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Ridgewood High bidding to get on the ice
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Published: May 3, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood High students are close to the option of strapping on skates. They could hit the ice as early as next fall, if coaches Mark and Dean Liptak can hit their goals.
The brothers have already successfully created the Ridgewood inline hockey team, and Mark said he feels the area is ready to transition to the frozen pond.
Two West Pasco schools - J.W. Mitchell, Trinity and River Ridge, New Port Richey - are represented by ice hockey teams in the Tampa Bay Jr. Hockey's West League. The eight-team league plays its games almost exclusively at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy, in Oldsmar.
Ice hockey is not a sanctioned Florida High School Athletic Association sport; therefore, no official affiliation exists with the participating schools. It is in name only.
The Liptaks used organizing the inline team as a first step toward ultimately getting on the ice. The roller hockey league began playing in late March at the Sportzone 2 rinks in New Port Richey. As of this week, the Ridgewood team remains undefeated (5-0) in the six-team league.
The two coaches are currently suiting up nine inline players, but will be looking to get at least 17-18 kids participating for ice hockey, Mark said.
One of the major difficulties organizing an ice hockey team, Mark said, is the high upfront costs to play.
Because of that issue, he said there is a possibility of combining efforts with the Mitchell High team.
He said tryouts were held last week with Mitchell to try and generate more interest and that he and Dean are enthusiastic about recent progress with the Tampa Bay Jr. League's board.
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