MEDIA CONTEST: LET THE GAMES BEGIN - D-M Hockey Club seeks more players

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  When hockey players around the Air Force talk about hockey hotbeds, they usually bring up assignments like Alaska, Colorado or the Northeast. Skaters at Elmendorf or Peterson Air force Base each have more than five local rinks to choose from and installation hockey clubs to play on. But Davis-Monthan? Not exactly a hockey haven - more like H.E. double hockey sticks, right?

Don't tell the 30-plus skaters taking part in one of D-M's three-faceted programs that though. They're getting plenty of ice and rink time, playing on the sport court, ice and cement. According to organizer William Macek, there are a variety of opportunities for Desert Lightning skaters interested in playing a little puck.

The starting point for many players is the outdoor in-line hockey that takes place at D-M's rink, located near the entrance to Palo Verde Village. Groups of players play pick-up hockey at the rink every Wednesday and Sunday night from 7 to 9 p.m.

"We try to keep this open for everybody," Macek said. "This is how a lot of our
players got started in the program."

The pick-up hockey features players at all skill levels, and is absolutely free,
Macek added.

"The more people that turnout the better," he said. "Right now we need to build the group back up as some of our regular players have (had a permanent change of station). It's sometimes a crapshoot because not everyone can always make it." The outdoor group is always looking for goalies as well. Some of the skaters playing at D-M's rink have gone on to play in the two indoor programs: in-link hockey at Tucson's Bladeworld rink and ice hockey at Tucson Ice.

Team D-M, as the in-line squad is known at Bladeworld, is nearing the playoffs in the Bronze A division. They have one more important match up in regular season play, when they take on the Stormtroopers at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We're doing really well and we've got a lot of heart in our team," Macek said. "We've had a lot of times where we were losing and were able to come back or manage to pull out a tie." For people wanting to come out and support Team D-M or for more information about the program at Bladeworld, visit www.bladeworld.com.

Shortly after the playoffs, another season will begin, and Macek said the D-M skaters are looking to expand and may enter two teams if they have enough participation. Experience is not necessary, as D-M fields a number of players qualifying as rookies and each received a discount on league fees, according to Macek.

"We've taken some players at a lower level and fit them in. Next session, we may field teams at two different skill levels," he said. Right now, their focused on playoff glory.

Davis-Monthan's ice hockey club, the Defenders, has garnered plenty of post season hardware since its inception more than four seasons ago. The Defenders have won four championships at Tucson Ice and are looking for more. Led by Chad Darvas, the club is currently having a tough time on the ice because of players missing due to permanent change of stations, temporary duty assignments and deployments.

The Defenders are looking forward to the Armed Services Hockey Championship, a club-level tournament held annually in Las Vegas, Nev. Installation teams from Hanscom to Hill compete to see which installation has the best squad on the ice.

Because of some players taking part in all three facets of hockey at D-M, the programs are interrelated, Macek explained. While the ice hockey program is a little older, things really got going from pick-up hockey at the outdoor rink.

"There were a few people coming out and playing on Saturday mornings and we started advertising to get more players in early 2004 and since then it's been twice a week and the program has grown a lot," Macek said. "We are very fortunate to have such a nice facility on base - it's one of the best in the Air Force - and it is because of that facility that we got players who later on went to the ice and roller teams down town."

People interested in participating can show up for pick up hockey at the D-M rink, or call Macek at 228-4849 or 370-4856, and Sergeant Darvas at 228-3424. So lace 'em up and take advantage of being stationed at D-M, a real hockey hotbed.