Half Moon Bay is the proud owner of an outdoor roller hockey rink, located on the Half Moon Bay High School campus.
The work is complete and Saturday at the Rock the Rink ceremony, it was a time to lace up the skates and play.
 John Kottmeier of Andreini Bros., Inc., had the honor of cutting the ribbon at the new roller hockey rink Saturday. All the funding for the rink was privately generated. |
McNamara couldn’t stop passing on the praise for those who made the rink possible. There were the families who quickly raised $25,000 seven years ago to purchase the rink in Marina Del Rey. Tom Richards transported the rink north. The folks at the Lazy H Ranch stored the rink until the land could be found. Members of both the Cabrillo Unified School District and the Boys and Girls Club of the Coastside worked to provide the land.
With representatives of those parties present, everyone’s choice to cut the ribbon was John Kottmeier, vice president of Andreini Bros., Inc. The Half Moon Bay construction company did the grading and paving of the land and helped in coating the surface.
“A lot of research was put into the coating,” said Kottmeier, wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey. “It’s beautiful.”
Many other people donated time and energy to help build the rink. They all wore a sticker proclaiming their help.
“I lay awake many nights wondering if this would happen,” McNamara said.
McNamara sipped on a soda as he took in the scene. He couldn’t stop smiling.
For those who either played or coached in the early years, Saturday brought excitement with some nostalgia.
“I didn’t think this would happen in my wildest dreams,” said Luz Preciado, an original coach. “I see a lot of the older kids today and I remember when they were younger and played. I’m happy everyone put in all this work. I know the kids are going to love this.”
Another longtime coach, Mike Durso, finally got a chance to lace up the skates and get in on some of the action.
“Everyone did it right,” Durso said. “The anticipation is that we are going to be here for a long time.”
The blue coating met with approval, including that of SJ Sharkie. The mascot of the San Jose Sharks gave the rink two fins up.
“It’s so overwhelming how we got the job done,” Durso said.
The NCHL starts June 1, and goes through the first weekend of August.
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