Professional roller hockey was a new sport which seemed to have hit its peak in 1994 when Roller Hockey International (RHI) grew to its historical high of 24 team franchises including four teams in Canada. During this time, it was apparent that anyone with $50,000. could obtain the RHI franchise rights for a territory and make the claim of owning a sports team. Unfortunately, the RHI Management at the time was more interested in the money versus proper business plans and owners with strong business knowledge.

The RHI membership slipped to 19 teams in 1995, 18 teams in 1996, and 10 teams in 1997. The 1998 RHI season was troubled with Management issues and was later postponed or more commonly known as on hiatus. The league returned a year later with only 8 teams but the damaged had been done as the lack of game play in 1998 hurt the game attendance figures during the 1999 season.

An alternative league, Major League Roller Hockey (MLRH) based on the East Coast of the United States, hastily assembled a league of 20 teams comprised of 14 U.S. teams and 6 teams in a European divison for the 1998 season. The game play quality was mediocre and fan attendance was almost non-existent at times. There were few worthy exceptions such as the Anaheim and Buffalo franchises from the RHI defected to the MLRH. MLRH's professional game did not return in 1999.

Meanwhile, 1998 saw roller hockey's variant in Pro Beach Hockey (PBH). A made-for-TV product by a former RHI executive and ESPN. Its behind the net ramps and game play on the beach appealed to players and fans alike but the attendance numbers and sponsorship money was not sufficient to allow the new league to go beyond the 2000 season.

Doesn't anyone want to see the professional roller hockey game succeed?

Yes! The thousands of fans who have paid their hard earned dollars to watch the pros play do. The thousands of fans who play the game at home in their local neighborhood streets do. The thousands of families who go together to the local arenas to watch the games do.

Professional roller hockey, as we knew it, turned out to be a game played by traditional winter minor league ice hockey players trying to stay in shape year round for their teams. For the summer game to flourish at the professional level, it needs to re-establish its roots and align itself again with the minor league hockey player.

The Roller Hockey Fantasy League will do its part by aligning its season play with minor league hockey. We are proud to announce we will be designating RHFL teams with the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) and its teams for our first season.

Are you ready?