A cult following

Being a hockey player or fan in San Diego has always been pretty unique. Typical responses I've gotten from people who find out that I'm involved with hockey are:

"There's hockey in San Diego?"

"Where did you grow up?"

"Where's the ice rink?"

" Is it roller hockey?"

The hockey community in San Diego is pretty small. People involved with youth hockey here are pretty hard core about it. That's why it's so funny to run into people not involved with hockey give a weird look when you mention hockey to them.

The problem San Diego is facing now is that the number of kids playing ice hockey in San Diego is decreasing from what is was in the 90s. This is due to a number of reasons:

- Struggling economy

- The death of roller hockey: It used to be really popular and almost became a CIF sport in high school. Roller hockey used to be a great feeder sport for ice hockey.

- No pro team: Kids have no team to watch or support. The best hockey San Diego ever had was the Gulls of the International Hockey League (IHL). Really good hockey with a lot of NHL talent. The Ducks and Kings don't really appeal to the San Diego market.

- Hardly ever on T.V: ESPN doesn't televise games anymore. The Kings get a couple games a week and San Diego doesn't get Ducks games. Combine that with the fact that there isn't really a Gretzkylike figure to attract people, the kids simply don't watch and learn.

- Popularity: Sports like baseball, football and soccer are just more popular. Kids can identify with the Chargers and Padres.

-Price: Hockey is a really appealing sport if kids are given the chance, but hockey is an expensive sport. It takes family sacrifice for kids to play.

One of the main disadvantages that players in SD have is that there isn't much exposure to the game. There's nothing to pull them in and get them really excited. Back in the early 90s, a huge generation of player came to the game with Gretzky and then the Ducks. I hate to say it, but the goofy Disney movies actually got kids interested in hockey. The expansion of the NHL Ducks didn't hurt either.

But now, hockey is on the decline here. I'm hoping that maybe someday Sidney Crosby or Ovechkin either gets traded or becomes a free agent and comes to the Kings or Ducks.

This year, our club is taking a few teams to the East Coast. The peewees are going to Ottawa for the Bell Capital Cup, the bantam AA team is going to Toronto for the Paul Coffey tournament, while the Lady Saints are going to Connecticut for the Polar Bear tournament. Although I hope all teams are competitive and do well at their respective tournaments, what I'm really hoping is that these kids and parents will get excited about hockey... Playing tournaments out here in the west is NOTHING compared to playing in big-time tournaments out on the east coast and Canada. 

Not just because of the competition, but a great atmosphere is really fun to play in. In 2004, Jason Galea took the first ever Saints team to the Toronto area for the Silver Sticks Finals. In 2006, I took a peewee team to Ottawa for the Bell Capital Cup. Both teams had an amazing time and is still a very fond memory for all of the players, coaches and parents who participated in the trips. 

Hopefully the teams this year will have the same kind of experience. 

-Neil Konitshek