Semipro Hockey Team Kicks Off Season In Arena
The Grinders, Spokane’s semipro hockey team, launches its season with two games in the Arena this weekend.
Grand Forks, British Columbia, will provide the opposition Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
“We have 2 hours of ice time both days,” said Grinders spokesman Todd Ulrich. “We should have some good games.”
Most of the Grinders played junior or senior hockey locally, including Dan Holden, Jeff Fenton, Kevin Humphries and Jeff McDonald, Ulrich said.
A highlight of the Grinders’ season is an Easter-weekend tournament in Spokane.
Bowling
You might say the inaugural Sports Page Invitational got off to a perfect start.
Rick Jones saw to that with a 300 game en route to a 745 three-game series that leads the men’s A singles. Martha Sneva’s 707 leads the A women.
The handicap tournament, which offers $5,000 in added money, runs weekends through Dec. 3. Tournament director Ken Brumble said “we have spots open, even on the final squad.”
Info: 924-5141.
The Northwest Burn Foundation will benefit from proceeds generated by the Pullman Bowling Challenge on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Leisure Lanes in Pullman. It’s sponsored by Pullman Moose Lodge 943. Info: (509) 334-3000.
Bootless in-line skate
One of the bigger drawbacks to in-line skates is that there are times and places you can’t wear them: In a store or restaurant, for example. And trying to get some exercise by skating to work means you have to carry along extra shoes.
Enter Mojo, bootless in-line skates that can be worn over just about any tennis shoe, street shoe or hiking boot. They go off and on in a snap, and you never have to carry along extra shoes.
“We don’t recommend wearing them with open-toed shoes like sandals. Other than that, just about anything goes,” says George Haffelder, whose Midwest company sells the Australian-made Mojos.
Mojos come in two sizes. The smaller model fits over men’s shoes in sizes 4-8-1/2 and women’s shoes in sizes 6-10. The larger models fit men’s sizes 9-13-1/2 and women’s sizes 10-1/2-13.
The skates have a solid bottom platform, flexible straps that fasten and tighten in seconds, a padded cuff that fits around the ankle and an armored protective support that runs up the outside of the ankle. The right skate has a braking pad.
The skates aren’t cheap. Adult versions are $159 to $329, depending on the high-tech plastics used and quality of the wheels and bearings. A junior model is expected out for Christmas for about $99.
But with Mojos, you won’t have to buy a new pair every time the kid’s shoe size changes.
A Mojo’s wheels can be adjusted left and right to maximize balance, and the most popular models have high-speed bearings and urethane wheels designed for street use. The top-of-the-line Street Lord has Kevlar straps and a frame made of a clear plastic.
Mojo also makes skating safety gear, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads and a wrist guard. Most experts say the wrist protector is the most crucial element.
, DataTimes