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News Article
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Posted by meaks17 on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 |
A few college friends devoid of competitive hockey got together at the bar one night last year and brainstormed what would become the most indispensable part of their lives. Over a few pints the guys hashed out the major details of a competitive two on two hockey league.
All involved in coaching youth hockey or working at the local rink in the southeast Minnesota town of Winona, the boys figured out teams, rules of play, bi-laws and ice times. Little did they know their little idea to rekindle the flame of their old competitive hockey days would grow to be such a big part of their lives.
The players range in experience from juniors to high school and all attend Winona State University, a Minnesota college without even an intramural hockey program, much less a club or school team, odd by Minnesota standards. With lack of interest and feasible ice time for a club team, the guys needed this league.
September marked the beginning of preseason of the three team (Knights, I.R.A. and Warriors) two on two league, christened the Winona Elite League (WEL). The games are played late Sunday nights with each team playing each other once, using just one zone, the net is put in the corner and a crease is painted, cones are set up around the outside of the zone. Teams must take the puck out of the zone to gain possession, using one goalie for both teams. Games are split up into three, three minute periods, with a break between games.
The league plays for a prize of a few hundred dollars and the championship trophy made out of chaw tins, the Grizz Cup. Stats are kept, with chirps sent out weekly over e-mail building up to Sunday nights. A few handfuls of fans even attend the intense games.
The league might sound like some beer league of college kids trying too hard to bring back past memories, but it is anything but. Far more competitive than any beer league, the WEL has plans for expansion and possible two on two tournaments to pull in revenue; with a surprising amount of interest. The players practice three to four days a week and even sport WEL team warm ups.
The league has already gotten bigger than any of the players imagined it would ever get and with all of the other crap going on in life, the WEL gives these seven guys something to live for again. Knights player and league commissioner Eric Hofmann said, “I care about the WEL more than school, everyday is just a buildup until Sunday.â€
Hockey has pulled these guys together into a tight knit group and given them something meaningful. I.R.A player Brandon Hagedorn has went through some tough personal times lately but says, “I don’t know what I would do without this, at the end of the day when everything else is going downhill, I know I have this league, I know Sunday nights I can go out there and dangle, lay big hits and tilt. Then when Monday hits it’s back to anticipating Sunday again.â€
The WEL is Minnesota grassroots hockey at its best. It just goes to prove hockey is the best sport on earth and can provide meaning to anyone, anywhere.
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(956 reads) |
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Comments
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Re: League of Dreams
by meaks17 on Monday, November 12, 2007
these guys seem like the shit
Re: League of Dreams
by meaks17 on Monday, November 12, 2007
fuckin trashed guys writing shit from my account
Re: League of Dreams
by Hofmann2424 on Thursday, November 29, 2007
defintely i skated with a few of these guys.
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Average Score: 4.62
Votes: 8
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