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 My Site News: Roller and Ice go hand in hand for improving your game. Must read!!!! |
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Tuesday, May 29
Roller and Ice go hand in hand for improving your game. Must read!!!!
For anyone that truly knows a lot about ice and roller hockey understands how the two compliment each other. It's no coincidence that in most U.S Markets the best ice players have roller hockey roots and many find their way to the NARCh FINALS every summer.
For years we've been saying that it will just be a matter of time before the NHL is filled with players with a lot of roller hockey experience. Well, that time has come.
The two main stories in the NHL the last few days have to do with a rookie record that was broken and a cheap shot in the Ranger vs. Islander game. Both stories involve players with NARCh Experience.
Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche just broke a 14-year-old record held by Teemu Selanne for being the only rookie in history to score in 18 straight games. Paul played a lot of roller hockey while playing juniors in St. Louis. A funny fact about Paul is that he was actually drafted while at the NARCh FINALS in 2005 in Florida. We were following the draft on-line and I think we actually knew he was drafted before he did! With his success in his rookie season I'm sure he will be in the NHL for many years to come. He's also making a good case for rookie of the year!
The other incident was unfortunately the cheap shot on Ryan Hollweg of the Rangers by Chris Simon of the Islanders. Ryan has found a home for the Rangers by playing a very physical style and is one of the top hitters in the league. Ryan grew up playing roller hockey in So Cal and played for Team Sure Grip during their dynasty years from squirts through bantams.
As if that's not enough, I was watching the LA Kings Game yesterday and saw the NHL Debut of long time NARCh Player, Gabe Gauthier. Gabe was a teammate of Ryan's on Team Sure Grip and was also a teammate of Paul's on TMD in 2005 for the NARCh FINALS. Paul and Gabe were also linemates at Denver University where they won back-to-back NCAA Titles.
Taking it a step further, on the ice at one time for the Kings was Gauthier, Noah Clarke, and Patrick O'Sullivan. Now is where it gets good. All 3 of these forwards played NARCh! Can you believe that, a whole forward line of roller hockey players. They are actually on different lines, but they were on the ice for a short shift on the power-play together. The Kings lost to the Stars in overtime, but all of these players played well.
It's currently Monday Night and I just got done watching the Kings play host to the Oilers. Once again all of these guys played well as the Kings pounced the Oilers and Noah notched his first NHL goal!
There are probably over 50 players with a lot of roller hockey experience that have a legitimate shot at not only making it to the NHL, but becoming stars at the highest level. Brett Sterling is absolutely on fire in the AHL leading the league in goals with 46 as a rookie and he'll surely be called up very soon.
So when you're at the NARCh FINALS this summer make sure to stick around and take in some of the great hockey that is being played. These players are not only the roller hockey stars of today, but many are the NHL stars of the future.
Daryn Goodwyn (President of Narch Hockey)
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