New League Is Off and Rolling

Unlike today’s NFL draft, there were no ESPN cameras present at the Airport Sheraton when Roller Hockey International conducted its inaugural draft on Saturday.

The closest thing was a home video camera brought by Vancouver owner Mike King, although a representative of a regional all-sports cable network was said to be in the room during the draft’s early phases.

Roller Hockey International, a 12-team league scheduled to begin play in July, will feature five players on a side. It will have four 10-minutes quarters and will be played on synthetic or wood surfaces.

The L.A. Blades, owned by Laker owner Jerry Buss, will play their home games at the Forum.

Players, who competed in tryout camps in the United States and Canada, were graded on skating, stick-handling and shooting.

The Oakland Skates made Vitally Makarkin the first choice, a selection made for athletic and marketing reasons.

“I like the way he passes,” team owner and general manager Mary Hickey said. “Most players pass so hard the puck bounces off the stick, but he passes the puck like it is a raw egg.”

Hickey said that Makarkin is a Russian ice hockey player who immigrated to San Francisco to be reunited with his parents. The uniqueness of his background, along with reports that he may be picked by the NHL San Jose Sharks, were additional factors in the selection, according to Hickey.

But she also noted Makarkin had two drawbacks.

“He doesn’t speak a word of English and had never been on in-line skates until the tryout,” Hickey said.

The Blades selected John Redinger of Santa Monica with the second pick. The Blades also claimed the draft’s biggest name during a preferential selection--former King and New York Ranger Ron Duguay.

Several other former NHL players were also selected, including Dave (Tiger) Williams, the league’s career penalty-minute record holder who will be the Vancouver VooDoo’s player-coach, Jim Fox, a former King and now an analyst on Prime Ticket telecasts, Doug Wickenhieser, the top choice in the 1980 NHL entry draft, and Lyndon Byers, who spent parts of nine seasons with the Boston Bruins.

The Blades also selected Eric Amega, a resident of Beverly Hills, with an eight-round selection.

Another Beverly Hills resident, Benjamin Gordon, was the Blades’ 22nd-round pick.

The Toronto Planets selected a woman, Felicia Taylor, in the 12th round.

The players will attend tryout camps with their teams in late May or early June.