KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Inline Hockey Association will be fielding three teams and several individual skaters when the Regional tournament opens this weekend in Kapolei.
Tuesday night, some of the skaters in the participating teams were getting in last-minute practice before heading to O‘ahu.
Among those skating, Trevor McCracken feels good about the group’s prospects in Kapolei.
“We just got back from the North American Roller Hockey Championship qualifying tournament last month and the teams did well,” McCracken, himself a multi-award winner from the tournament, said. “This NARCH qualifier was something new for us this year. The Regionals are something we do every year.”
The KIHA 14 and Under team finished in second place, a Mixed 16 and Under tream with several Kaua‘i players finished first in its division, and following what McCracken described as a very close game, the 18 and Under team ended in second place at the new multi-million dollar inline hockey rink in Kapolei.
McCracken finished the tournament earning the Highest Score award and the Junior All-Star award for his efforts.
When the planes leave Lihu‘e Airport, KIHA will have several younger skaters who will play in combined teams in both the 10 and Under and 12 and Under divisions, said Tyson Wakayama, one of the KIHA player/coaches.
KIHA will also field a 14 and Under team, an 18 and Under team, and a combined adult men team.
Johnny Masterson, the KIHA vice president and a coach, said following the Regional tournament, KIHA will launch a free summer skating clinic for youngsters wishing to experience inline skating and hockey.
That clinic will start from July 1 and be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the KIHA rink in Kapa‘a.
“There is no need to register,” Masterson said. “All the kids have to do is show up. We have lots of equipment they can use.”
Marius Foudila, an exchange student from Finland, was also at the rink, getting in his final swings in Hawai‘i as well as bidding farewell to new friends from the rink.
“I always did hockey in Finland,” Foudila said. “But I also did golf and air riflery for Waimea High School.”
Masterson said it helped that Foudila’s foster family had Tom Gross playing a goalkeeping position for the adult league and Foudila just fit in naturally.
For more information, call Masterson at 635-1242.
