Indoor Roller Hockey Rink Opens Its Doors

Opposition from nearby business owners last spring threatened to block Michael Hearn’s plan for a tournament-size roller hockey rink in an industrial park.

But he persevered and finally won city approval.

The result of his effort is the city’s first indoor roller hockey rink, Brea Hockey Club, which opened this month.

The state-of-the-art facility at 1100 Beacon St. will host adult and youth leagues and private parties, as well as regional and national tournaments, Hearn said.

City officials say they consider the rink significant because in a recent survey, roller hockey and other in-line skating facilities were ranked as the top request by young people in Brea.

Hearn, a roller hockey coach, was prompted to start the business by his family’s enthusiasm for the sport, he said.

“It’s exploding,” Hearn said of roller hockey’s popularity. “There’s absolutely no question that this is the fastest-growing sport in the country.”

The fast-paced action and the instant involvement of all players contributes to that enthusiasm, Hearn said.

“Also, the costs are starting to come down, so there’s more affordability,” he said. “And more and more kids are wanting to come off the streets and play in real rinks.”

Brea Hockey Club is custom-made for that purpose.

The floor, 180 feet long and 75 feet wide, is constructed from maple laid above plywood and foam, a surface more responsive than the concrete floors most rinks use. Players will be able to stop and turn quicker, and handle the puck better than on concrete, Hearn said.

The cushion layer also makes the floor more forgiving when players fall, he said, as do the flexible “dasherboard” walls, which were imported from Canada.

League registration costs are $95 plus a one-time $35 fee for a jersey, which the players keep. The facility also offers clinics and private lessons by Los Angeles Blades player Shayne Arsenault, the club’s hockey director.

Information: (714) 257-1100.