- December 4, 2025
Noah Trizis (gold) and Killian Calvey (purple) hunt down a loose ball, at Flagler Youth Hockey game. Courtesy photo
James Steffens (blue) competes for a the ball against Darren Sherman (yellow on right) as Noah Christensen (yellow on left) looks on. Courtesy photo
Carmen and Caiden Giordano, with Flagler Youth Hockey. Courtesy photo
Diego Solarzano (orange) sets up a play as Draven Balwin-Stock (green) challenges. Courtesy photo
James Steffens and Silas Igel enter the offensive zone. Courtesy photo
Travis VanDuren-Reneau sends off a faceoff with Harrison Ryback pursuing. Kash Fasnacht (rear in white) Issac Eldridge (white jersey on right). Courtesy photo
Zach Seifert (red, near) resets the play with Alex Sherman (red, far) as Connor Glass (gold) pursues. Courtesy photo
Updated 12:28 p.m. July 29 to correct the spelling of Tanenbaum.
With four of the last Stanley Cup winners coming from Florida, it may not be a big surprise to NHL fans that Florida is a hockey state. And for those who didn’t grow up around ice, Flagler Youth Hockey is helping to introduce the sport to a new generation. Can’t skate? No problem: In dek hockey, you run on a concrete rink, rather than skate.
Dek hockey in Flagler County was started in 1991 by Larry Tanenbaum and Mike Bowker, in the gym at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
In October 2024, an inline roller skating league was added, and now there are about 40 players in dek and 40 in skate. Adults have teams, too.
“We have kids that start in dek hockey and they don’t know how to hold a hockey stick, and then six months later they’re starting roller hockey,” said Kristyn Steffens, whose fiance, Michael Seifert, is currently director of Flagler Youth Hockey.
Steffens and Seifert spoke to the Observer in a phone interview on July 21, en route to Detroit, Michigan, where Seifert’s children are participating in State Wars, an ice hockey tournament that brings some of the best young players from around the country to compete.
Dek and roller hockey at Flagler Youth Hockey was just the beginning.
“It’s made a big difference for them in their hockey journey,” Seifert said.
A baseball player in high school in Maryland himself, Seifert decided to give dek hockey a try as an adult in Palm Coast, where he now works as field operations manager for Paradise Landscaping.
“With hockey, you have to make decisions faster,” Seifert said. “It’s a constantly moving game. In between the whistles, it never stops. It’s a fast-paced game — that’s why I like it.”
The previous director of the league was John Douglas, whose son now plays competitive ice hockey as well. Jimmy McGovern, Andrew Fabrizi and other coaches help Seifert run the league now.
Since the beginning, the league has played on the concrete rink at the Flagler County Youth Center, on the southeastern corner of the Flagler Palm Coast High School campus.
For those who want to give it a try, the league puts on clinics, with equipment provided. The next clinic will be 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5, at the Flagler Count Youth Center. Cost is $10.
League signups are underway, with dek games starting Aug. 16, and inline skate games starting Sept. 16. To play in the league, it costs $80 for dek (which includes a jersey with the player’s name on it, and an award at the end of the season). Roller hockey costs $95 to join. League signup links can be found on the group’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/flagleryouthdekhockey.
Jerseys have been sponsored in recent years by Hulbert Homes. For sponsorship opportunities, or to help raise funds to resurface the court, call Seifert at 443-988-3613, or email [email protected].
Tanenbaum continues to cheer on the league's progress. He posted on Facebook: "I grew up playing 'Dek' Hockey, + its great! Throw on some roller blades + play roller hockey too. Great exercise, teaches the 'team 1st' concept, + keeps kids off the street. Run by dedicated people who also love the sport. HIGHLY recommended!!"
