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‘Octopush’ fast action despite being under water
  
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Courtney Johnson
The water doesn’t have to be frozen to play hockey.
The Denver Underwater Hockey League has been around since 1992, when Chris Debrunner and his wife Agnes of Conifer started the team.
Scrimmages occur twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays at the Carmody Pool in Lakewood. At each practice, time is also dedicated for drills and improving overall skills.
The sport began in 1954 when Alan Blake, of the Sub-Aqua Club in Portsmouth, England, and some diving friends first played the game. Although the game and equipment have changed over the years, it is still as popular as ever in Portsmouth. In 1962, the game came over to Canada and the United States.
Today, you can find teams in almost every state and around the world. At the World Championships in 2006, 44 teams from all over the world competed.
In the sport of underwater hockey, each team has six people in play and up to four substitutes on the side for a maximum total of 10 players. With foot-long sticks, players shuffle a weighted puck about the size of an ice hockey puck across the bottom of the pool passing to teammates until they reach the opponent’s goal on the other side of the pool.
Sticks are designated lefty and righty and are colored white or black to designate teams. Players wear ear protection and a mouth guard along with fins, a mask and snorkel. A special glove is used to help grip the stick and protect the hand from abrasions from the pool bottom.
To begin play, the puck is dropped at the center of the play area. At the signal, players from both sides rush toward the puck, and while keeping it in the play area, try to send the puck into their opponent’s goal. Play continues until someone scores, or at tournaments, a referee stops play.
After the 10-15 minute halves are over or a team has scored, players will retreat back to their wall to rest and wait for play to begin again. A typical game has two halves. Although Octopush, as it is also known, is a non-contact sport, when a referee is present, penalties for hitting, blocking and illegal use of the stick can be assessed.
Along with scrimmages, the team has mini-tournaments with teams based in Boulder and Fort Collins. At least one team in Colorado participates at nationals each year and a few players have even played in the World Championships, which are every two years.
Swimming or hockey experience isn’t required to play, but they can help a new player ease into the game and help with overall stamina.
“I swim in the morning before work to help with conditioning,” Shirley Bjornseth said.
The Littleton resident has been playing on the team for nine years now.
“It took a bit of convincing from my coworkers [Debrunner and Anne Chou] to try it, but once I started playing, I was hooked,” she said. “I just love the freedom and fluidity of the water.”
Scuba instructor John Tinkler, also of Littleton, was looking for an opportunity to have fun in the water in a landlocked state. Tinkler gave it a try after Bjornseth told him all about it.
“It’s a great way to have fun and stay in shape,” Tinkler said. “The team is such a great group of people.”
Denver UWH seeks more players and is more then willing to help newcomers learn this fast-paced sport.
“Come and try it,” Debrunner said. “It is lots of fun, and it is good exercise too. All the Colorado clubs provide a good environment for learning the sport and improving your skills.” Colorado now has games at a range of skill and intensity levels.
“I love taking part in an intense and fast UWH game, particularly if I am also playing well. There is nothing more exciting that taking part in a well-executed play that ends with a goal for my team.”
To find out more information about the Denver Underwater Hockey Team visit its Web site at www.uwhockey.org.
The water doesn’t have to be frozen to play hockey.
The Denver Underwater Hockey League has been around since 1992, when Chris Debrunner and his wife Agnes of Conifer started the team.
Scrimmages occur twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays at the Carmody Pool in Lakewood. At each practice, time is also dedicated for drills and improving overall skills.
The sport began in 1954 when Alan Blake, of the Sub-Aqua Club in Portsmouth, England, and some diving friends first played the game. Although the game and equipment have changed over the years, it is still as popular as ever in Portsmouth. In 1962, the game came over to Canada and the United States.
Today, you can find teams in almost every state and around the world. At the World Championships in 2006, 44 teams from all over the world competed.
In the sport of underwater hockey, each team has six people in play and up to four substitutes on the side for a maximum total of 10 players. With foot-long sticks, players shuffle a weighted puck about the size of an ice hockey puck across the bottom of the pool passing to teammates until they reach the opponent’s goal on the other side of the pool.
Sticks are designated lefty and righty and are colored white or black to designate teams. Players wear ear protection and a mouth guard along with fins, a mask and snorkel. A special glove is used to help grip the stick and protect the hand from abrasions from the pool bottom.
To begin play, the puck is dropped at the center of the play area. At the signal, players from both sides rush toward the puck, and while keeping it in the play area, try to send the puck into their opponent’s goal. Play continues until someone scores, or at tournaments, a referee stops play.
After the 10-15 minute halves are over or a team has scored, players will retreat back to their wall to rest and wait for play to begin again. A typical game has two halves. Although Octopush, as it is also known, is a non-contact sport, when a referee is present, penalties for hitting, blocking and illegal use of the stick can be assessed.
Along with scrimmages, the team has mini-tournaments with teams based in Boulder and Fort Collins. At least one team in Colorado participates at nationals each year and a few players have even played in the World Championships, which are every two years.
Swimming or hockey experience isn’t required to play, but they can help a new player ease into the game and help with overall stamina.
“I swim in the morning before work to help with conditioning,” Shirley Bjornseth said.
The Littleton resident has been playing on the team for nine years now.
“It took a bit of convincing from my coworkers [Debrunner and Anne Chou] to try it, but once I started playing, I was hooked,” she said. “I just love the freedom and fluidity of the water.”
Scuba instructor John Tinkler, also of Littleton, was looking for an opportunity to have fun in the water in a landlocked state. Tinkler gave it a try after Bjornseth told him all about it.
“It’s a great way to have fun and stay in shape,” Tinkler said. “The team is such a great group of people.”
Denver UWH seeks more players and is more then willing to help newcomers learn this fast-paced sport.
“Come and try it,” Debrunner said. “It is lots of fun, and it is good exercise too. All the Colorado clubs provide a good environment for learning the sport and improving your skills.” Colorado now has games at a range of skill and intensity levels.
“I love taking part in an intense and fast UWH game, particularly if I am also playing well. There is nothing more exciting that taking part in a well-executed play that ends with a goal for my team.”
To find out more information about the Denver Underwater Hockey Team visit its Web site at www.uwhockey.org.
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