Roller hockey championship crashes Raleigh
Friday, July 05, 2013, 8pm
Raleigh, N.C. (July 6, 2013) -Ice swapped for plastic tile and blades traded for 80 millimeter wheels, but game remains the same.
"It's hockey in it's finer form, I would say," explains Carolina Nightmare Roller Hockey Team Forward Sam Farson. "It's based off of skill, not just based off of hitting."
"People think since it's inline, it's a slower pace, but it's just as fast, if not faster, than ice," says Keith Diprima, Carolina Nightmare Goaltender. "People would be shockingly surprised."
Sam Farson, Keith Diprima and others from all corners of the state assemble to form the Carolina Nightmare.
This weekend they tango with the best-of-the-best from all corners of the country.
Competing in the pro division of the TORHS 2Hot4Ice South Nationals inside Apex's Dreamsports Center.
"We've played in the Pro Division for a long time," says Diprima. "I'm 36 now, so it's getting harder and harder to play, these guys are getting quicker and quicker, but it's a lot of effort that goes into playing. It's a lot of competitiveness, a lot of guys that are looking to still compete at a high level, but still have their day job."
The Nightmare just one of a hundred teams in 15 different age groups dreaming of a National Championship. Proof that when it comes to hockey towns, that's how Raleigh rolls.
"Having players recognize Raleigh as a hockey place is really great, just to have national tournaments and see all these different rinks pop up," says Farson.
The seven-day tourney, creating quite the economic power play.
"Of those hundred teams, we probably have about 80 of them from out of town, " says TORHS 2Hot4Ice tournament official, Joe Bertaccini. "So, certainly this market is getting hit with a nice stimulus."
Netting an estimated one million dollars for the Triangle