These are exciting times for the Sayreville Pucklomaniacs, a four-year-old independent roller hockey team composed of 15- to 17-year-old boys.
The club, which captured the 17-and-under U.S. Northeastern Regional title for the second year running, will head for Toronto this weekend for the North American Roller Hockey Championships, then will travel down to Tampa during the first week of August for the USA National Championships.
According to Coach Wayne Raisch, the players have worked hard to earn the invitations to the two tournaments, and have every intention of continuing that trend.
"The kids have shown dedication and hard work all season," said Raisch, whose team plays a year-round schedule and practices at a rink in Rahway.
Roller hockey is played indoors; with no offsides and no physical checking, unlike ice hockey, explained Raisch.
"But at the higher levels, the game can get very physical," he adds.
The Pucklomaniacs started four years ago when Raisch’s son Bryon, a forward and defenseman, got together with his pal Steven Howard, a defenseman, and decided to inaugurate a local team.
However, the team has found that its success has come quickly.
This year, the Pucklomaniacs won several tournaments in South Amboy, Edison and Rahway, and captured the Northeastern Regional crown with a 7-4 triumph over the New York City Titans.
In addition to Raisch and Howard, the squad consists of forwards Brian Nakielny, Doug Sprague, Tom Tolve and Anthony Ercolino, defensemen Tom Manzo, Paul Carbonaro, and Nick Cannata, and the goalie, Anthony Velardi.
Coach Raisch, who is assisted by Doug Sprague and Charlie Carbonaro, says his squad subsists entirely without sponsorship, relying on tag day collections and parental contributions.
Raisch added that although few people have heard about what the Pucklomaniacs have accomplished thus far, he is hopeful that a national championship could bring some recognition to the team.
"This year we have as good a chance to win the USA championships as any team," he says. "Last year we made it all the way to the semifinals. It would be great if the community could learn about these boys and what they’ve achieved."
If the Pucklomaniacs continue to win at the pace they’ve set for themselves, it’s just a matter of time before more people start paying some attention to them.