The Pima Street Hockey League was founded in the late 1990s, but I started playing as soon as I arrived on campus at The University of Arizona in 2006. I was able to meet so many amazing people through the "league" because we all shared a common interest: our love for the game.
What amazed me the most was the variety of people that play with us on a weekly basis. Of the over 60 players that I've met while playing in Tucson, only a handful of them are actually from Tucson, and about 20 of them are from other countries.
It is so culturally diverse that even the Daily Star took notice. Maros Servatka and Rado Vadovic, two of the best players out there, were born and raised in Slovakia, where they played ice hockey. Will Gorkoff, who's slapshot has given me a few bruises, hails from Ottawa, Canada. Naghmeh Saghafi, one of the female regulars, is from Tehran, Iran. There are many more that are not so regular, but come out every now and then. It just proves that the game of hockey is as international a sport as any.
I love the game of hockey. It's my escape from the rigors of school and work. The Pima Street Hockey League has helped me get through four rough years of being on my own. And, I've made some great friends through it. I have tasted beers from many countries and have been offered many different couches to sleep on when I decide to travel the world. Though the average age of the league is up in the 30s, we consider ourselves athletes, which is why I decided to give the group recognition.
So, it doesn't matter what your skill level is or what country you come from. Everyone's invited, every Saturday night at 7 p.m. Eric Ogden Skate Park, right next to Catalina High School, 3525 E. Pima Street. If you love hockey at a laid back pace, this game is definitely for you.
For more information on the Pima Street Hockey League, go to pimastreethockey.com.
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