Roller Hockey Legend Belanger Calls Florida Home Quebec Native Still Laces ‘Em Up From Time to Time


By WB Philp Y


ou can find him at All Sports Arena in New Port Richey these days, probably playing in a local inline ironman tournament or coaching his son. Hugo Belanger, a former Chicago Blackhawks


draft pick, a four-time United Hockey League MVP, and an ECHL and West Coast Hockey League MVP, is perhaps the greatest player in Major League Roller Hockey (MLRH) history. Belanger had a solid 15-year minor league hockey


career, amassing 518 goals and 947 assists for 1,465 points, the highest total of any player post-1980. The now 41-year-old went on to play four years in MLRH that included an amazing season in 1998. That year, while playing for the Virginia Vultures,


Belanger won the MLRH scoring title by an unthink- able 52 points over the second best player. In that MVP season, he netted 79 goals and 79 assists for 158 points in just 20 games. In those 20 games, he had a +108 rating. No, that’s not a misprint. “I had a lot of fun that year,” said Belanger. “MLRH decided to expand their league nationally. There were some good teams and some real bad ones. I remem- ber getting 29 points in one game.” According to Belanger, however, that was not his


best year of inline play. “My best year in roller would have to be the 1996


year with the Long Island Jawz,” explained Belanger. “Every team was good. I was forced to leave the team with three games left because I had committed to play in Germany that year.” Even so, Belanger had 25 goals and 101 points


with the Jawz that season. The St. Hubert, PQ native is considered the great-


est player of all time for the Adirondack IceHawks and Adirondack Frostbite. He played six seasons for the IceHawks and Frostbite, scoring 221 goals. He played in more games and scored more goals than anyone in Adirondack professional hockey history. Belanger played in 456 games from 2000-06 with the IceHawks and Frostbite, including a six-season streak of 70 or more games. He recorded a career-best 143 points in 2002-03, one of three seasons he led the UHL in points. His 464 career assists are fourth all- time in UHL history. In March, Belanger, Jody Gage and Barry Mel-


rose were inducted into the Adirondack Hockey Hall of Fame. “It was a great honor,” smiled Belanger. “They did


a great job researching our accomplishments. I was surprised to see that I ranked first since 1980 among all minor league hockey players with 1,465 points and fifth all time (in minor league scoring).”


“My favorite moments are my two World Champi- onship victories with Team Canada,” said Belanger. “My proudest ice hockey moment would be when I got drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and winning the WCHL championship with the Phoenix Mustangs.” Roller hockey, which Belanger picked up later in


life, provided some more stellar achievements. “I did not play roller growing up; we did not have


any leagues,” explained Belanger. “I was introduced to roller hockey by a teammate, Yves Heroux, when I played in the old International Hockey League in Indianapolis. Roller fits my game very well. I am a playmaker and I’ve learned you do have a little bit more time to make plays in roller than on ice.” Belanger said roller hockey has the capability to help kids transition to ice hockey and he has seen that happen first-hand. “Absolutely, I have seen many kids from California


that were exclusive roller hockey players transition to ice later in life,” said Belanger. “They all made the transition very easily. Roller also offers an affordable way for kids to learn hockey.” Belanger, who now resides in Palm Harbor with his


wife and son, works for Arbonne International, selling natural health and wellness products. He doesn’t lace up the skates very much anymore, but does find oc- casions here and there. Belanger also said he’d like to find a coaching gig, though nothing that would take away from coaching his son. “I haven’t got to play ice that much, but I try to


play in a roller tournament once a month,” said Be- langer. “I am interested in coaching hockey, but I just haven’t found the right opportunity yet. I am content coaching my son at All Sports Arena.” Having fun over the course of his career was something Belanger took pride in and offered the same advice for the younger generation of hockey players.


“Kids should always do their best and aim at get-


Hugo Belanger, shown here playing for the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the 1998 roller hockey world championships, had a truly amazing roller hockey career.


Belanger is also enshrined in the Quebec Roller


Hockey Hall of Fame. Out of all of his many accomplishments, Belanger said his favorites relate to his home country.


ting a college hockey scholarship with their talent,” said Belanger. “If they end up playing pro it is great, but the odds are minimal.” Those were the same odds Belanger overcame and made mention of that fact during his Adirondack induction speech. “I think standing here tonight shows I proved them wrong,” Belanger said.


South Florida Reflects on Stellar ’10-11 Season, Looks Forward By WB Philp


T


he University of South Florida has had an inline hockey team since 2002 and continued that


tradition in 2010-11 competing in Division II of the Southeast Collegiate Roller Hockey League (SECRHL). The ten-man squad played 12 games and finished


with a respectable 6-5-1 record. Although their record didn’t show it, the South Florida players played their best against the best. Early in the season, the Bulls beat the eventual Divi- sion II runner-up Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles, 5-3, on the strength of two goals each from Josh Hiscock and Mike Derstine. “The highlight of our season was definitely beating


UCF,” said South Florida goalie Nick Regan, also the team’s president. Last Feb. 6 at the Skatium in Fort Myers in their


last regular season game, the Bulls beat the highly- touted Central Florida Knights, eventual Southeast-


16 University of South Florida goalie Nick Regan. Photo/USF


ern Regional champions, 3-2, behind a scintillating first-star performance by Regan. The Bulls backstop fought off 35 of the 37 shots the Knights blistered at him.


South Florida scored all three of their goals in the first period and held on to win, despite being out- shot in the final two periods, 28-9. Derstine was the second star of the game, netting two goals and an assist.


This season is a different story. Due to lack of funding, the Tampa-based Bulls


have opted to play as an affiliate team in the SCRHL this season. The team has the option as an affiliate to attend any of the scheduled league tournaments, but will be unable to participate in playoffs. The Bulls are currently looking for players for the upcoming season. Any USF full-time students are eligible. To help provide funds to the Bulls or for more information, contact Regan at 631-327- 2599 or at nregan@mail.usf.edu.


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