Local athletes learn to play underwater hockey in Green Bay

A weighted puck sits on the floor of a pool at the Kroc Center in Green Bay. Players from nearby small towns gather there to chase it. They call the game underwater hockey.

Peter Covach, president of the Green Bay Underwater Hockey Club, describes the basic mechanics. The puck moves up and down the pool in a manner similar to soccer or ice hockey. Covach noted that the sport is likely the worst spectator sport in the world because viewers must wear goggles and stay in the water to see the play.

Molly Banks has played the sport for her whole life. Her parents met while playing the game about 30 years ago. Now 24, Banks will represent the United States in Turkey later this year as part of the national women’s team. She says the sport is small, and explaining it to newcomers often feels like giving a lecture.

Banks believes that getting young people involved is the best way to grow the game. She said that youth interest benefits both the sport and the children. Adalind Meyer, a new player with the club, enjoys the physical challenge. She likes holding her breath underwater and using a stick to flick the puck across the pool.

The club currently plays during the winter months. Covach says the team provides all the necessary gear and coaching. He invites anyone who can swim from one end of the pool to the other to attend a practice. The team will show the basics to new players and hopes they will stick around.

Banks encourages potential players to keep an open mind. She said that once new members feel comfortable in the water, they find the game very fun. The team is looking for more people to join the effort to expand the local player base.

Covach pointed out that the team maintains a Facebook page for anyone seeking more information. He said people can reach out to the club at any time to learn about upcoming practices or try the sport for the first time.