Two young hockey players from Schuylkill County will compete in a national inline hockey tournament this summer, representing their home state.
Jade Burigana, 12, of Lake Wynonah; and Preston Webber, 13, Pottsville, are accomplished athletes who have played in the youth league at Roller Roost Sports Arena. After excelling in an open tryout in March, they will advance to a national competition called State Wars, slated to run July 22 to Aug. 4 in Taylor, Michigan.
While no local schools offer hockey programs, the two got into the sport by playing for Roller Roost’s inline hockey teams, which are run by the Schuylkill County Hockey Association. They also play in ice hockey leagues outside the county — Jade plays in Palmyra, and Preston in Reading.
State Wars is an annual inline hockey tournament organized by the United States Roller Hockey Commission, played by athletes representing their home states across several age-based divisions. It began in 2005, as State Wars I.
Asked what makes someone a good hockey player, Preston said, “lots of practice.”
“If you practice a lot, you’ll get better,” he said.
Jade said inline hockey is fun, although she finds ice hockey easier.
At State Wars, Preston will play in the 2011 division, joining eight other roller hockey players from Pennsylvania born that year, with the competitions scheduled for July 23 to 25. Jade will play in the 2012 division, scheduled July 22 to 24.
Jade also has the honor of playing in an all-girls team, composed of players from across the country, in the Girls Major & Minor division from July 28 to 30. She is the only one from Pennsylvania.
Jade is an incoming eighth-grader at the Blue Mountain School District, while Preston will be starting ninth grade there.
Both players have been involved in inline hockey for about four years, and look forward to continuing to hone their skills. Their skill and dedication was reflected in their outing at Winter Wars East, the regional level of State Wars Hockey, which qualified them for the nationals.
Michael Doubles, a member of the Schuylkill County Hockey Association, said the inline hockey leagues at Roller Roost provide avenues to bigger programs, tournaments and opportunities to play at the collegiate level.
“It’s a growing sport,” he said.
Ashton Price, a recent graduate of Pine Grove Area High School, is among the most successful local inline prospects in recent years, having worked his way up through the youth and adult leagues. He will go to Temple University this fall to play for its inline hockey team.