Get to Know Roller Hockey Lethbridge

Roller Hockey is about fun, fair play and inclusiveness. Roller hockey and ice hockey have a lot in common and develop some of the same skills. In fact, several NHL players were also roller hockey players in their youth, including Ryan Kesler and Paul Stastny. There are some key differences between the sports though. Roller Hockey is played 4-on-4 with no icing and no offsides. It is a non-contact sport at all levels.

There are increasing levels of opportunity to play the sport including going to University in the States to play Division I roller hockey while getting an education. There is also a Team Alberta team that travels each year to State Wars (a top roller hockey tournament in the states) and has won many gold medals in various age groups.

Roller Hockey Lethbridge is a nonprofit society that has been in our city since 2015. Their membership doubled from 2016 to 2018, and they are looking forward to continued growth in 2019. RHL is supported by coaches Jodie Dupere and Scott Huber. Jodie hails from New Brunswick and played ice hockey growing up, including playing for the University of Moncton. She coaches and plays ice hockey in the winter and coaches and plays roller hockey in the spring and summer. Scott grew up playing and loving roller hockey. He also plays ice hockey in the winter and coaches and plays roller hockey in the spring and summer.

Roller Hockey Lethbridge currently has programs for youth and adults players. Their youth program is geared towards ages 7-14 but the RHL is hoping to expand programming to U7 and juniors and they are seeking volunteers to help create and/or run these programs.

In 2019, the RHL youth program will be in two parts which can be registered for together or separate. Part 1 includes 5 weeks of coaching programming focused on skills development, fun and play. Part 2 is 5 weeks of house league game play. Players will be divided into evenly skilled teams of 8 or more players. Each team will then play 2 x 40-minute games each week. There will be an additional 5-week extension option for players looking to keep playing.

In 2019, adult programming will be run as weekly drop-ins on Tuesday evenings. The cost to participate is $10/week or a season pass is $175/person. All skill levels are welcome to join this program.

All Roller Hockey Lethbridge programs are held on Tuesday evenings at Labor Club Ice Centre, located on the city's North side, at 2020 18 Avenue.

Right now RHL is accepting registrations for the 2019 season. For more details and to register visit their website www.rollerhockeylethbridge.ca. You can also like and follow Roller Hockey Lethbridge on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/LethbridgeInlineHockey/

Roller Hockey Lethbridge is a proud member of AMRHA (Alberta Roller Hockey Association), Roller Hockey Canada and the Lethbridge Sport Council.