Street Hockey Challenge schedule, rules

The Silvertips have released the schedule and rules for this year’s Silvertips Street Hockey Challenge, which takes place Saturday in downtown Everett.

There’s a few changes this year. First, after being a bit cramped last year, the rinks have been spread out. Only one rink will be in the Lombard Street parking lot, where the youth divisions will play. The other two, where the adult divisions will play, will be around the corner in the parking lot attached to Comcast Arena (which will also house a grill and a beer garden). This means it won’t have all the action concentrated in one spot. But it also means the rinks will be bigger, and there’s less chance for bystanders to be nailed by a stray ball. Also, for the adult rinks the goals have been pulled off the wall, meaning space behind the goals for additional playmaking opportunities.

The competition in the adult division should be more fierce this year, considering there’s teams from Vancouver, Portland and Olympia coming for the tournament. I suspect the Canadian team will be quite formidable.

Unfortunately, there’s one competitor who won’t be taking part this year. I would have loved to have played again — and written about the experience. However, injury has me sitting this one out. Too bad, because even as a beginner it was a lot of fun playing last year. Good luck to all the teams who are taking part this year!