloutier’.”
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Fox is going tailgating this Sunday
Coming up on the next edition of The Sunday Tailgate on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network, I will be interviewing longtime Kings television analyst Jim Fox. Among the topics we’ll be discussing will include the Kings off-season moves and a look ahead to the coming season, as well as his role as one of the members of the ‘NHL Experts Panel’ at Hockey Fest later this month. I hope you’ll join us this Sunday from 7-10AM local time by clicking here to listen live this weekend. If you miss it, you can still listen by clicking on our archives section.
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