TSHL

Last year I joined the Toledo Street Hockey League. It is a non-profit league for people of all ages in Toledo. Not only does Tom run his own body shop, the rest of his time is spent volunteering for the league. T

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he rest of the labor involved organizing the league is by volunteers as well. You can feel the positive attitude everyone brings to the table when we meet. The coordination of efforts among the volunteers has allowed the league to continue successfully. We have generated several league sponsors to help support the league(we're always looking for more if you want to help ;-). The whole project is funded through the sponsors, league dues(only $30), and Tom(whatever extra after paying bills). It is the only inline hockey league that I am even aware of in Toledo. It started with Tom Robertson last year when he realized people needed an organized league to play street hockey in Toledo. He took it upon himself to create that league with the help of several individuals. I joined in the second season of the first year. It was nothing major by any means. We played on a run down tennis court with cracks everywhere. The conditions of the place were not great. Tom did not let that discourage him and he was able to get close to 200 hundred people involved between last year and now. The league has been featured in the local newspaper and on several news channels. Even the mayor of Toledo came out to watch our games. This year, we requested that we move to a new park, and the city approved the switch. The new location needs some work, so a few of us on the league committee have been working on getting the new site prepped for the upcoming season. With a much larger resurfaced playing area, the competition is going to get much better for those who know how to play well. It is a no contact league and a ball is used so that anyone can play with a relatively low chance of getting hurt. Being a huge fan of hockey, I was immediately interested in the operations of the league. I approached Tom and was greeted with a warm welcome and smile. After letting him know I would help him in any way possible, he put me on the Rules and Competition Committee. We had a couple meetings to decide how to structure this years season. With more people and teams playing, the league needed a new structure and new facilities in a desperate way. After some discussion, the committee agreed on some new changes and progress was made. Now that the weather has broken, so was the ground on the assembly of the new rink. With limited funds, it will take time before it is a masterpiece, but with some TLC is will be a great place to have some real fun. To extend my helping hand, I offered to be the leagues photographer. During a recent tournament, I skated inside the rink while the players were playing to take pictures. I also am documenting the progression of the league from its beginning stages to as far as I can go. It offers me the opportunity to learn sports photography, and gives the league a more legitimate ground in the eyes of Toledo. The new rink is at Ravine II park in Toledo. It sits just below the new suspension bridge and offers a great backdrop to the fun. Tom has put a lot of time and effort into the league along with several other members. He is a good guy that many of us consider a great friend now as well.

BTW-- Tom is the guy in the blue shirt using a grinder in the pictures.