The FishHawk Roller Hockey League is one of the rare roller hockey leagues in the area. The league was founded by league President Matt Scribner in 2016 and has gained momentum since then.
The league is affiliated with South Bay Hockey Inc., a nonprofit organization whose goal is to make hockey more popular in the greater South Hillsborough County area. This organization was also founded by Scribner. Not only is the recreational Roller Hockey League associated with South Bay Hockey, which has both fall and spring seasons, but they have three travel teams as well that compete in regional and national tournaments called the FishHawk Fire. They have an eight and under team, a 10 and under team and a 12 and under team.
The league is open to boys and girls, ages 5-15. Registration is online at www.fishhawkhockey.com. The rink address is 5702 Hawkpark Blvd. in Lithia.
The fall season is right around the corner. Games are on Saturday mornings starting October 6.
It is one game and one practice each week for a 10-week season. The cost, much less expensive than ice hockey, is $150 per player with a 10% sibling discount. Required player equipment includes a helmet/face mask, hockey gloves, elbow pads, shin pads, inline skates, hockey stick and shoulder pads. South Bay Hockey gives some scholarships and equipment to players that can’t afford the costs to play. Every year they also do a fundraiser with Tampa Bay Lightning alumni and a DJ, and hold several raffles for sports memorabilia to raise money for the travel team costs.
Scribner hopes to have enough players for eight teams this fall season after having six last season. Each team consists of six to eight players, plus a goalie. He also recruits referees and has parents help coach, and Newsome ice hockey students also volunteer to help out and gain volunteer community service hours. South Bay Hockey Inc. would also like to expand and partner with other rinks and possibly start other leagues as well as partner with the Tampa Bay Lightning to build another rink.
“We want to grow the sport of roller hockey and make it more available for kids in the area to play roller hockey versus the traditional sports,” said Scribner.
For more information about the league, you can visit its Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/fishhawkhockey. If you would like to make a donation or become a sponsor for the raffle, you can contact Scribner at 957-2493, or email him at matt.Scribner@gmail.com. They also accept equipment donations.
