Ice storm puts a freeze on Tinker sports

  • Published
  • By John E. Banks
  • Tinker Public Affairs
 The ice storm that fell upon Oklahoma last week froze the Tinker sports scene from basketball games to ice hockey contests for the athletes and fans.

"This storm put a damper on all of our sports ranging from basketball to bowling and even ice hockey games were affected," said Pat Griffin, sports director at the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center.

A total of 14 basketball games were postponed, one full night of bowling matches and 11 hockey games were postponed.

Safety was a paramount concern and that was the major factor for the postponement of the sports contests.

"We will have to reschedule these events," said Griffin. "It will take some doing but we will get these games played in the near term."

The bowling matches, a total of eight, had to be rescheduled for the week of April 22, extending their season by one week.

"We took a vote by all the team captains and they agreed it would be better to take the night off and safety was the chief concern of the bowlers," said Christopher Sweet, Commanders' Trophy Bowling League president.

The hockey games were postponed due largely in part to the amount of travel distance by some of the teams and players.

"These games can be made up and we want to make sure the travel is safe for everyone concerned," said Larry Donovan, Oklahoma Adult Hockey League president.

The squadron sports teams that were affected by the ice storm will be contacted by the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center with make-up dates and times.