in an arena near you...........

Former SJ Rhino Greg Hadden showing off his Championship ring
(the Rhino's were the 1995 RHI Murphy Cup winners!!!)

photo taken by Frank Zawacki...Thanks Frank for letting us use it!

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Congratulations to the 1999 RHI champs the St. Louis Vipers who defeated the Anaheim Bullfrogs in Anaheim!

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Here's the 1999 RHI draft results
Go to the RHI main page for the 1999 season stats and such
Everyone should check out if they have a team near by!  Roller hockey is a GREAT sport and you all should help support it!

Joe Bonvie (goalie) & Jay Murphy
Joe Bonvie stretching before the game
Garry Gulash checking someone
Greg Hadden in a face off
Jay Murphy trying to score a goal
Captain Mark Woolf

1998 IIHF Roller Hockey pix

1999 RHI Season...mainly SJ Rhinos pix, with some other teams (from the playoffs)

• A harder wheel lasts longer, but won't have a good grip; it also has a slightly bumpier ride on rough surfaces
• Soft wheels are more comfortable and have a better grip
• Narrow & Tappered wheels:  speed, recreation, fitness, and indoor hockey
• Half Round:  outdoor hockey
• Larger wheels go faster, but take more work
• Smaller is better for quick maneuvers and fast starts
• For roller hockey, use an aluminum chassis
• Wheel size:  typically, on Sport Court, 76 mm, hard is used (http://www.rhockey.com/articles/framesdec.html is a good article for this)
• Hyper 74A
• good:  76 mm, 76A narrow/tappered
• ok:  72 84;  it has a longer wear and good glide
• hard 76 mm 82A-84A is used a lot too

	NHL	RHI
# of Players	Six	Five
Minimum # of Players After Penalties	Four	Three
Playing Surface Size (Std)	200'x85'	200'x85'
Board to Goal Line	11 feet	15 feet
Penalty Time	Minor - 2 minutes Major - 5 minutes Misconduct - 10 minutes Game Misconduct	Minor - 1 1/2 minutes Major - 4 minutes Misconduct - 10 minutes
Fighting Penalty	Major	fighting rule has changed...will update later
Two Line Passes Illegal	Yes	Only centre line - no blue lines
Icing	Called when defensive player touches the puck	Illegal clearing - Automatic whistle as puck crosses line
Puck	Black rubber: 5 1/2-6 ounces	Red plastic: 3 1/2 (ok, so this 1999 season it was black)
Surface	Ice	SPORT COURT®
Referee System	Pro - 1 referee, 2 linesmen	1 referee, 2 linesmen
Length of Game	3 - 20 minute periods 2 - 15 minute intermissions stop time	4 - 12 minute quarters 2 - 2 minute breaks & 1 - 15 minute break (halftime) stop time
Goal Cages	4'x6'	4'x6'
# of Players/Game	20 2 goalies + 18	14 2 goalies + 12
Power Play Situation	5 on 4, 4 on 4 5 on 3, 4 on 3 3 on 3	4 on 3, 3 on 3 4 on 2, 2 on 2
Average Goals/Game	7	16.7
Average Shots/Game	60	96
Overtime	5 minute regular season sudden death in playoffs	Shoot-out

Or...you can read it plain form brought to you by the RHI:
RHI vs. Ice Hockey

Players wear in-line skates instead of ice skates.

The puck used is a special in-line puck designed and patented for RHI. It is plastic, not rubber, and has eight small dome shaped runners to simulate the gliding of an ice hockey puck.

Roller hockey is played on a plastic Sport Court floor instead of an ice surface.

The rink, or floor as it is called in RHI, is the same size as an NHL regulation hockey rink (200’ x 85’).

RHI is a summer league, playing from the first week of June through the last week of August. Ice hockey typically plays from October through early June.

RHI games consist of four  12 minute quarters, with a  12 minute halftime (national TV) or a 15 minute half time (no TV).  The quarter format shortens the game time significantly because it only has one intermission whereas ice-hockey games have two intermissions and three periods and typically last 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Most RHI games are played in a two-hour time frame, which is more conducive for televised  games and more appealing to families and younger audiences attending the game in person.

Exciting five player “sudden death” shoot-out format eliminates all ties which differs from typical ice hockey games.  The winning team in the shoot-out gets two points and the team losing the shoot-out gets one point.

Roller hockey teams have four skaters plus a goaltender on the floor at one time, ice hockey teams have five skaters plus a goaltender.  The lineup for a roller hockey team includes one defenseman, three forwards and one goaltender.  Four-on-four competition allows for faster skating and higher scoring games including more “end to end” action.

There is no difference between the hard checking and solid body contact of ice hockey vs. roller hockey.  RHI  games are very physical but have slightly less fighting than ice hockey, which is better for the families and younger children in attendance.

RHI has eliminated the blue lines creating larger playing zones.  The center red line serves primarily for offsides and illegal clearing (icing in ice hockey language).  The larger playing zones (defensive and offensive) allow for a wide open and higher scoring style of play due to less clutching and grabbing.  Skilled players can exhibit their talents more frequently.  The “neutral zone trap” and the “dump and chase” style which are so heavily criticized in ice hockey do not exist in RHI.

RHI games operate at a very high pace. RHI averages  90 shots per game. The increased shots on goal result in higher scoring games, which typically average over 14 goals per contest. In RHI the shots on goal and points per game typically more than double ice hockey.

Every player on the team is paid the same and is heavily incentivized  to win.  RHI players  play for prize money, and compensation is based on winning games ($300 per player per win vs. $200 per player per loss) plus additional regular season standings and playoff performance bonuses.  RHI players are driven to perform as a team because of the team based incentives for winning.  Particularly given the short season, this means that every RHI game is equally important to every member of the team. Players winning the RHI Cup Final can almost make as much in the 12-week RHI season as they do in the 30-week ice hockey season, so with RHI fans see the best roller hockey players and roller hockey competition in the world.

Roll on Home cuz I really really promise to sign the guestbook!!!!!!!
I wanna see some Ice Hockey