PHANTOMS OF THE RINK SHOOT FOR TOURNEY TITLE.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer In their last tournament, the Black Ice Phantoms - a 14-and-under traveling roller hockey roller hockey n. Hockey played on a hard surface in which two opposing teams of roller skaters, using curved sticks, try to drive a ball into the opponents' goal. team from Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - captured third place in the 1997 Youth Roller Hockey Championships held in West Covina West Covina, city (1990 pop. 96,086), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel valley; settled 1905, inc. 1923. Before World War II, West Covina was a small rural community where walnuts, wheat, and livestock were raised. last month. Up next for the team is the NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there Breakout Tournament today and tomorrow in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , and they want to finish even higher. The Phantoms placed second in their age group in this tournament last year. ``This year we think we have a good shot to place,'' coach Bill Knight William George (Bill) Knight (born October 24 1947) is a former senior executive and Member of Parliament (MP) in the Canadian House of Commons. A teacher by profession, Knight was first elected as a New Democratic Party MP in a 1971 by-election and was re-elected in 1972. said. ``A lot depends on the other teams that are there and the amount of tournament experience they have. Last year there was a team from Sweden.'' Knight noted that at last year's event celebrities and players from the now-defunct Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Blades (of the Roller Hockey International
Roller Hockey International (RHI) was an inline hockey league in North America between 1993-97 and 1999. League) were in attendance. ``It's a fairly big event,'' Knight said, ``with teams from all over the place.'' The Phantoms have been together for more than a year and are part of the Black Ice Roller Hockey League in Simi Valley. The league practices and plays its games on a temporary rink that is regulation size, set up on the smooth asphalt of the Santa Susana Elementary School. Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays from early in the morning until late afternoon. ``We're the only league in Simi,'' Knight said. ``There's an indoor league in Thousand Oaks, but we're the only outdoor league.'' In existence for five years, the league has players that range from age five to adult. ``The games are pretty serious and competitive,'' Knight said. ``The adult games really get intense.'' Players in the league wear the typical ice hockey uniform with pads and helmets, but instead of skate blades the players used in-line skates. ``Some of the older guys use roller skates,'' Knight said. ``But most are on blades (in-line skates).'' The Phantoms are coached by Knight and Oscar Lafflitto, and the team is composed of forwards Mike Zamudio, Paul Lafflitto, Andrew Cain and Ricky Jordan, goalie Mike Hays and defensemen Daniel Fredrickson, Chris Knight Jason Lewis, Joseph Zuccolillo and Mike Johnson. ``We're getting better the more tournaments we play,'' Knight said. ``The kids have been together for a while and are committed to it. We're having fun.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Ricky Jordan, left, and Paul Lafflito of the 14-and-under Black Ice Phantoms practice at Santa Susana Elementary. Jeff Goldwater / Daily News |
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