The Rejects are on the rise through passion, hard work and dedication to the sport of ice hockey. The Rink Rejects recently joined a local league, hoping to bring community engagement and interest to the sport of hockey. The Rink Rejects started through interest by a few college students and local guys who missed the sport of hockey and wanted an outlet to play the game. Unlike other men’s league hockey teams which are compiled with ex-professional players and semi-professionals, the Rink Rejects are driven purely by passion and dedication to the sport. You can find this dedicated team on the rink at Klick Lewis Arena in Palmyra, Pa. throughout the coming winter and spring. Some Rink Rejects members have been on the ice since they were eight or nine years old, while other guys only skated twice in their lives before their first game.
Determination to get better, grit and willpower can help drive the Rejects to success, but the team needs your support to grow their team and community impact. “We can bring energy around the game and show people how much fun this sport is on and off the ice,” Alternate Captain Ryan Ramler said. Not only do the Rejects want to provide locals an outlet to play hockey but they also plan on bringing energy off the ice through building an entertaining social media presence.
After two official practices, the Rejects’ first official game was on Nov. 8. While the score did not end positively, the grit and determination of the team was admirable. Players who were skating for the third or fourth time were going head-to-head against former professional players. Even though this year presented itself as a building year, the team and captains are going full force into trying to provide an outlet to play hockey for local young adults. “I came into my college years wanting to play hockey and we didn’t have a team so I want future students to have an opportunity to play hockey,” Alternate Captain Joseph White said. Even if this year presents itself as a building year for the Rejects, the team is passionate about building community support and opportunities for locals.
Hockey brings people together,” Captain Jack Tim said. As the Rink Rejects build their team, community support and engagement are key. In the meantime, students and local community members can support the Rink Rejects by coming out to Klick Lewis Arena to cheer them on and promote the team through social media. “The best thing they can do is just show their love and support through social media,” said Tim. “We don’t have to see it, they can just say it.” Support through social media and promoting this up-and-coming team is the primary aspect of supporting this dedicated group of athletes who want to create opportunities in the local communities.
The Rink Rejects are a conglomerate team of guys pouring their hearts and souls into building a platform and notoriety in local hockey. Some team members are Elizabethtown College students while others are local men who are dedicated to the sport and growing the Rink Rejects name and team.
The Rink Rejects are headed by four captains: Ramler, Jack Tim, first-year Etown student Joseph Walko, and White. Each of the captains and team members brings different skill sets to the team as they all have different backgrounds in the world of hockey but are all driven by the same passion to grow the game and raise community involvement. Ramler, Tim and White have all been playing hockey for many years. Walko on the other hand just recently laced up his skates for the first time. “I always wanted to play hockey,” Walko said, “but I never had the opportunity.” Now, Walko, along with some of his teammates, finally have an opportunity to explore their passion for hockey.
Looking to the future, the older players on the team like Ramler, Tim and White are building a solid foundation of a team that younger players like Walko can carry on after their time as students at Etown is done. “I have three more years to learn about the game, help out the older guys and help us grow as a team,” Walko stated.
If you want to come to support the Rink Rejects as they build their team, you can follow their Instagram @rinkrejects and #riseoftherejects for more information concerning scheduling and events. You can also come out to support them on game day at Klick Lewis Arena in Palmyra, only a 20-minute drive from Elizabethtown. The team would love your support and love as they work to grow community involvement and the game of hockey in the greater Elizabethtown area.
