KPRC 2’s Justin Stapleton traded the weather wall for the rink to get a firsthand look at Houston’s growing roller hockey scene.
Even without ice, the setup was familiar. From skates with wheels to pads, gloves, and a stick, the gear mirrors what players wear on the ice. And once the equipment was on, there was no easing into it.
Stapleton jumped straight into drills, firing shots on goal and learning just how much coordination, balance, and speed the game demands. Having played some hockey in college club leagues, he wasn’t completely new to the rink, but roller hockey delivered its own challenges.
One of the biggest lessons came while talking with the goalie.
After watching pucks fly from every angle and hearing what goalies endure between the pipes, Stapleton quickly agreed. Standing in front of speeding shots, whether on wheels or ice, takes a special kind of bravery.
A mock penalty landed Stapleton in the penalty box, where he protested the call in classic hockey fashion.
Stapleton also reflected on why hockey draws so much attention during the Winter Olympics, even from casual fans.
People may not follow the sport year-round, he said, but when the Olympics roll around, hockey has a way of pulling everyone in.
In the end, the verdict was clear. Roller hockey is fast, physical, and harder than it looks. And while Stapleton was happy to jump into the action, there was one role he firmly passed on.
Playing goalie. Some jobs, he decided, really are for the “crazy” ones.