The K-State Roller Hockey Club ventured to Denton, Texas, last weekend to play Big 12 teams, something that had never happened before in the team’s history.
“This trip [was] exciting because we [got] to play Big 12 teams,” said Zac Buckmiller, senior in architectural engineering and club president. “We regularly play Missouri, but that’s our only Big 12 competition.”
The team does not have any home games because the Manhattan area does not have a regulation-size rink, but practices in Junction City on a smaller one. The Peters Recreation Complex expansion, which was approved last year, includes plans for a rink.
“The Rec expansion is huge for us,” Buckmiller said. “There are plans for a rink, but it’s still up in the air how big it will be, and if it will be regulation size.”
The club at K-State is open to any student regardless of experience level. “
We’ve got guys who have showed up and fallen flat on their face because they’ve never skated before in their life,” said Jerry Remsbecker, who is in his tenth year as volunteer coach of the team. “We take anybody who’s interested. We’ll get them out here and help them improve their game.”
Many of the team’s members grew up playing ice hockey, which is a much different game. Since the game is played on inline skates, the rules are adjusted to make it less physical.
“I’ve been playing for about 15 years,” said Nate Buckner, junior in accounting and team member. “I played mostly ice hockey, so a big adjustment for me was not checking people because it’s not allowed.”
According to its Web site, the team has been around for more than a decade, and has enjoyed a fair amount of success since joining the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association five years ago.
“We made it to the Final Four at nationals a few years back,” Remsbecker said. “That’s tough to do because many schools around the country fully fund their teams.
“When the rink in the Rec is completed, it should allow us to become a much more competitive team because we will be able to practice as often as our competition. Despite losing our four matches [against Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Texas-Arlington], we worked hard and progressed as a team.”
Student Governing Association helps fund the club, but players pay $200 in dues each year and pay for their own lodging on trips.
“We fundraise as much as we can, but that is really cheap for hockey,” Buckmiller said.
While the team does not play any home matches, it does play an alumni game each year at Spin City in Junction City. More information can be found on the team’s Web site, ksu.edu/hockey.
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