Renovated roller hockey rink designed to help build sport

We're trying to build the sport here in Madison and surrounding communities, and having a renovated rink is a good start to that idea," said Jason deGuehery, 32, who is overseeing the rink renovations. "Having a good home rink may lead to hosting tournaments, featuring teams from across the Southeast."
Home to the Huntsville-Madison Roller Hockey Association, the rink measures 100 feet by 40 feet and features an asphalt surface. The playing surface is bordered by plywood advertising-sponsor boards, many of which have succumbed to years of weather. Many of the boards were weathered and falling apart, deGuehery said.
"We purchased new three-quarter-inch plywood boards and treated each board with two coats of sealer and then paint primer and two coats of paint," he said.
The boards have been fitted with dasher guard boards, which are placed at the bottom of each rink board to protect the boards from constant bombardment of skates and pucks. The rink was also fitted with new player bench areas.
"We also installed new, regular size nets on each end of the rink with the hope of having a tremendous upcoming season with endless future opportunities for the sport in Madison," deGuehery said.
As a former professional hockey player, deGuehery said a good rink to skate on can make a difference in a successful league.
He played one season for the Huntsville Channel Cats and then four seasons for the Huntsville Havoc. Injuries and surgeries forced him to retire early from the sport he had been playing since age 4. Today, he and his wife, Jessica, have a new baby. DeGuehery wasn't ready to give up the sport after his retirement.
"Hockey has been my life, so I took some time off and finally decided I wanted to stay in the game, work and help kids," he said. "So I joined the staff at Brieres Training Facility as a hockey instructor and acting president of the Huntsville-Madison Roller Hockey Association. I want this rink to be state-of-the-art, as we hope to install lights and a new SportCourt surface in the near future."
The rink remains under the umbrella of the Madison Recreation Department but soon will be officially turned over to the HMRHA. The rink is the only one of its kind in the immediate area, deGuehery said. One reason trees surrounding the complex have been cut back is to allow the public to view what's going during play.
"This sport is like ice hockey without the high cost," deGuehery said.