SIERRA ROLLER HOCKEY LEAGUE

Every night from November to February, the Charles Brown Auditorium transforms into a hub of energy and community. As the home of the Sierra Roller Hockey League (SRHL), the rink hosts three games a night, bringing together over 50 players and dozens of spectators from across the region.

"It’s amazing to see the progress," says the SRHL board, an all-volunteer group of coaches and referees. This year was particularly special for their 50 Jr. Mite players; many started the season barely able to stand on skates and ended it playing full-speed hockey games.

SRHL serves players from all backgrounds across Bishop, Mammoth, and beyond. Because SRHL believes hockey should be for everyone, they work hard to keep fees low and provide goalie gear and equipment exchanges for those who need them. Despite rising costs for utilities and insurance, they have remained committed to affordability—a feat made possible by recent grant funding. MMCF recently granted funds for a floor cleaning machine so that SRHL can focus on what matters: building friendships, promoting fitness, and providing a safe, family-friendly environment for the next generation of athletes. In their own words, Sierra Roller Hockey League tells us about their program and the benefits of a grant from MMCF.

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1. Tell us about the Sierra Roller Hockey League.

Sierra Roller Hockey League promotes and facilitates an inline hockey league for the Bishop area. The league season runs from the beginning of November through the end of February. During the season, SRHL rents the Charles Brown Auditorium located on The Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds, where volunteers install and operate the rink. The coaches, referees, and board of directors are all volunteers that are enthusiastic about hockey and sharing it with the community.

2. Tell us about the youth community that the program serves.

SRHL has players from all demographics, ethnicities, and backgrounds. It introduces the world of hockey to any person that would like to learn. The youth league consists of approximately 245 youth from the ages of 4 through 18 and the adult league has around twenty players over the age of 18.

3. Are you reaching other youths in surrounding communities, other than Bishop?

Sierra Roller hockey strives to meet and provide roller hockey to all youth wanting to play, with players from Bishop, Big Pine, Mammoth and all communities welcome.

4. How often do youth engage in your program, how many youth regularly attend and how do the athletes progress throughout your program?

From November-February there are games 5 nights a week, (3 games a night for each division) along with a weekly practice for each team. We then move into playoffs in February and wrap up the season. The games are very well attended by players, siblings, grandparents and more. It’s a great community to be a part of.

5. How did this grant help improve your program?

This grant helped us to purchase a much needed floor cleaning machine to clean the rink on a regular basis quickly and efficiently. SRHL runs entirely on volunteers, so having equipment that makes rink maintenance easier is incredibly important—not only for keeping the rink safe for players, but also for supporting the volunteers who make it all possible.

6. Tell us about the positive impact that the program had on the community you are serving.

Sierra Roller hockey is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to teaching the sport of inline hockey to the local community. Through hockey, SRHL teaches sportsmanship, teamwork, and provides a fitness opportunity to the area youth. The program also assists in the development of honest and respectful citizens and promotes family relationships.

7. Is there anything that you would like to convey to MMCF donors?

SRHL is incredibly thankful for MMCF’s support of youth sports and clubs in our rural area. Keeping these activities going for our youth is crucial and deeply appreciated. Our kids need these activities. We thank you for your support!