West Kendall Roller Hockey League starts new season By Jennifer Valdes Catalyst Staff Writer Roller hockey is a fairly new sport that is played almost everywhere from basketball courts to parking lots. It is basically a combination of ice hockey and roller skating with added speed and attitude. The game is played with five players and one goalie on each team. Unlike the standard puck used in ice hockey, a ball with rollers inside it is used.
Roller hockey requires players to rely upon their skills in handling the ball and skating.
Helmets, gloves, elbow pads, shin pads, in-line skates and hockey sticks are all part of the basic equipment used in roller hockey. Roller hockey is considered by many to be cheaper and even more accessible than ice hockey, especially in South Florida. There are 24 teams for children 6 to 17 years old, and 12 teams for adults 18 and up. The upcoming season starts Jan. 30, and the games are played all day Saturday for the children's teams, and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the adult teams. The games are played in the roller hockey rink at MDCC Kendall Campus, which is located on the paved area behind the baseball field in the north section of the campus.