ABOUT TWISTERS HOCKEY
Twisters Hockey League offers the only inline hockey league in Central Missouri, from Jefferson City to Mexico, Fulton to Moberly, and provides all its kids play time, no matter their ability. It continues its legacy of providing a fun, alternate sport built on the foundation of having fun while connecting our communities.
OUR HISTORY
In 1994, John Briggs and a few neighborhood kids started playing street hockey in front of the Briggs’ home in Hallsville. The street had just been paved and was perfectly smooth. Goals were built from 2x4s and sheets. John and Kevin McGhee played often; and when there weren't enough people to play a game, they would practice by shooting pucks at soda bottles. A good shot would shatter the glass! John soon began recruiting others to play. Several other kids joined in and finally another adult, Co-Founder Bruce Jones.
Soon the street wasn't big enough for everybody playing. In the spring of 1998, the game moved to the Hallsville Elementary School parking lot. The Lions Club then constructed a 100' x 80' concrete pad for Heritage Days Festival's 3-on-3 basketball tournament. John saw this as an opportunity to get organized games going! There were 10-15 kids playing by that time and several more adults.
The goal was to start a league in the fall of 1998. John's daughter, Whitney Briggs, and a couple of her friends came up with the league name, Twisters. The logo was designed, and sign-up sheets were posted around town. Twisters had 45 kids which were divided up into 4 teams for its first season. The players ranged in age from 7 to 16 years old. Hockey became so popular in Hallsville that sidewalks were constructed for the kids to get to and from the rink safely!
In 1999, Ahrens Steel made iron goals and the rink was bordered with 2 x 4s from Mid-City Lumber. Our first sponsor was Walk-A-Bar Contracting. Ed Bartels bought 45 t-shirts for the 4 teams. In 1999, there were 70 kids playing and by 2000 the number of players was over 100.
2001 was our first year with the full-size rink (a one-of-a-kind from here to Wright City) and regulation-size hockey goals. Games began to be PA announced. A website was created for the 2001 season. In 2002 we expanded to include facilities in Moberly and Jefferson City. The number of players in the 2002 season was over 180.
In 2004, with funds donated by Twisters' supporters, Twisters built a concession stand and announcer's booth. In 2005, Twisters became incorporated with the state of Missouri and is now holding a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax status.
In June of 2005, one of the very first Twisters hockey players and founder, Whitney Briggs, was killed in a car accident. Whitney was the winning goalie in the 2003 championship game for Hallsville Market and Deli and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Goalie in 2003. She hung out with her friends after graduation with Twisters (her home away from home). She played for the alumni team at ‘05 Heritage Days as a goalie and won 8-6 over the F4 all-stars. Her father and founder of Twisters said the following: "The league was extremely thoughtful and supportive after we lost Whitney the day after Father’s Day and after that ‘05 Heritage Days Weekend."
Special events were held in Whitney’s memory, and the Twister’s board unanimously voted to finally give the rink its name. Founder John Briggs said he is forever grateful for all the people who extended their thoughts and prayers and paid great tribute to our fallen hero, Number 36.
Twisters Hockey League named the rink in Hallsville the "Whitney Briggs Memorial Hockey Arena" in honor of Whitney and planted a tree and placed a plaque at the rink in 2005. Whitney's number was retired at the beginning of the 2008 season, and she was inducted into the Twisters Hall of Fame as the first player ever in the hall of fame.
At the first games of the 2008 season, Twisters Hockey League unveiled a new 18-foot scoreboard that the kids, parents, and supporters of Twisters raised money to purchase.
June 2015 marked the 10th anniversary of Twisters' founding father, John Briggs, losing his only daughter and our fallen hero, Whitney. He was honored during a ceremony at the Whitney Briggs Memorial Hockey Arena with the renaming of the championship cup to the John Michael Briggs Championship Cup!