Speidel participates

in the adult hockey leagues at the IceForum, but his main focus is coaching

his son's hockey team, a group of nine and ten year olds, known in hockey

language as the "squirts."

"For me,

it's all about the kids," said Speidel. "I appreciate the opportunity

to see my passion for the sport grow through the next generation."

Cynthia Giovinco,

general manager of the IceForum at Southlake is quick to point out that

it's a great sport for people of all ages. "Don't be intimidated

if you've never skated before. The IceForum at Southlake offers a 'Learn

to Skate' program that will teach you everything that you need to know

to be able to get out there and join the hockey craze."

Deemed the

"world's fastest game," it's easy to see why the southeast has

seen the largest increase in the sport's participation this past year.

And there is plenty of room for growth and challenge. The Georgia School

Hockey League (GSHL) was formed in 1999 to educate students in the game

of hockey. According to the organization's website, the natural rivalries

between school clusters and opposing counties provides a competitive league

for young athletes.

The GSHL's

southside team, known as McIntosh, calls the IceForum at Southlake it's

home ice. Made up of high school skaters from Clayton, Henry and Fayette

counties, the McIntosh are showing the rest of Georgia that southsiders

are up to the task.

For those interested

in playing collegiate-level hockey, there are a number of options. Georgia

Tech has had it's own ice hockey team since 1971, and began calling the

IceForum 'home' this season. The team is currently 9-0 after big wins

against Duke, Clemson, Indiana, Vanderbilt and Florida.

For more information

on the IceForum at Southlake's 'Learn to Skate' programs or adult and

youth hockey leagues, please call 770-477-5112. For information on the

Georgia School Hockey League or the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, please

visit their websites at www.gshl.org and www.gthockey.com respectively.

The IceForum

at Southlake, a member of USA Hockey, the USFSA and home to the Georgia

Tech Yellowjackets Hockey Team, is south Atlanta's ice-sports headquarters.

Conveniently located at 7130 Mt. Zion Boulevard in Jonesboro, the rink

offers programs for all ages including public skating sessions, youth

and adult hockey leagues, stick time, learn-to-skate classes, figure skating,

birthday and office parties and more. The center offers a Pro Shop, four

locker rooms with showers and a snack bar. For more information on any

program, please call the IceForum at Southlake at 770-477-5112.

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