INLINE HOCKEY: The in-line hockey season really hits the rails on Sunday at Jubilee Stadium in Wanganui and other venues, with the start of the Lower North Island League.
The Wanganui Lightning's men's open B team starts the competition at 9am, against Manawatu Dragons, followed by the U20s taking on national
titleholders, Levin Jackals. They both have a second game later in afternoon, against Kapiti Rangers and Rimutaka Renegades U20s. Also on show will be the open A teams, including Massey Titans, featuring a lot of former Lightning players (Tom Taylor, James O'Donnell, Todd Richardson, Sam Beardman, David Thomsen and Mike Edmondson), Levin Jackals, Capital Penguins, Napier Sharks, Kapiti Rangers and Rimutaka Renegades. Most of the players in this premier grade are current or former New Zealand players in various age grades.
Lightning's open B team features NZ reps Blair Onishenko, Darryl Blythe, first-year senior player Brett Buckeridge, possibly Robbie Hugo, and a mix of seasoned and masters players (Bob Blythe, Mike Bates, Frazer Bishop, Robbie Organ).
The under-20s are mostly last year's team, boosted by the return of Gareth Wilson. New New Zealand reps Logan Wingate and Keiran O'Donnell should feature prominently, prior to their trip to the Oceania championships in Carrara (Surfers Paradise ? Australia) in a couple of weeks.
The Wanganui junior club, and the new women's team, also start on Sunday, with games at B & M Stadium (formally Arena 4), in Palmerston North. An Under 12 team & development squad is training at Jubilee at 4.30pm on Friday nights, and young skaters are invited to come along for some good level 1 coaching from Ben Ross and others. This will be combined with the Social League, which will start next term.
