ST. GEORGE — In a few short years, Red Rock Hockey has come a long way.

The St. George roller hockey club started with four athletes three years ago playing in parking lots and garages.

St. George News caught up with them two summers ago when they graduated to playing in the parking lot at Crimson Cliffs Middle School in Washington.

And now the rapidly expanding club for adults and kids has a brand new home, a used roller rink in downtown St. George.

Over 35 kids gathered at the facility at JC Snow Park, 900 S. 400 East, across the street from Fiesta Fun, on Saturday morning for skills practice and game action.

“We’ve come a long way,” club organizer Doug Reed told St. George News. “It’s been a journey. It’s been a fun one to watch and to be a part of.”

Saturday’s clinic was the second kids’ day the club has organized, the third coming on March 4. The first two sold out quickly and the third is already filling up, he said.

“We do adult pick-up hockey every Thursday night,” Reed said. “We’re starting a league here soon. Adult registration is open for that. It’s a mix between skaters and anyone on foot.”

Reed said those interested can register for events at the club’s website. 

“The kids play also every Thursday night — at 7 p.m. is when they have their games,” Reed said. “Again it’s just a pick-up game, but it’s fun to get the kids out and just have scrimmage hockey.”

The new rink at JC Snow Park came together through a combination of volunteer work, help from the city of St. George and a generous donation from the family who owns Glacier Ice Rink in Cedar City. 

“It was a lot of effort, a lot of conversations with the city about what we could do,” Reed said. “We’re really grateful for Dallin Staheli to donate these boards for us. He brought them down for us and it didn’t take a long time to get them in.

“St. George Roller Derby, they come out here and use it as well. They helped us out too so we’re really grateful for them.” 

Club organizer Dan Deceuster wore the jersey of his hometown NHL team, the San Jose Sharks. He said that other sporting groups in the city will be able to use the new rink.    

“This creates an environment where we can play hockey and it improves the environment for soccer because they couldn’t play any kind of rebounds off the sides,” Deceuster said. “The netting was all ripped, the ball would just go flying out, it wasn’t a really good soccer facility anymore.”

The 35 youngsters who enjoyed the rink on Saturday went through a variety of drills to learn the basic skills of hockey. Hockey players can wear rollerblades or play on foot.

“A lot of people around here just aren’t familiar with the game yet,” Deceuster said. “And so we want to make sure they know how to stick handle and move with the ball, how to pass to each other and the right way to shoot so they’re not swinging their sticks around.

“They’re maintaining control but still having fun.”

Jude Saulpaw, an 8-year-old student at Diamond Valley Elementary, told St. George News the best position to play is goalie.

“It’s fun,” Saulpaw said. “You get to stand around and only have to worry when they get close, and that’s not likely because usually I’m on the best team.”

Red Rock Hockey hosts open pick-up games for kids and adults every Thursday night at the new rink.

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