DANA POINT : Roller Hockey League Sign-Ups This Week

One of the hottest youth sports in the country is coming to Dana Point this summer.

Calling its new program “Roller Hockey at the Beach,” the city recreation department will hold sign-ups Thursday for children and adults interested in playing and coaching in Dana Point’s first roller hockey league.

“There is a big roller hockey mania trend in South County,” said Kevin Evans, city recreation superintendent. “Roller hockey is huge.”

The organizational meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Recreation Department offices in Del Obispo Community Park, 34052 Del Obispo St., near Pacific Coast Highway.

The cost per player will be $55 for an eight-game regular season plus playoffs. The deadline for sign-ups is July 21, and the summer season starts July 23 for ages 6 to 18.

Evans says he won’t be surprised if the league fields up to 50 teams. Games will be held in a converted tennis court.

“We’ve had 15 to 20 phone calls a day about roller hockey,” he said. “The response has been very good, very steady.”

Other South County programs have seen a large response to roller hockey leagues. Programs are being run by the South Coast YMCA and San Juan Capistrano. The largest league in the area is operated by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which has about 800 youths signed up.

Dana Point added its own program because of the demand.

“Just seeing the number of kids playing, unfortunately, on the streets, setting up their own games, showed a definite need to organize” the sport in Dana Point, Evans said. “I’m very excited about this league.”