Most ice hockey fans do not know that Washington Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin got his Hall of Fame career started by first playing inline hockey in his native Russia. Most ice hockey fans do not know this because it’s not true, but that does not mean your future NHL great cannot get their start at the inline skating rink here in Fredericksburg at Dixon Park.
The rink was built and opened in 2019 through a partnership between a Washington Capitals outreach program, the city of Fredericksburg and its parks and recreation department. It is now home to FXBG Hockey, which has flourished over the last few seasons and now serves more than 300 players in its youth and adult leagues. The organization has also added more than 100 participants in its weekly classes this year.
“Our mission is to lower the barriers to entry and make hockey accessible to everyone,” said Michael Drobnak, a board member of FXBG Hockey. “Whether someone has never stepped on skates before or wants to play competitively, we want people to feel welcome and have an opportunity to experience the game.”
And by everyone, he means it. Some of their adult leagues include players older than Gordie Howe was when he retired from professional hockey at age 52. FXBG Hockey is also starting its first women’s league this fall.
FXBG Hockey has divisions and leagues for all ages, starting with an under-8 age group. Drobnak said the best way to find information and sign up is through the organization’s website.
While FXBG Hockey does have some travel teams that compete in the Capitals Inline Hockey League throughout Virginia, its primary focus is getting new players, both boys and girls, into the program and instilling a love of the game. The organization offers a number of free clinics, from learning to inline skate to developing basic hockey skills.
Drobnak acknowledges that one impediment to participation in hockey, as with many sports, is the cost of equipment. Hockey expenses can far exceed those associated with parks and recreation soccer on the nearby fields surrounding the rink at Dixon Park. You cannot simply drop a puck and let a group of eager “juice boxers” run around for 30 minutes.
“We try to make sure equipment isn’t the reason someone can’t participate,” Drobnak said, adding that the nonprofit accepts donations of gently used skates, helmets, gloves, sticks and protective equipment to help new players get started. “For many new players, we’re able to provide gear so families can try hockey without making a huge financial commitment upfront.”
So what does inline hockey actually look like, beyond your child insisting on wearing the Sidney Crosby jersey they received from their aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh to their first open session at Dixon Park? (Reminder: FXBG Hockey is part of a Washington Capitals outreach program after all, and there are no free classes on how to drop your gloves and pull your opponent’s jersey over their head.)
Inline hockey is more akin to ice hockey than deck or floor hockey. Inline skates are required, along with an ice hockey stick, a helmet with a face shield, gloves and protective pads, though not as many as are required for ice hockey. Players can postpone the joy of tying padded hockey pants and putting on shoulder pads with gloves on until they graduate to the ice rink. The inline game also uses a puck rather than a rubber ball.
Ultimately, FXBG Hockey is more than just a game. The organization aims to build confidence, friendships, teamwork and a lifelong love of staying active. On any given weekend at Dixon Park, families can find young beginners learning balance on skates, teenagers developing their skills, adults competing for fun and volunteers giving their time to grow the game.
