After 5: Ice hockey enthusiasts gear up after work

“Hockey is the only exercise that I know of that I like,” says the owner of Lazer Perfect Striping & Sealing in Springfield.

Fellow skater and Greene County Associate Circuit Judge Jason Brown agrees: “There is no better workout. Think about putting all your winter clothes on to go shovel snow, and then for an hour-and-15-minute game, sprint two to three minutes, slow down, then sprint again.”

There’s another upside to the relatively new sport to Springfield. Members of the growing community of hockey players at Jordan Valley Ice Park say they’ve gained friendships and even business relationships on the ice.

“People from all walks of life with different ages and jobs – from laborers to doctors – play together and share the same passion for hockey,” Brown says.

Frizzell, a native to Canada, is drawn to the competition. He not only plays in Jordan Valley Ice Park’s adult hockey league once a week, but for the last three years he has coached the Missouri State University junior varsity ice hockey team. He’s at the rink two nights weekly for practice and often traveling to games on weekends, but that’s still not enough for Frizzell. He also skates in Friday afternoon “drop-in” games at the rink.

Balancing hockey with work is easy, Frizzell says. With striping and sealing projects accomplished during the day, he can devote his evening hours to his passion of 47 years.

Brown, who like Frizzell has been playing since childhood, explains that some game times are easier to make than others, and he and his wife have often discussed fitting hockey into their schedules.

“I think she has figured out that if I have to miss my hockey game, I’m grumpy for three or four days afterward,” Brown quips.

The number of ice hockey fans in the Ozarks has been growing since JVIP opened in 2001. Adult hockey started with one league and has grown to three leagues, 18 teams and 220 players, including about 15 women, according to JVIP Hockey Director Al Valdivia. By comparison, five years ago the hockey program featured two leagues, four teams and 104 players. Adult hockey continues year-round with 15-game fall and spring sessions and a 12-game summer session.

Tim Brill, owner of Ozark Mountain Motors in Ozark, is one area native who enjoyed watching hockey before learning to play when the rink opened. He has participated in every spring and fall session since he began.

JVIP offers learn-to-skate programs, but Brill, like most adults, chose to learn by participating in drop-in games. For the past couple of years, Valdivia has also offered a weekly Adult 101 class that emphasizes the three basic hockey skills: skating, passing and shooting.

“We have such diversity in our adult program,” Valdivia adds. “We have beginners who have never skated to guys that have played Division I hockey for three or four years.”

Brill hopes to continue playing as long as he can. “I have my sights set on playing until I’m at least 50,” he says. “Then I’ll see from there. If I’m healthy and able, I’ll keep going.”

Frizzell says he will keep playing “as long as I can be competitive, keep up and be a plus to the team.”

Get Started!

Adult Hockey Summer League

Registration deadline: May 20

Session dates: June 1 to Aug. 24

Cost: $150

Adult Hockey 101

Dates: 6:30–7:30 p.m., Wednesdays

Cost: $8

Drop-in Hockey Games

Dates: noon–1:30 p.m., Fridays

Cost: $8

Stick and puck

Dates: 8:30–9:30 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday; 7:45–8:45 p.m., Wednesday

Cost: $6

Gear Up!

Item Price Range

Skates $65 to $650

Stick $20 to $150

Helmet $50 to $150

Pants and jersey $57 to $197

Gloves $20 to $190

Socks $14 to $27

Elbow pads $20 to $80

Shinguards $30 to $100

Shoulders pads $30 to $120

Source: www.greatskate.com