Jr. StreetKings youth hockey rolls out spring schedule


By Times Sports Staff (Updated: Thursday, April 24, 2008 8:30 AM CDT)




The sounds of spring - birds singing, crickets chirping, and the gleeful whack of wood on a plastic puck. Yes, spring has returned to the Hernando Civic Center, and with it, the Jr. StreetKings street hockey league sixth annual season.

Jr. StreetKings, for children ages 4-15, features two components in the spring and summer: the hockey league in the evenings and on weekends, and several week-long day camp/hockey clinics to hone skills in July.

Christi Petty's three children, Codi King, 14; Carly King, 12; and Nick Petty, 10, all play in the league.

"It's the one thing they're all three interested in," Petty said. "It's been great for our kids - it's helped them make new friends after we moved and helped them come out of their shell and be more outgoing. They really love it."

Older sister Codi agreed with Carly about the benefits of playing hockey: "I like the advantage of being a girl and still getting to score on boys," said Carly.

Brother Nick likes getting the inside scoop on pro moves. "Sometimes you get a RiverKings player as your coach," said Nick, whose coach last year was Mississippi RiverKings forward Darrell Stoddard. "That can be an advantage, because he knows more about the game than other coaches maybe would."

Stephanie and Chris Miller's son Josiah, 5, has been playing ice and roller hockey for more than a year. They live in downtown Memphis and commute to the roller arena at the Hernando Civic Center in Mississippi.

"I enjoy the coaches," Stephanie said. "The players who coach are very hands-on at practices and ref the games as well. It's really easy for us to get down there - it's just 30 minutes from our house - and it is a great outdoor facility."

Players as coaches notwithstanding, Josiah truly enjoyed his coach last season, a local air pilot by the name of Luke Caron. "I like Coach Luke," Josiah said. "He goes to almost all the 'Kings games. He can't go to all of them because his job is a pilot, and he has to travel."

"It's nice for Josiah, because he gets to see his coach outside the rink - we sit near them at RiverKings games," Stephanie said.

Joshua McLain, 4, will finally get a chance to play after three years of begging his parents for the opportunity . His older brothers, Zachary, 9, and Nathaniel, 6, have been playing roller and ice hockey for several years.

"Joshua wanted to play from the moment he could talk," said mom Leta. "His first word was 'zamboni.' I didn't even know what that was, until my husband told me that it was the machine that cleans the ice in between periods.... Joshua and his brothers play hockey in the driveway almost every day."



Joshua's brother Zachary studies new moves on instructional DVDs when he's not at the rink, but practicing in the driveway doesn't provide the same social interaction Jr. StreetKings does. "Playing with the Jr. StreetKings is fun," he said. "I like getting to know the other kids."

Their brother Nathaniel enjoys the pride of competition. "I like playing hockey because you get to go to tournaments and win hockey games," he said. "My favorite part is scoring goals and winning trophies. In the tournament last year, I had the puck, and I passed it to Zachary, and he scored and we won! We got medals, which is cool because you can wear them."

League coordinator and RiverKing captain Derek Landmesser said he thinks the Jr. StreetKings provides benefits on multiple levels.

"It not only provides physical health benefits to the children and coaches, but social and character-building benefits as well," Landmesser said. "Adults in the community have an opportunity to mentor kids and teach them about competing in a positive way, learning discipline and teamwork. It's a social outlet for kids and parents to meet other families. And it gives the kids unique access to professional players."

While registration officially ended on April 20, Landmesser says he will always find room for one more child in the league, which hosts skill evaluations this Saturday and begins practice May 1. "I'll never turn a kid away who wants to play," he said.

To enroll in the league or the Jr. StreetKings day clinics/camps, call 901-870-PUCK. There are two divisions. Each division plays two games a week and practices once a week. Practices generally run from 6-8 p.m. Additional information can be found at www.jrstreetkings.com.
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Edited By: Derek Landmesser on 4/29/2008 10:37:58 AM