Roller Hockey Skates into Centralia

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Centralia has a new roller hockey league.

The Puget Sound Sharks held their first roller hockey tournament Sunday at the Centralia Rollerdrome.

About 25 boys and girls ages 5 to 15 play on the four teams that comprise the newly created Puget Sound Sharks Roller Hockey League that began in March.

“This year has been amazing,” said Mark Williamson, who created the league.

Williamson, of Olympia, decided to start the league because his son loves to roller skate and he noticed that youths didn’t have much to do in Lewis County.

“We really want to keep kids off the streets and get them in here doing sports,” said Jenelle Sampson, a coach for the league.

Williamson is working on getting the league nonprofit status from the federal government. He said he hopes doing so will bring the participation costs down from the current $40 a month to $20 or less.

Sampson, who coaches the Great Whites, said she has had a few players drop out because they could not afford it. She said Williamson has personally sponsored several players.

“I’m coach Sampson. The one who knew nothing about hockey,” she said. “But I didn’t want to see kids not play.”

The coaches decided not to coach their own children.

“They listen so much better that way,” Sampson said.



Next year, Williamson hopes to break down the teams into similar age groups.

“The 15-year-olds can get a little hard on the 5-year-olds,” he said.

Williamson said next year the season will run from October until the end of June. The teams will practice twice weekly.

Williamson also hopes to have at least two tournaments next year.

“It’s so much fun to watch the kids play,” he said.

The league will loan equipment if participant want to try roller hockey before investing in their own.

“All kids are welcome and we’ll try to accommodate different financial needs,” Williamson said.

For more information, contact (360) 556-5296 or lewiscountyrollerhockey@yahoo.com

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Amy Nile: (360) 807-8235