In 1998, David McLane left Roller Hockey International (RHI) to create Pro Beach Hockey. The made-for-television event was created to "capture the lucrative and illusive roller hockey consumer," said McLane.

"More than three-and-a-half million participants currently play roller hockey, yet until now, not one single entity has captured that consumer," McLane said. "Pro Beach Hockey brings the excitement of hockey together with the party atmosphere of the beach, hip music and youth fashion for the ultimate sporting event."

Pro Beach Hockey games are played with a ball (rather than a puck) on a specially designed 168' by 72' portable outdoor rink placed right on the sand in Huntington Beach, California. The game combines contact, end-zone ramps, a two-point conversion and sudden-death shootouts.

Gone were the blue lines which meant no offsides or icing. And there were only four skaters plus a goalie, not ice hockey's five. Additionally, the players wore inline skates leaving the only ice to be found would be in spectators' soft drinks.