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IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2006 CONTACT: A DIFFERENT KIND
OF INAUGURAL WEEKEND Richmond, VA - It's almost "Inaugural Weekend" in Virginia, and this time the politicians have nothing to do with it. This time, the participants will be the area's hottest new professional sports stars! The Richmond Rollin Robins, one of the newest franchises in the Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA), will play their first weekend of games on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29. The Rollin Robins, which will play in the eastern division of the 12-team league, are sponsored by Shooters Indoor Sportsplex in Chesterfield County. The team truly is a product of Central Virginia, with about half of the 16-player squad hailing from the area. "I think many pro sports franchises fail to embrace their local community," said Shooters Co-Owner and Rollin Robins Head Coach Richard Kent. "Since a sizable percentage of our players are from this area, you'll not only be able to see a professional inline hockey game, you'll get to root for hometown players at the same time." The Rollin Robins hometown stars also will give the youngest of their fans a chance to learn the game from pro players. In the coming months, the team will host clinics where youngsters can learn the basics of skating and hockey from the players and coaching staff. The PIHA was launched five years ago. It is a non-checking, non-fighting, four-on-four inline hockey league that features some of the most skilled players in the world. "I'm thrilled to be playing professionally," said team captain Danny Voronkov. "This is an opportunity that I didn't think would become available in Metro Richmond, and I plan to make the most of it." In addition to seeing a great night of one of the fastest growing sports in the country, spectators will see other entertainment as well. "Inline hockey will be the primary attraction at a Rollin Robins game, but be prepared to see more," said Kent. "We plan to host local entertainers like dancers and singers, who will perform during period breaks and in between games." The Rollin Robins will be put to the test in the first contests of their 32-game schedule, as they take on two of the top teams in the league. On Saturday, January 28 at 7:30pm and 8:30pm they play the Philadelphia Growl, last season's PIHA Champion. On Sunday, January 29 at 1:00pm and 2:00pm they play the York (PA) Typhoon, the 2004 league champs. In addition to the professional-level team, each franchise in the PIHA is required to develop a minor league team. The Rollin Robins developmental team is made up of local teenagers, and will play many of its games on the same nights as the pro squad. For more information on the Rollin Robins, go to http://www.proinlinehockey.com. To find out more about Shooters Indoor Sportsplex or dates of upcoming youth clinics, go to www.shootersindoor.com.
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