Hat tricks galore as East Texas Hockey League opens spring season

BODY UP — Referee Zack Zazalak (far right) watches closely for penalty infractions as Shawna Gibson (left) and Kenzie Benoit bodyup and fight for possesion of the puck during a under-10-year-old roller hockey game, a part of the ETHL’s second week of play in the spring season. Roller hockey rules are different than Ice hockey rules, focusing on puck handling skills and safety. There is no tolerence for checking or rough play. Courtesy photo by Gene Keenon EDITOR’S NOTE: The East Texas Hockey League is a roller hockey league that plays games at Interskate, a skating rink in Kilgore. The ETHL’s spring season kicked off recently, and this is a roundup of the first two weekends of action. Games are played each Sunday afternoon at Interskate with players from all around East Texas.

Week One

Under 10

 Mighty Ducks 8, Longhorns 3: Scoring for the Mighty Ducks were Eric Eaton, Marcus Gibson, Ryan Lewis and Tell De Feece. Scoring a hat trick for the Longhorns was James Shirley.

 Longhorns 6, Green Giants 4: Scoring for the Longhorns were James Shirley and Caleb Henry. Scoring for the Green Giants were Ben Phillips, Shawna Gibson, Dustin Switzer and Grant Lehenbeaur.

CLACKETY-CLACK — From left: Reed Pinkerton, Dustin Switzer, Shianne Gibson and Sheldon Reynolds battle for possesion of the puck as James Shirley (background, right) waits for his turn. Courtesy photo by Gene Keenon Under 14

 Pink Panthers 10, Green Giants 3: Scoring for the Pink Panthers were Scottie Agnew, Cameron Williams, Christopher Kirk, and Justin Morrow, with assists from Matthew Baxter. Scoring for the Green Giants were Jonathan and Matthew Hamer.

 Floating Bubbles 6, White Noise 1: Scoring for the Bubbles were Chris Greene, Preston Henley, Zack Flemming and Jesse Beebe. Scoring for the Noise was Zack Ott.

Week two

Under 10

 Longhorns 8, Green Giants 1: Scoring a hat trick for the ’Horns was James Shirley. Caleb Henry, Bailey Gregg and Cole Grantham also put points on the board for the ’Horns. Grant Lehenbauer scored for the Giants.

 Mighty Ducks 7, Green Giants 4: Scoring a hat trick for the Ducks was Eric Eaton. Tell De Feece and Ryan Lewis scored the rest of the points for the Ducks.

Sheldon Reynolds scored a hat trick for the Giants, with an assist from Grant Lehenbauer. Ben Phillips also scored a goal.

Under 14

 Pink Panthers 8, Floating Bubbles 0: Scottie Agnew of Kilgore scored a hat trick and had four assists. Matthew Baxter also scored a hat trick and Cameron Williams and Jared Ricks put points on the board.

 Green Giants 11, White Noise 3: Scoring hat tricks for the Giants were Harry Phillips and Matthew Hamer. Jonathon Hamer and Taylor Tritten also scored. Hitting the back of the net for the White Noise were Zack Ott and John Plaisance.