So the countdown begins. The University of Portsmouth Roller Hockey are rolling and ready to go to the 2008 National Championships in Deeside

to take on reigning champions Southampton and the rest of the UK’s Universities.

Our chances could not be better with our full roster healthy and eager to get on the rink to get pucked up! The depth UoP Roller Hockey boasts on the rink rivals any team that will be in Deeside, with us sitting above all other University teams in our league right now.

After beating Southampton, winners of the Championship each of the last 2 years, by a score of 11-7, our confidence on the rink and faith in our teammates has grown and grown, with terrific team performances becoming the club’s claim to fame.

Youngster Elliot Staker comes in to his first season on the team, and has become the number 1 goaltender, finding it easy to stop the puck and frustrate opposing teams.

Former professional goaltender Sven Spanrad comes in as a goaltending coach as well as scoring machine in matches, tallying a hat trick in each of his first 2 games of the season.

Vice President Laurie Hodge comes in as the spark the team needs, outworking the opposition for every loose puck and then making them look stupid with fancy between the legs moves before feeding the puck to GB Ice Hockey representative Joe Boot, who regularly makes goalies hate their job.

With selflessness, hard work, a passion for the club and winning, and a great sense of camaraderie being UoP Roller Hockey’s most distinct qualities, besides some slick hands and rocketing slap shots, our boys look to return to the form that brought the University of Portsmouth Team 4 consecutive National Championships in the past.