Inline Hockey: From American Roots to Spanish Success with Metropolitan HC

By [Your Name], Archysports.com

Inline hockey, a dynamic sport born in the 1970s as a way to bring ice hockey to surfaces without ice, has found a thriving home in Spain. Think of it as ice hockey’s sun-loving cousin, trading frozen rinks for the asphalt and hardwood.

While the sport’s origins are in the United States, it’s international appeal exploded in the 1990s. It was during this period that a group of former ice hockey players from Portugalete, Nogaro, Vizcaya, and the Old Town, Spain, formed the Metropolitan Hockey Club in 1996. They swapped their ice blades for inline wheels, embracing the faster pace and different strategies of the new sport.

According to Ibai Aranzamendi,president of the Vizcaíno Club,Practically,the Metropolitan was one of the pioneers in Spain of online hockey. This pioneering spirit received a major boost with the construction of a dedicated inline hockey track at the Zorroza Sports Center in Bilbao, which hosted the 2007 Inline Hockey World Cup. this facility elevated the team from playing on makeshift courts to competing in one of Europe’s best venues, allowing Metropolitan to reach the top tier of Spanish inline hockey.

The Metropolitan Hockey Club, based in Zorroza, is currently experiencing a resurgence after its men’s team was relegated in 2022. Aranzamendi explains,Before we had signings,but there was an economical pothole and we pulled only from the quarry. He went from the inexperience of young and two -year -old players in the second division – both seasons were back – to return to elite, where this year we have finished third parties. We compete against rivals living from this sport. Our kids pay their share, they study, some already work. This highlights the team’s commitment to developing local talent and competing against more established, professional clubs.

The Youngest Team in the League

The future looks luminous for metropolitan. Their men’s team boasts the youngest average age in their division, at just 20 years old. The women’s team recently completed their inaugural season in the Iberdrola elite league. The club has a total of 135 players across various age groups, all hailing from the greater Bilbao area. Ten teams compete at the regional level, while four compete nationally, including two in the First Division. Across the Basque region, seven clubs participate in official inline hockey tournaments, with approximately 90 clubs nationwide.

Metropolitan’s activities are supported by Bilbao Kirolak, Bizkaialde, and various smaller sponsors. The club operates on a budget of €200,000, which requires significant fundraising efforts. Now we must move more than years ago because we have more teams.Our first team has three trips to the islands (Canary Islands and Balearic Islands), which is a money, and the other displacements are not short.We are actively looking for sponsors to be able to walk relieved and not looking at every euro. Sometimes, we have gone, played and returned, and we have arrived at four in the morning to Bilbao, Aranzamendi notes, emphasizing the challenges of balancing finances and travel logistics.

The club also generates income through player fees (€60) and partnerships. To encourage participation, Metropolitan provides equipment to newcomers. You come with your street skates and we leave you everything so that little by little you acquire the material. However, competitive play requires specialized equipment, including skates (€300-€350), gloves (€80), elbow pads (€60), shin guards (€60), and a helmet with a face mask (€100). This gear is essential for a sport that allows physical contact (though not violent) and sees players reaching speeds of over 18 mph.

Fast-Paced Action and Fast Learning

Inline hockey is known for its non-stop action, with constant attacks and counter-attacks. To fully enjoy the sport, players need to learn to skate on inline skates. Especially at very low ages,[new players] learn very fast.In one or two months they acquire quite ease. It also shows when we teach in schools, from september to when the course ends, says aranzamendi.Metropolitan actively promotes the sport and skating in the community, aiming to expand its reach beyond hockey.

The club dreams of continued success, fueled by a strong youth programme and participation in a country that is a growing force in both men’s and women’s inline hockey. The stands at Zorroza have been filling up, a testament to the sport’s increasing popularity.

Spanish Youth Championship Comes to Bilbao

The Zorroza Sports Center is hosting the Spanish Youth Inline Hockey championship, featuring teams such as Skulls Almàssera (valencia), Tres Cantos (Madrid), Lóstregos (Lugo), Tsunamis (Barcelona), Valladolid, Jujol (Barcelona), Rough Hedgehogs, and Metropolitan. The competition began with a match between Metropolitan and CPH Skulls Almàssera. The semifinals will be held on saturday afternoon, with the final on Sunday. The youth category is mixed, and Metropolitan is expected to field a large number of players in the tournament.