FULLERTON : Roller Hockey Rink Proposed for City

City staff members are proposing the creation of a roller hockey rink that would serve as the site of a community hockey league and a practice facility for the professional Anaheim Bullfrogs.

Roller hockey is similar to ice hockey but is played on a hard floor by players wearing in-line skates.

The Bullfrogs, who play at the Anaheim Arena, compete during the summer.

They were founded this year and beat out an Oakland team last month to win their league’s national championship.

Many of the Bullfrogs are minor league ice hockey players, according to Mitch Antonakos, director of operations for the team.

Russ Akina, a community services supervisor, said roller hockey has become very popular in Fullerton.

The city had to begin locking the Hunt Library tennis courts in August because so many people used the courts for roller hockey games.

“The courts just weren’t designed for safe play,” Akina said, “but we recognized a need. There are pick-up games in parking lots, and many other places.”

Akina said he and other city staff members met Sept. 28 with Stuart Silver, the owner of the Bullfrogs, to discuss building a rink called Stuart’s World at the former Acura dealership at 464 W. Commonwealth Ave.

Under the city staff’s proposal, the city would have an exclusive right to form a league at the rink.

Silver proposes to profit from the rink, an arcade, a snack bar and a pro shop.

Silver and city officials will present their ideas Oct. 27 to the Planning Commission.

Garden Grove, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach already have roller hockey leagues, Akina said.

The rink would be owned by Silver, Antonakos said.

The city has suggested that indoor soccer and country dancing could also take place at the rink.

The roller hockey leagues would be managed by the city, and the city would provide insurance.