MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Since there are not any ice rinks or frozen ponds in Iwakuni, hockey-playing service members really only have two options to continue to play the sport they love. They can either go out and buy a hockey video game or head down to the MAC Dome every weekend and play a few games of roller hockey.
Hockey enthusiasts reserve the MAC Dome for a few hours each weekend, and participants journey from near and far to attend the weekly event.
"We have people coming in from all over Japan," said Lance Cpl. Greg King, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 calibrations mechanic and hockey enthusiast. "Some of them travel up to four hours just to come here and play a few games of hockey."
The group has been playing together since November, and the team is open to all players of different levels of experience.
"We have people of all ages play with us," said King. "We want anybody who is interested in playing hockey to come out."
As the participants arrive they immediately begin to lace up their skates and head on to the rink to warm up for the games that will soon follow.
When everybody is ready for action, teams are decided and the puck is dropped marking the start of intense battles, with players crashing into the boards and smashing slap shots toward the goalie.
"We like to come down here and play because there are not many hockey rinks around Japan," said Hashimoto Kentaro, Hiroshima native. "The games are intense and everybody really seems to get into them. We really have a great time and all of us have really have made a strong bond with each other."