During the first weekend in March, the FGCU Roller Hockey team plans to travel to Georgia to play in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association’s (NCRHA) DIII regional championship game. If they receive an invite to the national championship game, it will be hosted in Fort Myers on April 2.
“It is not as different as many people think,” Ryan Ghosio, the club’s president, said. “We still play the same game, just with a few different rules and we are on wheels instead of blades.”
Another difference is the rink’s size and the game is played in a 4v4 format instead of 5v5. Roller hockey is most comparable to soccer, where players value possession of the puck over anything else.
The club has two practices a week and members play in a roller hockey house league throughout the week.
The team started competing in the NCRHA league in the 2011-2012 season, with their season beginning in October and running through April.
“I wouldn’t say anything this season has been notable as of yet, besides beating the number one seed in our conference, Tennessee-Chattanooga, 10-5 during our opening weekend,” Ghosio said.
The team competes at the DIII level but has played at the DI and DII level in previous seasons.
The Eagles began their 2024-25 season with a record of 5-5. They have 15 members and travel with around 10 players to each tournament. The team currently sits at 9-10 with one overtime loss as of Feb. 10.
The team’s most impressive showing was on Feb. 1, when they scored 16-1 against the University of Tampa Spartans.
“This is the most talented FGCU team I’ve been a part of,” Luke Pronti, junior defenseman, said. “This group of guys plays really well together and we only get better as the weeks go on.”
Pronti has been playing with the Eagles for three years and has plans to continue with the sport after college, along with the other players on the team.
“It’s been a great experience playing hockey with this group,” Pronti said. “We have a real sense [of] camaraderie and a shared purpose driving us to perform on the rink.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the club or the sport, you can find them on EagleLink or Instagram at @FGCURoller.
