LH grad on championship roller hockey team
?PITTSBURGH 鈥� Prior to applying to La Roche College in 2008, Joel Borland, then a student at Laurel Highlands High School, was scrolling the university蘑菇视频 website when he discovered the Redhawks had a roller hockey club.
After joining the team upon enrollment in the fall of 2008, Borland helped guide the Redhawks to the 2011 Tier Three Division championship in the Western Pennsylvania Area College Roller Hockey League.
The Redhawks secured the title with a 2-1 series win against Carnegie Mellon University in April at Neville Island.
Since there were limited opportunities to play on teams in the local area, and relegated to pick-up games, Borland was excited for the chance to join an organized league.
鈥淚 like hockey and always wanted to play at the organized level,鈥� said Borland, now a senior communications major. 鈥淚鈥檝e found it helps to relieve stress and takes your mind off of things.鈥�
Borland found the first few games challenging, as he hadn鈥檛 played an organized game for some time.
鈥淚 got out on the ice and found most, if not all, of my teammates played hockey in high school,鈥� said Borland. 鈥淭hey have tremendous skill and ability, and I found it was challenging to keep up with them.鈥�
Starting as a forward Borland felt his backward skating skills could be used on defense, and his coach made the change.
While he improved with the change and now is on the first line, Borland said that it took time to get use to the game蘑菇视频 physicality.
鈥淐hecking isn鈥檛 permitted, but hitting still happens,鈥� said Borland. 鈥淛ust like at the main universities and in the pros, you have the bullies who come out and want to rough people up. Also, our league is four-on-four with a goalie, so you are very involved in the game.鈥�
In a game against a University of Pittsburgh squad halfway through his freshman year, a puck hit Borland between his eyes.
鈥淭heir player took a shot from the wrist, and all I remember is the puck hitting my stick,鈥� said Borland. 鈥淚 felt this hot pain on my nose, and I ended up having to get 10 stitches. There was a lot of blood, but the game kept going; it wasn鈥檛 what I was used to in pick-up games.鈥�
This year Borland sustained another injury in the second round of the playoffs when he was struck in the face by a CCAC South player蘑菇视频 hockey stick.
Removing his own tooth on the bench, Borland was told by teammates not to replace it until season蘑菇视频 end.
鈥淓ven at this level they are superstitious,鈥� Borland laughed.
For Borland, the title was understandably his best memory.
鈥淚t felt so great to be part of the something and celebrate with your team,鈥� said Borland. 鈥淚t蘑菇视频 what I wanted when I began playing with the club.鈥�
Though hoping to stay involved in hockey with a possible public relations internship with the Penguins in the future, Borland feels happy that he had the chance to play on a team.
鈥淥nly a few local high schools have hockey teams, so I was glad to have this chance.鈥� said Borland. 鈥淚 think there is a tremendous interest in the sport, considering our location next to Pittsburgh. I really hope local schools might consider having teams if the interest is there.鈥�