Etown roller hockey skates into new season in the rink

The Elizabethtown Club Roller Hockey teams are back in action for the season. With 12 strong members returning and four new experienced freshmen, the teams have started out with a bang.

There has been so much interest that the original Etown squad had to split into two teams to accompany all the players. This year, one team is known as the Blue Jays, while the other is simply known as Etown.

The Blue Jay team has a record of 6-1 thus far. The team is made up of senior goalie Steve Rutt, juniors Barbara Sohl and Tony Buhay, sophomores Jason Kreidler, Billy Houder and Rob Hettel, and freshmen Aaron Koontz, Josh Bowman and Matthew Snavely.

The Etown team has a record of 7-0. This team is comprised of seniors Chris Brockman, Steve Rutt, Dave Dominczyk, Jason Morre, Greg Cafferio, Junior and sophomore goalie Josh Hall, sophomore James Hayes, freshman Allan Sephannak and graduate Chris Owsiany.

This is quite a change from last year's line up. The team lost many of its key players due to graduation in the 2001 -2002 season. Key players that helped to keep the team moving were Caffiero and Brockman who both return as seniors this year. Other players mentioned last year for their outstanding leadership and skills were Dominczyk, Rutt and alumni Owsiany.

The teams will continue to strive and meet their many goals they set each year.

Houder said, "My hopes for this year are to continue to see both teams work together. The goal for both teams is to win the championship in their division. The team, as a whole, has had great improvements since last year. Many of the players played on a summer league, and some of the freshmen have played roller hockey or ice hockey before so they are experienced. The returning players have really stepped up a notch offensively and defensively."

"Both teams have strong lines where anyone line can go out and score goals and play solid defense. It makes for exciting high scoring games with a lot of speed, action, and thrills," he said.