1 8 February 2, 2011+ Over the Edge Wet and Wild Hockey Underwater hockey free and fun for all UNBC students BROCK CAMPBELL SPORST EDITOR For those looking to get involved in an exciting, alternative, and free (for UNBC students) there is no touching the puck with anything other than the stick and no blocking or shielding activity, the UNBC Underwater Hockey (UWH) Club has the answer. The club the puck with your body. Lawyer also added, “This sport requires teamwork and recently held a potluck for beginners on January 22nd, introducing them to this unorthodox sport that incorporates snorkeling and hockey, but is always looking for new participants. strategy, and is the perfect sport for people of all ages and skill levels to increase their anaerobic fitness and swimming skills. You do not have to be a good swimmer to play. Just get to the bottom, make a pass and return to the surface for more air.” Kim Lawyer, the president of the club, filled me in on the history and basics of the game, and how anyone can get involved. According to Lawyer, the game has been around longer than one might think. She noted that, “Underwater —- Hockey started in 1954 to help British diving clubs improve their fitness and skills while scuba diving and snorkeling. It was originally called Octopush and is now played in over twenty-eight countries.” Equipment such as sticks, gloves, and ear equipment are provided by the UWH Club on a first come first serve basis, and the aquatic centre also loans out fins. They just ask that you bring your own goggles or mask, and swimsuit (not optional). There are no club fees and students with a U-pass get into the pool for free. The club often attends out of town tournaments; they travelled to Victoria, Vancouver, and Calgary and also went to Nationals in Edmonton last year. The UWH Club meets at the Aquatics Centre every Monday at 7pm, and Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm, and new participants are always welcome. Thursday who face-off with one another at opposite ends of nights are scheduled as a skills development night the pool and dive franticly to the weighted puck located at and is a good opportunity for beginners to get the hang of the centre. Lawyer says, “In professional games there are usually two game. For more information on how you can get involved and to see referees, but for local matches the honour system is used.” Basic rules stipulate that more photographs check out the UNBC Underwater Hockey Club’s Facebook page. The Iceman Cometh Local sports tradition continues on February 13th HAVE A GOOD SPORTS ARTICLE IDEA? WELL, BROCK CAMPBELL SEND IT IN! SPORST EDITOR Quite obviously it is based on the same premises of ice hockey - put the puck in the net - but in this case the water is not frozen. Teams consist of six players Once again the time has arrived for FO eS ee tle OVER THE EDGE IS AL- hybrid version of the winter triathlon. This event has been ature PS T WAYS LOOKING FOR MORE Generally an offcial winter trathion | CONTRIBUTORS AND WE ane cfoss-oourity ‘ski portion, with WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ice-skating sometimes used as an alternative to mountain-biking. The WH AT YOU HAVE TO SAY. Iceman, which substitutes the skate jrienke akoncopertcsaim | SQ WHETHER YOU HAVE competion stat wih an vgn | VUST COME BACK FROM comet cross-onin ki towey 1 WATCHING A T-WOLVE’S More ce Oval Counc cee | GAME OR YOU HAVE SOME another five kilometre run, finished off by an eight-hundred metre swim, IPILAY-OFF PREDICTIONS WE which for obvious reasons takes place indoors at the Aquatic Centre. WANT TO KNOW WH AT YOU — Participants may enter as individuals ’ or aS a member of a relay team ry T consisting of three to five people. | HIN Ki! There is also a junior division and families may also enter a team so tag) wervone ss overmne 9°’ SEND IN ALL SUBMISSIONS Last year 85 athletes participated in TO OVER-THE-EDGE@ the solo competition. The top time recorded by Peter Krause was 1:48:45, edging out Mike Smith by 19 seconds. T il The top women’s competitor was Shar Jackson who placed sixth overall with a 1:57:33 just ahead of Jacqui UN BC, YA Benson, a former UNBC Nordic Ski Team member who came in at two hours flat. = WIKIMEDIA COMMONS For those interested in participating in this year’s Iceman, registration can be done online at www.pgiceman. ca, the deadline is February 9th. Entrance fees as of February 2nd will $45 dollars per team member and $65 dollars per individual.