GARDEN GROVE : City Extends Pact on Street Hockey

Officials have extended an agreement with the California Street Hockey Assn. to continue popular street hockey games at the Chapman Sports Complex.

The city receives about $16,000 in fees from the street hockey organization, which moved to Garden Grove two years ago when it outgrew facilities in Buena Park.

More than 100 teams are participating in the program, which now must turn away would-be players who come to Garden Grove from throughout Southern California, according to Cal Rietzel, a manager for the city’s Community Services Department.

Street hockey is similar to ice hockey except that players wear tennis shoes instead of skates and are not allowed to body check because of the potential for injuries, Rietzel said.

The 1,000 to 1,500 men and women who play on the co-ed teams provide their own helmets, gloves, shinguards and sticks. Players are 15 years of age and older with most being about 25, Rietzel said.

The games are played at an outdoor sports center located atop a large city water reservoir on grounds of the former Chapman Junior High School. The two street hockey rinks were converted from basketball courts.

All games are played on weekends because there is no lighting for weeknight play. Rietzel said, though, that he has recommended that the city develop lighted roller hockey and street hockey rinks at Pioneer Park in the eastern part of the city and install lights at the Chapman complex.

The agreement that the city and the hockey association reached last week adds a third year to a contract that had two years remaining. Revenue to the city is based on a sliding scale based on the number of teams that participate.