For ice hockey fanatics who can’t wait for the season to begin, there’s a new league in town. The new roller hockey league is rolling to a successful inaugural season at the Onalaska OmniCenter.

The summer league, sponsored by Tornado Youth Hockey, gets up to 40-50 players of all ages who play hockey on wheels instead of blades.

The league was started by Mike McCaffrey of Onalaska, a Tornado Youth Hockey member, for two reasons — for everyone to have fun and for keeping up ice hockey skills. But male or female skaters of any age don’t have to play organized ice hockey to enjoy the benefits of roller hockey.

“I think everyone is getting the same things out of it. … The fun of playing and improving one’s skills,” McCaffrey said. “For the kids, it’s mainly still having the opportunity to keep playing the game in a non-pressure environment and have fun while keeping their (ice hockey) skills sharp. For the adults, it’s really the same reasons.”

Roller hockey is played on roller skates made specifically for roller hockey, not just any old inline skates. “The roller hockey skates have softer wheels for playing in a controlled environment, not streets and sidewalks like inline skates,” said youth hockey coach Steve Jensen.

McCaffrey, 38, is playing as well, but for different reasons, using it as a form of physical therapy to help him get back into shape after a severe accident. McCaffrey has been skating since he was in the sixth grade and playing hockey just as long. His son Tyler, who is 12, has been skating since he was 18 months old. His daughter started skating at the age of 3 but is now becoming more interested in gymnastics.

McCaffrey’s youngest son laced up skates last year at the age of 3. “While he’s not ready for ice hockey, he is playing hockey while in his shoes in the driveway and at roller hockey and is doing well at shooting and contacting the puck.”

Nick and Will Post, who live in the town of Onalaska and go to school in Holmen, have played ice hockey with Tornado Youth Hockey for several years. Originally, Nick, 8, was the one who signed up. “But when the 10-year-old (Will) saw (Nick) play, he immediately wanted to sign up,” said mother Debbie Post.

Jensen said roller hockey has been a lesson in humility. He’s been ice skating all his life and had never tried roller hockey before. “It’s very different,” he said. “I’ve been a coach a long time and I’m a little better than average hockey player. On wheels, I’ve got 10-, 11- and 12-year olds that can skate circles around me. It doesn’t matter your age and skill, when you get on skates, things are different. It’s a little humbling. When I’m on wheels they are telling me how to do things right.”

Debbie Post agreed. “It is definitely different for the boys being on roller blades versus ice skates,” she said. “It is harder for them to stop. It is a good workout for them and it’ll keep them in shape for the hockey season that is approaching fast.”

“It’s 10 times harder to get up to speed and to keep that speed going on roller blades,” McCaffrey added. “So the kids are really working hard on their cardio without even knowing it, because they are having fun.”

Hunter and Conner Hefti, who attend Sand Lake Elementary, both have played ice hockey for two years. They both say they play roller hockey because it’s fun scoring goals and playing hockey with their friends. “Hockey is fun, fast paced, and you don’t stand around waiting for the ball like in baseball,” Connor said. “Everyone gets to skate.”

His older brother Hunter agreed. “Hockey is fun and there is always a challenge,” said Hunter, 9. “If someone is better than you, it makes you want to work harder to improve.”

Jensen said he could see the improvements in the youths’ playing skills. “They’re becoming smarter; it’s nice to see,” he said. “We’re not out here coaching them, but it is supervised. We’re not telling them what to do and what not to do. We’re just letting them be creative, and the creativity is starting to show itself.”

He said when the kids finally understand they are not in a practice environment, they really start letting loose and becoming creative.

Everyone is surprised at how many people, adults as well as kids, have joined, Jensen said. But he thought there could be more if it were not for the fact that summer baseball games are played on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

McCaffrey said he’s hearing comments from ice hockey coaches that the roller hockey has resulted in improvement for players. “I’ve been told by a couple of coaches that have seen some of the kids out on the ice already that there is a decided difference between the kids playing roller hockey and those not,” McCaffrey said. “The kids playing roller hockey seem to be more fluid and faster than the kids that were at the same level as they were last ice hockey season.

“I think that the competitiveness of the sport will always come out in each player no matter how much you try to curb it for the sake of skills development, McCaffrey continued. “And I think it’s that competitiveness in each player that drives them to challenge each other to work and try harder to improve.”

Contact Jo Anne Killeen at joanne.killeen@lee.net or 786-6816.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Tornado Youth Hockey summer roller hockey league

WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of August, different age groups from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for youth; 8:30 to 10 p.m. for high school age and adults

WHERE: Onalaska OmniCenter

COST: $35 for rest of summer

CONTACT: Mike McCaffrey at 787-1943 or e-mail at mikemccaffrey@tornadoy

outhhockey.org

ON THE WEB: tornadoyouthhockey.org