Four on four hockey growing in Quinte

By Shelden Rogers

Quinte 4 on 4 hockey was originally created to keep young hockey players busy during the spring season. Now it looks like it will be a popular summer attraction.

For the first time in the leagues three years, Brian Christopher, Convener of Quinte Area 4 on 4 hockey, will be running a summer schedule.

Christopher has watched the league grow from four teams to 24 teams. After a successful three years, parents wanted more he said. Christopher’s inbox was filled with emails from parents asking for a summer schedule.

“I wouldn’t normally play in the summer, I feel like kids should have the summer off. But I got a lot of emails from parents wanting to do it over the course of the summer,” said Christopher.

Christopher originally started the league to keep young hockey players skating legs fresh during the offseason. He just wanted to give kids a chance to have some fun during the offseason. He achieved exactly that.

“I’m thinking that kids are just enjoying it, good feedback. They seem like they are enjoying the hockey and that’s the intent of it. You want kids having fun, you want them to play hockey when they get old,” said Christopher.

Four on four hockey is played on a regular sized ice surface witch four skaters on each team. The league includes hockey players from notice to bantam age and Christopher hopes to one day include an adult league.

Christopher is a big fan of four on four and the different style of play it offered to players.

“You handle the puck a lot more in four on four. Goalies get a lot of shots. There hasn’t been any game where the goalies have had less than thirty shots. It’s just wide open hockey like you see in the NHL,” he said.

Parent’s like Christopher would have to drive to Napanee if they wanted to their kids to play spring hockey. Christopher wanted to give parents the option to play in Belleville.

Christopher’s son Cooper Christopher has been playing in the league since his dad started it. He loves the idea of the game.

“It’s fun because you get a lot of ice time and score a lot of goals,” said Cooper.

Another family that enjoys the league in the Belleville area are the Chapelle’s. Simon along with his two kids, Ian and Ryan, have been stuck to the league. Simon volunteers his time on the bench as he watches over his two kids and the rest of the team.

He loves everything that the league offers to kids during the offseason.

“It is an opportunity for your kids to do a little bit of hot dogging and have fun with a no pressure environment,” said Simon.

He says there is no better feeling than seeing kids having fun on the ice.

“This is really what it should be about. You’re encouraging kids to have fun. You can just see it on their faces,” he said.

Simon said this league gives his kids a chance to try new things. They can try anything and not feel any pressure.

After being involved in the league for the past few years, Simon sees a bright future for four on four in Quinte.

“If 4 on 4 is a league that can grow, what you will see is a lot of kids playing hockey because they can afford it. This is certainly a great way to enjoy the sport, feel good about yourself, and let the kids show some leadership on the ice where they may not have had the opportunity in the regular season,” he said.

Simon’s kids Ryan and Ian have also fallen in love with the league.

Ian wanted to play ice hockey during the spring months and decided to quit ball hockey to join the league.

“When Brian Christopher’s league came I decided I wanted to play that instead of ball hockey to improve my skills on the ice and build my self confidence while moving the puck,” said Ian.

Ian’s brother Ryan likes the no pressure part of the league.

“I can play any position I want to. If you make a mistake no one yells at you. You just get to try things that you never tried. It’s fun,” said Ryan.

Christopher now prepares for his first summer season. The league will run from July 3rd to August 18th.