Once foreign sport gaining popularity in area
by Bobby Nichols

     Hockey in Texas is a recent phenomenon that is gaining popularity in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

    This increased interest has spurred the development of several ice hockey rinks in the area.

     The Dallas Stars, a NHL Hockey team, is one of the biggest contributors to the growth of the sport in the Metroplex.

     The Dallas Stars along with the Dr Pepper Company created the Dr Pepper StarCenters. With four facilities located in the area, they offer people of the community the opportunity to play hockey.

     The StarCenters have recreational leagues for players of all skill levels, from instructional leagues for beginners to competitive leagues for players with college or professional hockey experience.

     In addition to recreational leagues, the StarCenters also play host to the Southwestern Bell Metroplex High School Hockey League. This competitive league contains over 25 high school teams from the DFW area.

     Hockey has also reached the collegiate level in Texas with the formation of the Southwest Collegiate Hockey League (SCHL). Founded in 1996, the SCHL was the first organized collegiate roller hockey league in Texas. Sixteen colleges from Texas and Oklahoma compete in the SCHL.

     With hockey no longer just a northern sport, Texas youths are growing up playing hockey.

     Dustin Manko, photography major on the NE Campus, began playing hockey at a young age.

     "Hockey is just fun; that's all there is to it," Manko said.

     When asked about the popularity of the sport, Manko said, "The game is fast, there is power and speed. What's not to like?"

     Manko played hockey for Trinity High School and was a member of the former TCC hockey team. He will play for UTA this fall in the SCHL.

     Along with the StarCenters, ice hockey rinks are being built inside local shopping malls as an added source of entertainment.

     Grapevine Mills Mall created Polar Ice, a hockey facility that offers leagues and open skating to the public. North Hills Mall in North Richland Hills plans to renovate and expand to include an ice hockey rink.

      With the creation of more ice hockey rinks and the price of playing becoming cheaper, hockey is now a realistic alternative to the other major sports in Texas.