GROWTH AT GRETZKY FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAM JOINS SOCCER, ROLLER HOCKEY.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Since opening about five months ago, the Wayne Gretzky Roller Hockey Center has yet to lose its novelty. And it seems it may never wear off.

The hockey center's third season (they each run about 11 weeks) began the week of Jan. 10. Since opening, a new sport was added and two more are expected. All the while the number of hockey teams continues to increase, as 83 now play there.

The center opened with its staple, roller hockey, and indoor soccer as the only available sports. But it has attracted new athletes with the addition of flag football, which has a 12-team league.

``A lot of people are hearing about (flag football) and they all want to jump in,'' said Jeff Martin, 18, who plays hockey and flag football at the center. ``It's something different. There are no (other) indoor football leagues around here.''

Because flag football was an instant success - three teams had to be turned away - the center's general manager, Garrett Goebel, said lacrosse and volleyball are likely to be offered in the near future.

All it takes is a study on the cost of buying the equipment and a set of rules and regulations to fit the needs of the center. Goebel came up with flag - football rules with the help of the Internet, where he found a basic set and altered it to best fit the size of the center's two rinks.

``There are no first downs; you only get four downs to score and there's no punting,'' Goebel said. ``We had a score of 82-76 the other day. It's an incredibly fast game.''

Goebel added football at the suggestion of some of the regular hockey players. He attracted the teams and got them to commit by having an exhibition night to introduce the new sport. By the end of the evening, Goebel said the league was nearly filled. Some hockey players recently brought up the idea of adding lacrosse and there will probably be another exhibition night soon.

``It'll probably happen,'' Goebel said. ``I'd say it will.''

Added Anthony Alva, 19, of Palmdale: ``I'd love to play lacrosse out here. My entire hockey team wants to play.''

--Outgrowth: The popularity of the Wayne Gretzky Roller Hockey Center has bred a league which has begun to take on a life of its own. A 15-team hockey league for high schools just entered into its second season.

It's starting to get serious. They started a federation, known as the All - Desert Interscholastic Roller Hockey Federation. They have a website: www.DCSN.org/alldesert.

Area schools represented in the league are Quartz Hill, Highland of Palmdale, Littlerock, Antelope Valley, Lancaster and Palmdale. Other schools make much-farther trips to play.

Bishop and Burroughs of Ridgecrest both have varsity and junior varsity teams in the league. Because they travel so far, the league scheduled them to play doubleheaders, allowing them to make half as many trips as the other teams.

League vice-president Kathy Hopkins is hoping to attract teams from Santa Clarita Valley and Victor Valley high schools for the next season.

It's all a touchy subject when it comes to school administrators. There are stringent laws and guidelines for insurance, leaving them unable to associate their schools with the league.

``We're hoping the kids can letter in the sport and buy jackets similar to the ones they wear for (recognized sports),'' Hopkins said.

Hopkins contacted the World Hockey Association, the sport's governing body, for help in what has become a widespread campaign to have roller hockey recognized by school districts and, much further down the road, the California Interscholastic Federation.

The league already has rules similar to the ones athletes of sanctioned sports must abide by to participate. Athletes, who must be a student at the school whose team they play for, will be suspended if their GPA drops below a 2.0 or if they were disciplined at school.

All sports at the Wayne Gretzky Roller Hockey Center offer multiple divisions, such as women's, men's or coed leagues. Information: [phone].

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Photo: (color) The Gretzky Center has added flag football to roller hockey and indoor soccer programs and might add volleyball and lacrosse.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer