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| Hockey rolls toward new home on coast By Mark Foyer--[ markf@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 3:18 PM PDT Once the final roller hockey game was played, and the awards were handed out, a group of about eight kids took the rink for one final game. Unlike the other games played on July 29, this one bowed to no clock or referees. Some wore their roller blades while others preferred to play in their shoes. All still had their various uniforms on. Some even played while wearing their championship medals. In a way, it could be considered a fitting tribute to what is most likely the end of the North Coast Roller Hockey League's 14-year run at its location adjacent to the airport. If all goes well for Coastside hockey fans, games next year could be played at Half Moon Bay High School, next to the lower parking lot. There is still a way to go. Organizers haven't yet filed for a Coastal Development Permit. About half of the $90,000 needed has been raised. All concerned said that the time has come to leave the airport. "The surface is bumpy," former player and now referee Jimmer Durso said. In addition, the boards only stand about a foot tall, making it all-too easy for players to get bumped out of the rink. One player said some nails stick out and that it was hard to skate on the rink. "It will be much nicer on the new rink," said Noah Weinstein, 10. "Everything there will be flat." "It's been a lot of fun here," said Ethan Miller, coach of Lemos Farm. "But the rink is starting to show its years. It's time to move." "Our boards are being held together by duct tape and sand bags," added Joel Farbstein, a member of the hockey board. Though everyone was anticipating moving to a new site, there was still a bit of sadness over leaving the airport. "Of all the sports, it was the most intimate and friendly place," said Brian McNamara, another hockey board member. "A lot of the current coaches and referees are former players. It's a very relaxed atmosphere." Kids from other teams would often get in some practice during timeouts of games being played. McNamara has been involved with the program since the first year. "I brought my son to the first game played," McNamara said. "Bryce graduated from high school in 2006." The new rink is ready to be put up. All that is needed is for the paper work to be taken care of. But if something falls through, officials from the airport said they would allow hockey to be played there next year. "The airport has been very gracious to us," McNamara said. "They would allow us to be there next year." However, if the airport hosted its final hockey games, there will be plenty of memories for the players, past and present. "While officiating some games, I remembered some of the games that I played," Durso said. "I thought they were pretty intense when I played. The teams are getting bigger. Everything will be better with the new rink." ROLLER HOCKEY BY THE NUMBERS Cost to play: $95 Approximate cost of equipment: $150 Equipment needed: Skates, stick, helmet, gloves, pads Cost of duct tape: About $5 a roll Approximate number of players through the years: More than 2,000 First goal scored: Jesse Warshauer Time of first goal: 7 seconds into match Last goal scorer: Mason Wessel Time of last goal scored: 43 seconds left in match Rink size at airport: 140 feet by 60 feet Rink size at high school: 185 feet by 80 feet Height of boards at airport: 1 foot Height of boards at high school: 4 feet |