Pinehurst Kicks Off First Inline Hockey League in the Region

Starting Nov. 1, inline hockey hits the rinks at Rassie Wicker Park in Pinehurst, North Carolina. After picking through 50 eager applicants, officials formed four teams with nine players each.

"Someone said we should start a league," Wesley Page said, per the Sandhills Sentinel. The season stretches to Feb. 7, mixing Saturday matches with three Monday night games.

Teams send five players onto the rink. Four zipping around on skates while one minds the net. Players switch in and out during games, giving everyone ice time.

The board still needs to sort out who does what among its four members. Page caught hockey fever at a Carolina Hurricanes match three years ago, after serving in the Army and working as a Southern Pines cop.

Moore County hasn't seen organized hockey until now. "The word-of-mouth is getting out there. People who haven't played in a long time are coming out to the pickup games," Page said.

Since the Hurricanes flew south from Hartford in '97, hockey's grip on North Carolina keeps tightening. The team snatched the Stanley Cup in 2006. They've stormed into the playoffs every season since 2019.

This startup aims to spark local interest in the sport. "I hope it helps grow the hockey community," Page said. "Hopefully, a lot more people hear about hockey and start playing it."

Want to join next season? Check the Pinehurst Hockey Association's website for signup info and game times.