Always willing to help

For Derry McDonald and Ian Fullerton, being part of the Bainbridge Island Roller Hockey League means taking on multiple roles to keep things going.

Both have played six years or more and both have also refereed for several years as well. While Fullerton has been a coach for four years, McDonald just took up the coaching reins this season.

“It’s a way to give back to the league and it’s also a lot of fun to do,” McDonald said.

That’s the kind of atmosphere BIRHL president Doug Greason said he wants to foster in every person that comes to the rink at Battle Point Park and takes part in the league.

“We get a real mix of players,” he said. “For a handful, hockey is a big part of their lives. But there are players who have never played hockey before that want to try it out.

“What we try very hard to do is sponsor a feeling of community,” Gleason continued. “This season we’ve expanded the role of teens who’ve been there for several years and had them coaching more teams – all four Division II teams this year were coached by teens.

“We’re pretty proud to keep players involved.”

Both McDonald and Fullerton are appreciative of the welcoming environment of the league that keeps them coming back year after year.

“It’s really tight-knit,” Fullerton said. “It’s gone from (more) adults contributing to (more) kids (contributing). Almost every ref and coach was an adult. Now, there’s hardly any adults coaching.

“The older kids can mentor the younger kids,” McDonald said. “It gives them role models – if the younger kids can see the older kids reffing and coaching, they’ll want to do it too. It’s just a good thing for the league in general to have everyone contribute on one level or another.”

Gleason said he’s glad that teens like McDonald and Fullerton are still willing to come around and help out.

“They’re great kids,” he said. “They’ve both been as involved for as long as I have.

“Adults and teens bring different strengths,” Gleason continued. “Adults have more experience, but with teens (coaching), the enthusiasm is higher. Plus, the little kids want to be like the big guy.”

This year, Fullerton got some more experience under his belt when he and his dad, Bill, took over as co-coaches of the Avalanche, a Division III team due to several kids graduating and having their dads leave as well. Fullerton also played, giving him a unique perspective on working on both sides.

“It was probably harder when you’re playing because when you’re on the bench, you’re shouting the whole game and telling them what to do,” he said. “When you’re going out and playing, it’s hard to pass information on (to your teammates.)

“But there wasn’t any loss of respect by the players,” Fullerton continued. “It wasn’t like there was a fight for power or anything like that. Everybody listened.”

McDonald, who was on the defensive line with Fullerton, also had high praise for his coach.

“He was a good coach,” he said. “He definitely had the respect of his players. They’re not going to abuse the fact that he’s the coach and screw around all practice. They’re going to listen but they’re not going to be afraid of him.”

Since both graduated from Bainbridge High School in May, both are off to college in the fall – Fullerton to Washington State, McDonald to the University of Washington.

But they’ll stay involved with hockey by playing for the school’s club teams and plan on coming back to help out at the rink.

–John Becerra, Jr.