ELON COLLEGE – Elon College, a college of 4,000 students, is rolling over its competitors from schools four times its size in the most unlikely of sports – roller hockey.
The college’s teams have outscored opponents from Clemson, Duke, Virginia Tech, Emory and N.C. State. “We are the top school,” said Gerard Cameron, the teams’ coach and director of the college’s physical plant.
Elon, which has four teams including a women’s team, has won three major tournaments. Its elite team with the best male players will participate at the Southeastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Tournament in Atlanta Feb. 19-20.
Two years ago, team members were playing games in a campus parking lot in less than desirable conditions. “We now practice indoors in East Gym, which is well lighted,” Cameron said.
Cameron, a 30-year veteran of the Canadian military who has played and coached ice hockey, became a fan of roller hockey about 10 years ago. Stationed in Damascus, Syria, at the time, he took up the sport because no ice rinks were available.
The team’s captain, J.R. Shortall, has been playing ice and roller hockey since he was 11. “I gave up baseball and soccer to play hockey. Baseball was too slow for me. Hockey is more intense and physical,” said the junior computer science major from Preston, Md.
The teams aren’t intimidated to go up against teams from bigger schools, Shortall said. “We know we have the caliber and talent to beat anybody.”
The rules and equipment used in roller hockey are similar to those used in ice hockey. Players on roller blades use sticks to get a puck or ball into the opposing team’s goal. It can be played in an indoor rink or outside on a hard surface.