11-Year-Olds Saved A Street Hockey Rink From Falling Victim To Pickleball Invasion

Pickleball has eaten its way through the sports landscape over the last few years, like an unstoppable rebel force. However, what the sport didn't count on was two brave 11-year-old girls from the Philadelphia area who were willing to stand up and protect their beloved street hockey rink.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11-year-olds Natalie Van Druff and Lilly Walter from Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania are some serious Hockey Gals and spend their time at the local street hockey rink at New Hanover Community Park.

You'd think that getting kids out and playing street hockey would be a big win for the township, but, nope! They wanted in on the pickleball craze.

Pickleball is fine. I played it in high school gym class although at the time I was pretty sure my gym teacher made it up. I mean, when it's comprised of paddles, wiffle balls, and a dumb name like pickleball, I thought there was no way it existed outside my rural Pennsylvania high school. It had to be one of those made-up games gym teachers whip up to keep their teenage hellions they're in charge of occupied.

But now here we are, and it's threatening street hockey. That's insane.

I get that people dig it, but it's getting out of hand. Now, you've got courts for other sports being cannibalized by pickleball, and that's the fate that nearly befell, Van Druff and Walter's beloved rink.

The battle started raging back in November, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia, when supervisors drank the pickleball Kool-Aid and decided they wanted in on the craze.

Pickleball is taking over these days, and it almost took over a Pennsylvania street hockey rink if it wasn't for two young hockey players. (© PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Two Youngsters Fought Pickleball And Won

However, pickleball — like a high school bully — isn't used to people fighting back, and that is precisely what these two heroic young ladies did.

They were vocal about wanting to save the rink — or dek, as it's sometimes known — and also passed around a petition that garnered 900 signatures.

It worked, and they managed to save it.

"This dek can be here for many generations, for kids that want to learn how to play hockey, that have it near them," Lilly Walter told The Inquirer. "And they can learn how to play, making friends, learn how to win and lose. This dek can be around for 50 years if people keep taking good care of it."

And they're going to take care of it because thanks to Van Druff and Walters' efforts, the local rink is going to get a facelift.

Just awesome stuff from these young ladies!