An Ice Day for Roller-Hockey Fans

Good sportsmanship, team play and competing for the love of the game are qualities sometimes lost in organized sports at both the professional and amateur levels.

Patty Twogood says such virtues are the essence of a youth roller-hockey tournament coming Saturday and Sunday to the Disney Goals roller rink in Anaheim. The Duck Hunt round-robin competition marks the first time the Disney-owned Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have sponsored a local in-line hockey tournament.

“We want to go out and promote the fun side of roller hockey,” says Twogood, owner of Anaheim-based Top Cat Hockey, the company organizing the event.

“We want a clean tournament without any swearing. [Other roller-hockey competitions can] breed a negative attitude because it’s ‘win at any cost,’ and the parents are very naggy and gripey. We call this a no-stress tournament.”

Twenty teams of 10 in four age categories will participate. The tournament is open to males and females 18 and younger. Games of two 15-minute periods are scheduled at 40-minute intervals.

The chance to attract new young fans is one reason the Ducks are sponsoring this tournament, Twogood says. There is no entry fee to watch or to compete, but each team must sell or buy 30 tickets ($24.50 each) to Sunday night’s Ducks-Calgary Flames game at the Pond.

The plan helps the National Hockey League franchise sell tickets during a season in which the team has seen a drop in attendance. More than likely, most of the young players will buy the tickets for themselves and attend the game with teammates and family, Twogood says.

Disney will provide Ducks souvenirs for all tournament players and extras for winners. Team names will be announced at the Flames game Sunday.

Although Disney hopes the Ducks will find new supporters with this event, it’s not a given, says Twogood; roller-hockey players aren’t necessarily ice-hockey fans. Still, the tournament play, modeled after a real NHL game, might whet players’ and parents’ appetite to attend a pro event, Twogood says.

Teams will face off at Disney Goals, an outdoor rink with several small bleachers. Ducks mascot Wild Wing will be on hand to cheer, and, just as in an NHL game, goals and penalties will be announced.

Food is not available at the rink, but Disney Goals is within walking distance of McDonald’s, Burger King and El Pollo Loco.

Vendors selling hockey gear--some at discounts--will be at the tournament. In-line-skate wheel replacements will also be offered at special prices.

The tournament also offers young prospective roller-hockey players a chance to find out what types of leagues and teams are available in the area.

Twogood will be available throughout the weekend to field questions from kids and parents interested in getting involved in the sport.

Based on her experience, Twogood says that local participation in roller hockey has increased immensely in the two years since she founded Top Cat Hockey, which organizes in-line hockey tournaments in California and Arizona. A chief allure of the sport is its cost: Roller hockey is much less expensive to play than ice hockey, she says.

“If my son played ice hockey, it would run me $500 for a 10-week season,” explains Twogood, who has organized numerous youth tournaments in conjunction with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. “Roller hockey is $130 to $170 for a 10-week season. The equipment is [also] a lot less expensive than the equipment in ice hockey.”

The tournament will offer an “intermediate” level of competition gentler than the tougher advanced play of other roller leagues, Twogood says. And it should be fun. Spectators, she hopes, will have a hard time resisting the enthusiasm of the young players.

“Watching the kids get excited after they score a goal is special. You don’t get snide remarks or gestures during these games. It’s high fives and handshakes. There’s nothing better than watching a kids’ youth hockey game, especially at this level.”

BE THERE

* The Duck Hunt is Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. (depending on game length) and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Disney Goals, 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim. Free. (714) 740-0414.