Inline Hockey On The Ground Floor Of River Development

A new sports league is rolling into town and taking up residence along the Arkansas River. It's called the River West Inline Hockey League. The News On 6â€™s Ashli Sims reports league organizers

Thursday, July 19th 2007, 9:00 pm

By: News On 6

A new sports league is rolling into town and taking up residence along the Arkansas River. It's called the River West Inline Hockey League. The News On 6â€™s Ashli Sims reports league organizers say they're getting in on the ground floor of river development, bringing a new recreational activity to the Arkansas River.

Everything is starting to fall in line for the new River West Inline Hockey League.

"Itâ€™s been a dream of mine to build a rink this size, and such a beautiful landscape," league coordinator Cary Eskridge said.

Cary Eskridge is a hockey enthusiast and he says he wants to share his passion for the game with Tulsa. He's already got 14 teams signed up, and players like Alex Best can't wait to hit the rink.

"Since Owasso's hockey rink shutdown there hasn't been anything in the last few years, so we've had to go out of state to play,â€ said inline hockey player Alex Best. â€œBut here we can just come to Tulsa to play."

Organizers plan to have inline skaters here year-round, except for one month, October. During Oktoberfest the rink will be taken down. Eskridge says the $35,000 rink is built in 16 foot sections and it can be taken down in just four hours. He says the location next to the river is worth the trouble of having to move once a year.

"We want to be the first on the recreational side to start the river west development,â€ Eskridge said.

Eskridge hopes the new River West league can play a part in developing the river. And Butch Kaebel, the coach of the Tulsa Oilers, hopes the league can help develop the sport of hockey in Green Country.

â€œAnd what happens is these kids get a chance, an opportunity to jump out here and play roller hockey and a lot of them in return go and play ice hockey," Butch Kaebel, Tulsa Oilers Coach said.

River West will get rolling next Saturday, but there is still time to register. They have divisions for men and women, youth and adults, beginners and experienced. If youâ€™re interested visit their website, www.riverwestinlinehockeyleague.com.

Watch the video: Inline Hockey Hits The Arkansas River

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