Alabama Roller Hockey

Hockey talent blossoms in Sun Belt

Caps general manager George McPhee and coach Bruce Boudreau have kids playing hockey and have seen the development firsthand.

“California is a hotbed of hockey now. Florida, I have a 13-year-old so the ‘98s, the Florida team is one of the best in the country,” Boudreau said. “They draw from everywhere, so I think it’s great to see and I hope it continues. It’s a great trend, and when Americans start to get good at something they take over. So if I’m a Canadian, I’m watching out.”

If the United States is starting to take over, it’s still blossoming from traditional places such as Minnesota, according to USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean . But Sun Belt states are catching up, thanks in large part to the NHL ’s expansion in those areas.

In 1990-91, USA Hockey had 4,462 registered players in its Southeast District, which consists of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the District. Last year, it had 11,571 in Florida alone. Texas beat that with 11,661, and California boasted 22,305 hockey players.

“Growing up, for me being in Minnesota you only play in Minnesota, really — except in the summer. And even then you don’t travel,” said Caps sixth-round pick Travis Boyd, a Hopkins, Minn., native. “When you start getting into the lower teens, you meet guys you play from Texas and you’re like, ‘I didn’t even know they had hockey in Texas.’ And they’re all good players, too.”

A spokesman for commissioner Gary Bettman shook off some of the credit for this, calling the league’s Sun Belt expansion and increase in participation in those stats “symbiotic” — that interest in nontraditional markets prompted the need for more teams. But it’s hardly a coincidence that adding teams in Anaheim, San Jose, South Florida and Tampa has led to such a boom in talent from those areas.

“I think the NHL was probably the biggest catalyst for this stuff,” Ogrean said. “Gary Bettman over the years has taken some criticism for markets that are harder to nurture success with. But there is an absolute cause-and-effect relationship between that and the increase in participation in Sun Belt states. A lot of it starts with the visibility and the stage the NHL has.

Adult Roller Hockey League at In-Line Hockey Rink in Dothan Alabama

Adult Roller Hockey League at In-Line Hockey Rink in Dothan Alabama - Dothan, AL - City of Dothan, AL. Dothan Leisure Services announces Extended Registration for the new In-Line Hockey League. Registration will take place on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the In-Line Hockey Rink next to Doug Tew Recreation Center. The league is open to boys and girls ages 7-17 and adults 18-up. Cost is $75.00 per participant. Demonstrations will be held during the times of registration. - Zip Codes: 36301, 36302, 36303, 36304, 36305 Dothan Leisure Services announces Extended Registration for the new In-Line Hockey League. Registration will take place on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at the In-Line Hockey Rink next to Doug Tew Recreation Center. The league is open to boys and girls ages 7-17 and adults 18-up. Cost is $75.00 per participant. Demonstrations will be held during the times of registration.

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