Dek hockey nets plenty of interest
Dek hockey has grown into a viable alternative for men looking for an enjoyable means of exercise.
Rick Double, manager of the adult dek hockey program at Butler Township Park, said there were six teams in the program when he came on board four years ago. Now there are 22.
"We have an A, B and C league, based on talent level," Double said. "This system provides every team with a fair chance of winning and that helps to maintain interest."
The trickle down from the popularity of professional sports helps, too.
"The success of the (Pittsburgh)Penguins has helped us. When the Penguins are doing well, everybody wants to play hockey," Double said.
The adult leagues are available to anyone age 16 or older.
"I'm 54 and I still play," Double said. "My 17-year-old son plays on my team. That side of it is kinda fun, too."
Games consist of three 10-minute periods and are played Saturdays and Sundays. Adult games begin at 3 p.m. and end around 11 p.m.
Dek hockey is relatively inexpensive as most players wear tennis shoes and some type of shin guard. Adult players are not required to wear helmets and most do not.
Double listed six area businesses — J&E Custom Decal, Doggone Cute, Robert Stevens Jewelry, Graph Product, Iron Wheel Athletics and Standard Bent Glass — that have teams in the league with employees on the roster.
Roster size is unlimited, though most teams have about 12 players. Four players and a goalie are on the court at one time.
"The ideal situation is having two lines available, so you can alternate shifts,"Barry Cummings said. "Nobody gets tired and everybody plays a lot."
Cummings is the owner of Cummings Candy &Coffee in Butler and sponsors the Cummings Coffee entrant in the league. He plays for the team as well. "I wouldn't sponsor a team if I couldn't play," said Cummings, who described himself as "40-something."
He decided to put a team in the league two years ago. His roster consists of store customers, neighbors and friends.
"I put a flyer up in the store and word got around,"Cummings said.
Two members of the team — Brad Cavaliero, 46, and Dennis Walters, 41 — never played hockey before they joined Cummings' squad last year.
"I knew I needed to get some exercise and I love hockey,"Walters said. "I can't skate, so ice hockey was out of the question.
"Dek hockey looked like fun, so I gave it a go. Now I'm hooked."
Before joining the Cummings team, Walters admitted he hadn't exercised regularly since college."No way was I going to keep up with a regular exercise regimen on my own,"he said. "But having a game on a certain day with teammates counting on me to be there ... I'm going to show up for that."Cavaliero plays softball in the summer, but enjoys the cardiovascular benefits of playing dek hockey."This game is quite a workout and there's no leaping or jumping involved, so older guys like me can do this,"Cavaliero said."It's better than the stationary bike I don't get on at home."Cummings Coffee suffered a 4-0 loss in a playoff game last Saturday, facing a much younger opponent."We were old enough to be their fathers,"Walters said, laughing. "Most of the guys in this league are in their low to mid 20s. That makes it a challenge for us."Cummings didn't play in the playoff game as he chipped his shoulder while crashing to the ground in a battle for possession of the ball during his team's previous game.Unlike ice hockey, body-checking is not permitted in dek hockey. "There's still a lot of physical grinding going on,"Cummings said. "Your body takes a bit of a beating in this game."I'm usually pretty sore on Sundays. But it's a pretty satisfying soreness."The dek is at 468 S. Duffy Road, Butler Township. A per- player fee is charged. Call Rick Double, league manager, at 724-285-5007 for more information.
