City scores with dek hockey

Painesville’s prodigal son Neil Conway left his hometown to play hockey for the East Coast League.

His athleticism brought him to teams as far away as England and Italy. Along the way, he was introduced to an alternative form of the sport he grew up with, dek hockey.

“I fell in love with (dek hockey) and felt it would be good to bring back home with me.” he said about the sport that was named for the material of flooring that it is played upon.

Despite being played outdoors during seasonable weather, dek hockey resembles ice hockey in structure much more than it does field hockey.

“This is more or less identical to ice hockey without the ice in terms of the type of play, the sticks used, and the rules,” he said.

Played in sneakers as opposed to skates, dek hockey offers an accessibility that Conway appreciates.

“Skating is a big hurdle for a lot of players,” he said. “There are a lot of people who love hockey but can’t skate and this really changes all of that for

them.”

After retiring from professional hockey at age 30, Conway brought the sport’s new version back home with him. After researching the logistics it would take to bring dek hockey to Painesville, Conway met with officials and City Council.

“I pitched the opportunity to the city,” he said. “Tony Carson was the city manager at the time and he liked it. From there, I was able to lease the land from the city.”

Painesville was willing to take a chance on his proposal, but not without a measure of convincing.

“I’m a young guy and this is a new thing,” he recalled. “So there was a bit of a feeling out process. We went back and forth until they felt comfortable that they knew what I was doing.”

Painesville’s dek hockey league now host leagues with ages that range from adults to children as young as 3. Teams are also co-ed.

Initially funded by Conway, Painesville’s dek hockey now relies on registration fees to fund the rink, the land lease, and any other related costs.

The registration costs are another aspect that Conway says draws families in. The younger leagues charge $55 to join, while adults pay $75. The league fees afford players 12 sessions and a dry-fit T-shirt to compete in.

“Normal ice hockey would probably cost $500 to get your kid geared up and another $800 in league fees. This is so much more affordable for them,” he said.

Conway encourages local schools to participate, and he previously hosted Painesville City summer camp for a series of games at the dek hockey rink in the city’s Kiwanis Recreational Park.

Summer leagues are preparing for registration which begins the second week in June. For registration information, visit www.painesvilledekhockey. com.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS-HERALD Painesville dek hockey players can either buy their own equipment or rent it from the organization prior to a game.