Hockey players everywhere know the scent.

Sometimes it’s the faint twinge of a sock worn for the second time too many.

At its worst, the stench burns in the back of your mouth as hundreds of sets of  pads waft through concrete hallways.

It’s the smell of gritty hockey competition—a smell that screams “I’m the least of your worries here, if you came to win.”

Naturally, this was the scent of the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships in Colorado Springs, where 60 teams from all over the country met for six days of hockey between April 9 and 14. The days were epic, starting at 8 a.m. and often times finishing after midnight. 

“The vibe has been electric,” said NCRHA program director Rob Coggin. “There’s been a palpable passion for hockey here.”

The winners of the Division I tournament was Lindenwood, who will take the traveling trophy for another year. They’ve consistently dominated the competition in D-I club Roller Hockey, as they are able to offer grants and scholarships for their program, a distinct edge over their opponents. Previous to their loss at their regional championship, they had won 151 games in a row.

They weren’t without scares, though, as they faced a most unique UC Irvine team. While the typical roller hockey team has at least ten skaters, a goalie or two and a coach, the Irvine squad had only five skaters and one keeper. No coach, no ability to run two lines.  Yet they ran the table during the round robin portion of the tournament and fought through an 8-3 disadvantage to SUNY Stoneybrook to win in overtime, and handled No. 2 seed Buffalo in the next round. They lost to Lindenwood in the semi-finals 11-4 after a strong first two periods. 

“You think, how often can these guys win?” said spectator Antone Lawrence. “They were five guys who knew their roles and game-planned based around their limitations.”

Stories such as these are proof of the spirit of club sports, which is where, according to Coggin, the real student athletes exist.

“The bottom line is recognizing the gap that club sports fill,” said Coggin. “There’s a lot of pride and school spirit, and the kids aren’t getting granted time off, they’re doing it on their own.”

For collegiate athletes, an event such as this is the highlight of a season. The chance to compete at the highest level, as well as take a week to travel to lovely Colorado is rewarding in itself. Despite some weather difficulties, Colorado Springs provided an excellent location, and Coggin was quick to give thanks to the city and the facilities used (Tour Inline Hockey Arena and the Colorado Sports Center). The tournament had to relocate at the last minute, as well as deal with the typical Colorado snowstorm.

“It’s hard for us to play here because of the altitude,” said St. Louis native Kyle Jacob, “but its basically as week hockey vacation.”

Over the past 20 years, roller hockey has skyrocketed in national popularity, due primarily to its accessibility. When rink time is expensive and ponds melt, anyone can find a strip of concrete or asphalt for a pickup game. Additionally, equipment and club membership tends to be cheaper for roller hockey when contrasted with its colder brother.

In terms of play, roller hockey is almost a constant power play, as it is played 4-on-4.  Players get a firm understanding of defensive schemes, open-court passing and they are given a much longer leash concerning creative puck-handling, thanks to fewer lines and no hits. 

In short, the sport is a great way to cross-train for ice hockey, and may begin to replace ice hockey as it becomes cheaper and more popular. The sport, if anything, is gaining popularity rapidly. 

And their pads smell just as good.