Bantams Squirts

Area young people begin competing for Jr.StreetKings Ron Caldwell Times Sports Editor It's a long way from the Hernando Civic Center to the Stanley Cup, but anything is possible.And, more than 60 youngsters from around the mid-South took that first step on Saturday by signing up for the Jr.StreetKing youth hockey league that will begin this week at the Hernando Civic Center. "It's the best feeling in the whole world to see these kids and to help them progress an grow in playing" said Derek Landmesser, captain of the RiverKing hockey team who is coordinating the program. The Jr.StreetKing program is in its fifth year with players between the ages of four and 16 competing in Squirt and Bantam divisions. The Squirt league for ages four to 10 will have three teams while the Bantam for ages 11-16 will also have three teams. "This week we will hold practices and the league games will start next Monday" said Landmesser. "We're getting a little later start with our spring league this year because we (the RiverKings) were in the playoffs." Landmesser is also getting coaching help from teammate Louis Dumont and Darrell Stoddard, as well as RiverKing head coach Kevin McClelland.The young players will have a vastly upgraded facility this year as the Maddox Foundation committed $75,000 in a grant to Hernando Youth Sports to fund improvements at the Hernando Civic Center. The grant is being used to construct bleachers for seating at the facility's outdoor roller hockey rink, to construct ramps for easier access to the rink, to acquire and install a scoreboard for the rink, and to construct a bathroom and concession facility that will serve the rink and adjacent ball fields. The foundation is committing an additional $50,000 in general support for Hernando Youth Sports to support all of its youth recreation programs. "We have a long history of support for Hernando Youth Sports and the Jr. StreetKings roller hockey program that they operate at the Hernando Civic Center," said Mike Ward, director of programs for Maddox Foundation. "We are also supportive of Hernando Youth Sports and their mission to provide quality programs and services to young people in Hernando and the surrounding area." The improvements are a welcome addition to the Civic Center, according to Tabitha Bynum, whose son C.J. has been playing roller hockey in the Jr. StreetKings recreational league at the facility for four years. "The restroom and concession building for this part of the Civic Center property issomething we have worked toward for some time," said Danny Phillips, facilities manager for Hernando Youth Sports. "It will certainly improve conveniences available to participants in our programs and their parents." Hernando Youth Sports also has long-term plans for the facility, according to Phillips, including putting awnings over the bleachers, and building permanent bleachers for baseball patrons with awnings. The group also has plans to pave the gravel parking lot with asphalt, add a white picket fence around the perimeter, and build more pavilions with grills for use by individual families or teams to rest in or cook out, at some point in the future. Landmesser said that the improvements will mean a lot to young people in the area."The roller hockey program and youth sports are important because they give kids activities to do after school and in the summer," Landmesser said. "Kids learn so many things playing team sports. Of course I think hockey is the best sport in the world. All team sports are good though, because they are a lot of fun and help build character." Back Edited By: Brian Ramsey on 6/11/2007 2:31:12 PM