Protection fuels Francis’ passion

Natalie Venegas

Costa Mesa resident Timothy Francis has taken part in countless

roller hockey tournaments in his seven years of playing.

The one he was recently selected to take part in, however, is

slightly different.

Francis, 11, who plays at the goalie position, is one of 11

players in his age group who will represent California and compete

against teams from throughout the country in the inaugural State Wars

national roller hockey tournament in Chicago, beginning Aug. 5.

While practicing at a rink in Irvine, Francis noticed an

advertisement for the State Wars tournament and decided to try out at

the Anaheim Hockey Club.

“At first he was intimidated about trying out,” his mother Dina

said. “But then he got really excited about it.”

His mother said Francis had the choice to either try out for the

tournament or compete in a summer ice hockey league, a sport he has

experimented with.

Francis chose roller hockey instead and made the team. He will now

battle with teammate Kyle Matsumoto, along with five members of the

Orange County Blades in search of a gold medal.

Cities being represented include Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach,

Irvine, San Jose and San Diego.

A chance to play was offered to all 50 states, and 20 states have

formed a team while other states continue tryouts.

At the age of 5, Francis’ interest in the sport began after

watching his friends playing. When attending Prince of Peace

Christian School, he decided to go out for his school’s team.

The team was in need of a goalie and, since Francis had experience

as a soccer goalie, he was given the position.

“All kids want to play goalie,” his mother Dina said. “Then they

realize sometimes it’s not a very glorious position. But Timothy

realizes it’s his position that could make or break the game. At

times it’s the most important position.”

Two years later, he began playing on the Huntington Beach Vipers

club team.

For the past four years, he has also competed on Coast to Coast, a

16-and-under team based in Huntington Beach.

The team meets for an hour every week for 10 weeks with playoffs

at the end of the season.

Francis is also a student at Christ Lutheran in Costa Mesa and

manages to play roller hockey on the weekends, along with football

and basketball.

His love however, continues to be roller hockey.

“I enjoy roller hockey the most out of all the sports because it’s

what I’m best at,” he said.

Last September, he joined the Mission Primal California Club team,

which offers several levels of competition and has competed in

Southern California, Ohio and Reno, Nev.

In the summer, he will travel to Florida for the National American

Roller Hockey tournament.

“It’s exciting,” Francis said. “It’s fun because I’m on an elite

team now. Since we get to travel, we see other states’ competition,

and it helps us as individuals.”

Said Dina: “Being able to travel with kids who have the same

interests is a payoff for how hard they work.”

At MPC, his team, the Bulls, is at the Double-A level, which

includes experienced players, but sometimes competes against teams at

the Triple-A level.

The Triple-A level features experienced players hoping to play at

the highest level of national and state competition.