HUNTINGTON BEACH : Roller Hockey Rink to Open Next Month

The city’s first outdoor roller hockey rink is expected to open late next month next to members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley.

The City Council recently approved spending $4,000 for the portable rink, which will be installed on basketball courts at McCallen Park.

“There are so many kids playing out in the street,” said Tanya Grimes, executive director of the clubs. “Now they’ll have a safe and supervised place to play.”

Community Services Director Ron Hagan said roller hockey is a growing sport, but few places in the city can accommodate a rink.

Another rink was proposed last year at Wardlow School in Huntington Beach, but school board members refused to waive a district policy that prohibits roller sports on school grounds. Moreover, the proposal was opposed by neighbors concerned about noise and traffic.

The new rink will be 50 by 100 feet and will have removable walls, allowing the courts to be used for both roller hockey and basketball, Grimes said.

League play at the rink will begin in late September. For insurance reasons, players must be club members, she said. Club dues are $15 annually, and there will be a league fee that has not been established, Grimes said.

Because of the popularity of roller hockey, Grimes said, she expects hundreds of youngsters to participate in league play.

The club needs donations of equipment, such as helmets and protective gear, for children whose parents can’t afford to buy it. Scholarships for league play also will be provided “so everyone will be able to play,” she said.