Hockey? In Key West?
Yep. Well, roller hockey — because anything else would just be wading in skates.
The Southernmost Hockey Club, 1713 Bertha St., hosted the Southernmost Buttery Cup hockey tournament Aug. 21-23, offering a free weekend of roller hockey to Key West.
Fifty Key West kids spent two hours the evening of Aug. 21 participating in a free clinic with former college and pro players, including Toronto Maple Leafs forward Brandon Duhaime, a Florida native, and Reagan Rust, former captain and assistant coach for Boston University’s women’s hockey team.
Presented by the South Florida-based Buttery Roller Foundation in collaboration with Southernmost Hockey Club, the event included an adult tournament with teams from across Florida, live DJs, raffles, merchandise, vendors, food trucks and concessions. Spectators could attend all three days at no charge.
The Buttery Roller Foundation is a Florida nonprofit that uses roller hockey tournaments, festivals and community partnerships to promote mental well-being, bring people together and raise money for charitable causes. Its Wheeling for Wellness tournaments have supported mental-health and veterans organizations, including Movember, Finding A Lost Voice and the Florida Panthers Warriors Foundation.
“Our organization is so excited to be here and share our enthusiasm and love for the game here in Key West,” foundation president Tony Aromandi said. “Hockey is for everyone, and we are honored by the opportunity and trust the locals have given us.”
On Aug. 22, adult tournament games took place in a round-robin format from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The field included 11 teams in two divisions, with nine teams traveling from around Florida and additional players flying in from across the country.
The recent events likely put a hot light on the Southernmost Hockey Club’s need for a roof over its Bertha Street rink, which the league and its 100 or so youth members have been seeking for years.
The league’s efforts to improve the rink and reduce weather-related disruptions were one of the charitable efforts that the Buttery Cup supported.
“A roof over the rink would greatly assist us, as being completely exposed to the elements creates extremely hot conditions and no mitigation for rain and humidity, which as we know is frequent and heavy in Florida,” said Southernmost Hockey Club supporter Adeline Klepper. “This creates limited times, days and opportunities for athletes of all ages to play and fall in love with a great sport more often and with regularity here in Key West.”
For more information, and to donate to support the rink’s roof efforts, visit keywesthockey.com or donate virtually via Venmo @southernmosthockeyclub.
