Ice Hockey: Kiwis getting in on the game

It's got speed, strength, skill and occasionally grace. It's even got blood. CATHRIN SCHAER looks at the increasing popularity of ice hockey.

Threre's a sport in New Zealand that's just as tough, mean and manly as rugby or league. Many might associate ice skating with frilly skirts and twirly jumps - but that's because they haven't seen a game of ice hockey.

As any watcher of American sitcoms - or anybody who saw Russell Crowe in the movie Mystery, Alaska - probably knows, this game is hugely popular in North America.

Basically it's a form of field hockey (you know, the game that Mandy Smith plays) on ice. Five burly guys with big sticks try to push a puck into the opposing team's goal.

To do this, they skate at high speed, at times crashing into one another with bone-crunching impact.

There's a lot of aggressive shouting and shoving - and usually a bit of blood, too, which is probably why those usually mild-mannered Canadians like it so much. It's a release.

Increasingly, New Zealanders are getting in on the game. Two years ago Auckland had about 400 players. Now there are 600, with 1500 players nationally.

Chris Blong, general manager of the Paradice ice skating rinks in Auckland, where most of the local action takes place, believes the rise in interest could be because North American sports are becoming more fashionable.

There's also more awareness of the game because of the growing popularity of in-line hockey, the off-ice, in-line skating cousin of the sub-zero game.

Why else are New Zealanders enjoying big sticks on ice?

"Because it's a very physical sport,"suggests Blong, a one-time New Zealand national ice hockey team member. "And Kiwis love that. Also it's very, very fast. The puck can travel at up to 90 miles an hour [145km/h]."

"I like it because the game really involves you in every way," says Rene Aish, who has been playing for about eight years and is captain of the national men's team. "You need to make correct decisions very quickly, and it's a game of many skills - you need to be able to handle the stick and puck and to have good hand-eye coordination. All of which is challenging and exciting. It's also a full contact game; physically it can be pretty unforgiving at times."

The New Zealand team starts training this weekend with a round of public games against an international invitation side comprising high-ranking North Americans and Europeans. Then next week they're off to Spain to compete in the world championships.

Predictably, New Zealand are still ranked fairly low by global standards - they've got quite a way to go to catch up to the likes of Canada, whose players have grown up on winter ice playing their national game.

Here, ice hockey players range from 5 to 50 years old, with most of the serious players in their 20s and 30s. About 90 per cent are male, although we do have a national women's team.

Strength and agility are good characteristics, although as in many team sports there are different positions for the big, powerful players and smaller, faster ones.

For anyone who's still a bit wobbly on their skates but thinks they might like to have a go, Blong and Aish recommend going along to watch a few games first.

The next step would be training. Paradice runs ice hockey schools, which would-be players should complete. If you're serious about it, you will probably spend a couple of hours skating every week and an hour or two in class.

Then you might start shopping for some of the gear. Skates cost from $250. You'll also eventually want shin pads, padded trousers, shoulder pads, elbow protectors and a helmet (around $300 should get you started on this lot).

Finally, having gained a level of skating and stick-handling skill, as well as the requisite padding, you can start playing in recreational leagues. If you prove good enough there, you'll be drafted into the higher club leagues.

Good news for the faint-hearted: you will start off - and can opt to stay - in the low-contact leagues.

New Zealand ice hockey just isn't as frightening as the Northern Hemisphere professional games you see on Sky. Says Aish: "In lower-ranked leagues the rules on fighting and illegal contact are pretty tough."

But it's still just worth going to watch it. Our ice hockey season starts in April and goes until September, and Blong reckons it's a great spectator sport.

"It's not like rugby, where the action could be a whole field away. You're right there, looking down on the game, which is fast and physical. Ice hockey is an awesome game. I don't know anyone who's taken it up and then stopped playing."

* The New Zealand men's national ice hockey team play at the Paradice ice skating rink in Botany Downs this Saturday at 5 pm and on Sunday at 6.15 pm. Admission $8 adults and $5 children.

This goes towards fundraising for the team's trip to Europe. Many of the club games during the season are also open to spectators. For more details call 273-2999.

* For information on ice hockey or skating schools, call Paradice on 828-3800.

Costs $110 a term. All equipment is provided.