It has also had a direct effect on our volunteer base. There is great parental support for the league. The MIHL found itself without a rink and members came together and built a portable rink that is housed at the Midland County Exhibition Building. We are looking for a permanent home, but we have to get funding. The volunteer and parental base for the MIHL has allowed for growth of the league despite recent economic hard times in a town that is directly affected by the rise and fall of oil prices worldwide.
Midland is an oil town and when the business was down, a lot of families got hit with layoffs.
Despite all that, we have continued to see growth in the league. Against the odds and obstacles, MIHL has become a model program. Midland has been represented at every USA Hockey InLine Regional and teams from the league have competed and finished well at area events hosted by larger communities, such as Amarillo, Lubbock, Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. This is a football town and we know that, but we are hoping kids will continue to view inline hockey as a fun alternative.