Tony Overman/The Olympian
Olympia hardball hockey player Jesse Kincy, age 15, will be guarding the goal for Team USA during February's World Junior Championships in Chile. Kincy made the national team after learning to play goalie for his recreational team.

Kincy nets trip to Chile

ALEX GOFF, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Barely a year after first playing hardball hockey, 15-year-old Jesse Kincy of Olympia will be pulling on a USA team jersey.

For Kincy, it's something he never expected to happen.

"I had no idea what I could do," said Kincy. "I just started playing and having fun. And then just after last Christmas our team needed a goalie, so I thought that would be fun, and I became a goalie. Now I'm on the USA team."

Hardball hockey is played on conventional roller skates on a 40-meter by 20-meter surface with five players on the floor at one time, including a goalie.

The sport is immensely popular in South American and in parts of Europe, where professional players draw big paychecks and the adoration of fans.

American hardball hockey is an amateur sport, with several teams in the Northwest. Last summer, three players from the Olympia area were part of a USA men's team that took 11th at the World Championships. One of those, Jon Maxson, coaches Kincy and is helping him prepare for the World Junior Championships in Chile in February.

"I went to watch a YMCA roller hockey league game, and I met Jesse and he said he was interested in joining the Olympia club," Maxson said. Kincy traveled to Klamath Falls, Ore., for the nationals, where he drew the notice of the junior team coaches.

In early January he attended tryouts there and was selected for the team. Maxson will join the team as an assistant coach.

"I'm only 24, and most of the players are 17, so it's good to have someone closer to their age," Maxson said.

As for why he decided to be a goalie, Kincy doesn't really know. He does, however, acknowledge he's better in net than out on the floor.

"I just thought it will be a cool thing to put on all the gear," Kincy said. "But I really enjoyed it."

"A good goalie really has to want to play goalie," Maxson said. "I don't look for any special skills ... we just want him to stop the ball going into the net."

Maxson often works at special goalie practices with Kincy and USA men's team goalie Brian Stallman.

The USA team will assemble in Chile on Feb. 2 and take a week to prepare before the tournament. Their first opponent will be world power Argentina.

"This is really exciting," said Kincy's father, Jay. "It's overwhelming to see what big stars some of these players are internationally. Right now we're going crazy on how to get the money to send him down there."

Player room-and-board costs are covered, but each player must come up with $750 to cover travel expenses. The Kincys, who are self employed, also hope to accompany their son.

As for Jesse, he is not sure what to expect. Maxson has warned him that the difference in the standard of play between American club games and the World Championships is huge, so Kincy is not putting too much pressure on himself.

"I just want to learn as much as I can from all the great players who will be there, and do my best," he said. "But when I put on that USA jersey -- that will be awesome."

World event

- What: Junior World Hardball Hockey Championships.

- When: Starting Feb. 26.

- Where: Plymouth Falls, Chile.

- Information: Try usarollersports.org on the Web.

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