Written by Wesley Dennis
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 August 2008 20:58
Along with the massive influx of expatriate residents to the Cayman Islands, so to is a new sport to these islands, hockey. Who would have thought that it would be Cayman’s fastest growing sport?!
Original article reproduced as written by Wesley Dennis,
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, and published in the Cayman NetNews, Â www.CaymanNetNews.com.Â
Many may think it is because of the huge Canadian influence and residents now here, but it is the American and Caymanian families also getting into the sport and sending their kids out there creating big numbers in the leagues.
Currently all hockey in Cayman is only available at King’s; there is the WestTel Men’s Roller Hockey, and WestTel Youth Roller Hockey ages 6U, 9U, 12U, 16U, and Girls. Within the youth program King’s also operates an Inter-School Series. Adult Ball hockey is the third hockey program available.
When talking to Raymond Singh, the Athletic Director of King’s Sports Centre, he shed some light on just how the sport of hockey has taken Cayman by storm.
“Hockey is not only the fastest sport on the island, but also the fastest growing sport. The reason is simple, and that is, it offers a combination of every sporting element that both kids and adults want to see: speed, action, competitiveness, fair play, and most of all discipline. This island is hungry for organized sports, and King’s is a one-stop-shop for just that.”
Going into the Fall and Winter, the return of the adult roller hockey league is first to reopen the local hockey. “After a quiet and peaceful summer, the intense WestTel Adult Roller Hockey League skates back into gear in September. The league has seen some player changes, with some of the veteran players leaving the island, but a new influx of recreational players, should make this season one of our best,” says Singh.
“The coveted Cherry Cup has been held by three of the four teams to date, with the Alba High Rollers earning the cup back in June of this year. The pressure is on Elite Marble and Granite to seal the deal this time around, after several close but incomplete seasons. However, keep an eye out for the Chiefs and Boomers, as they look to take the cup home this season,” he adds.
Looking back on the youth programme, in the words of Singh, “one of the things that impresses me about this programme is the cheering that the parents do during the games. Let’s really try to keep this at a high level, as it only helps to get the kids motivated for the games. One of these days, I’m sure we’ll get some moms making banners for their teams and bringing in blow horns.”
The 1st Semi-Annual Roller Hockey game, the match-up between Cayman International and Cayman Prep Schools, was, in a word, exciting. On 18 April the inaugural game went off without a hitch. A crowd of parents, siblings, and fans packed the King’s Sports Centre and showed true enthusiasm for the young boys on the court. Cayman Prep was the winner of the day with 9-7.
Z99 FM owner Randy Merren, and father of a player from the Cayman International team, thought the game was the beginning of something great.
“I think today was a look at the start of what could be a fantastic rivalry between Cayman International and Cayman Prep, and the birth of a new sport for kids of Cayman. As a sponsor I saw an exciting and action packed game. And as a parent I was very proud of the effort of my son’s team. It was a great game and well- coached teams,” Merren said.
On Friday, 30 May, St Ignatius and Cayman Prep played the second-ever inter-school hockey game. St Ignatius emerged on the winning side of the 3-1 score line.
The young men and women of the six and under WestTel Youth Roller Hockey league played to a close finish on 28 June, with the Maples and Calder Lightning team edging out the Walkers Blue Iguanas in an overtime winning score of 4-3. And on Monday afternoon 23 June, the KPMG Senators emerged as champions of the WestTel 10U youth roller hockey league.
The Cayman Islands Ball Hockey Association hosted the Caribbean Cup ’08, 1 May, featuring teams from the Bahamas, Bermuda, and British Virgin Islands, at King’s. There was a fantastic turn out and the championship went off without a hitch.
Singh promises little changes to any of the local hockey leagues, but can easily see each league growing. For the public who has not been out to see any of theses games, it can be said that checking it out may have you hooked as a fan, or may peak an interest in joining or sending your own child out there.
Hockey
