Here's a summary of this chapter....
Roller hockey has its roots in several places around the world. In the United States,
during the 1930's and 40's, playing organized hockey on wheels was a great way to emulate
a favorite player from the National Hockey League (NHL).
During the late-1970's and 80's, inline skates became a training tool for ice hockey
players during their off season as well as an alternative activity for the health
conscious. As people found out how easy and fun skating on inlines was, popularity soared.
Pickup hockey games were being played again as they were in the 30's and 40's, only this
time incorporating current equipment technologies.
Roller Hockey International (RHI) was established to form a unified and cohesive national
roller hockey organization. The game is played using rules derived from ice hockey, with
modifications made to allow for more offensive play, fewer line calls (offsides and
icing), and one less player on each team. With fewer players, roller hockey is designed to
utilize the more open playing surface to showcase skating, passing, and puck control
skills.
Today, the sport continues to grow rapidly, cited as the fastest growing U.S. sport by the
National Sporting Goods Association. As a result of its popularity, permanent rinks are
now being built specifically to house league and tournament play. With millions of people
playing, teams are competing all over the country, as well as the world. Since roller
hockey minimizes physical contact as compared to its ice hockey counterpart, the sport is
being enjoyed by a larger segment of both sexes. Girl's and women's teams are playing, as
well as coed teams.
As more facilities become available for the sport, organized roller hockey will continue
to grow at quantum paces, both inside and outside of the United States. Roller hockey will
become more integrated into college and high school athletic programs as well as city
sponsored programs. In addition, competition among world roller hockey teams should allow
for this sport to be added to the Olympics. The ability of roller hockey players to
effectively play ice hockey, and vice versa, will also improve the caliber and play of
both sports. The great element about roller hockey is that whether you have a full
facility or just a parking lot, the game can always be played.