Sixty players will take the Chattown Skate Park by storm to battle it out in this year’s Hockey Chattanooga games starting Feb. 3.
“You have the physicality of football, the stick and puck hand-eye coordination like golf and the team play like soccer,” said Brandon Bewley, Hockey Chattanooga co-administrator. “Each team has their own color jersey. We play on a concrete slab. It has hockey boards like an ice rink, but no ice.”
Hockey Chattanooga co-administrators Brandon Bewley, left, and Cary Hubbard, of Collegedale, are starting the in-line hockey season Feb. 3 at Chattown Skate Park.Bewley said the roller blade league is comprised of seven teams of men ages 18 to 52, but women are welcome to join. Lee University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Southern Adventist University have teams in the league.
Hockey Chattanooga officially formed two years ago under the direction of co-administrator Cary Hubbard, who played hockey in Canada growing up and moved to Chattanooga looking for a team to join.
“There’s a sprint, jog and walk involved in playing a hockey game,” said Hubbard. “You’re always moving and going.”
He said Hockey Chattanooga plays by USA Hockey rules and games are fast-paced four on four, but no contact.
“Everyone is here because they love it,” said Hubbard. “It’s pure enjoyment and fun.”
UTC player Jeff Marcinek said he lost 25 pounds playing hockey and it relieves his daily stress.
“The hockey mentality is still there,” said Hubbard. “It’s guys getting together for good, aggressive competition.”
Bewley said Hockey Chattanooga plays against teams within the league throughout the season, but invites hockey teams from Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to play in a tournament annually.