Louisiana
Ball hockey brings adults and kids together each week at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds
![Ball hockey brings adults and kids together each week at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds](https://gray-ksla-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/otGAs0vynWxZvIiqOW7KXIKcork=/1200x600/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DMT2HLOYZNFWFNMTB6OZXGDQZU.jpg)
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – “Ball hockey is still harder than anything I’ve done in the military, [physical training] wise, ” says JJ McCaw, Shreveport Ragin’ Gators defenseman.
Who knew the degree of difficulty in a game we once played as kids is pretty high?
Despite having strong agility skills, the ball hockey movement is bringing the masses.
“I did come down originally for baseball on a baseball scholarship, ” says former LSU-Shreveport baseball star, now Red River Rougaroo forward Riley Spencer. “Created a family now. Me and my two young kids are out playing every weekend.”
![Ball hockey game inside Exhibits building at Louisiana State Fairgrounds](https://gray-ksla-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/BEhaw51h4-dFHoL6mxdcVNBHn2M=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DMT2HLOYZNFWFNMTB6OZXGDQZU.jpg)
Instead of ice and skates, the squeaks of sneakers are heard in the Exhibits building on the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.
“I grew up in the North, and it’s really cold, ” says Shreveport Gators defenseman Michael Delaney. “All the hockey is done outside, and it’s just too cold. I moved down here in 2007. Had nothing going on. No athletic anything. Just on a whim decided to get involved.”
However ball hockey doesn’t share the same intensity as their compadres on the ice.
“[Ice hockey], they can check and things like that, ” says McCaw. “It’s more of a non-contact sport. But, contact does happen.”
“The National Ball Hockey League is already big and will only grow. The Ark-La-Tex has two local teams, the Shreveport Ragin’ Gators and Red River Rougaroo.
“It’s great to see the fruits of our labor, ” says Red River Rougaroo goalie, Michael Hinton. “The league has grown by about 20 players this year. I’ve been doing it for seven or eight years. [The National Ball Hockey League] has been doing it for about 15 [years]. Nice to see secondary generations starting to play, and kids growing up. We have our kids out there too.”
We learned ball hockey isn’t as aggressive. But, some are asked to dial it back on occasion.
“My wife just yelled at me the other day – earlier today, because I was coaching the smaller children on their team, ” McCaw recalls. “I was getting a little heated, because all of my competitiveness was coming out, because we were losing.”
Copyright 2023 KSLA. All rights reserved.
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Louisiana
US May round-up: Louisiana revenue grows while handle dips in New Hampshire
![US May round-up: Louisiana revenue grows while handle dips in New Hampshire](https://igamingbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/USA-scaled.jpg)
Casting an eye over the latest monthly US state results, iGB analyses further sports betting growth in Louisiana and an ongoing spending decline in New Hampshire.
Louisiana saw handle and revenue rise year-on-year during May. New Hampshire, however, reported lower revenue despite an increase in player spending.
Overall spend on sports betting in the state in May hit $256.7m (£203.1m/€240.1m), 31.6% higher than the same month last year. Of this total, $238.3m was bet online, with the other $18.4m wagered at retail sportsbooks.
Former Louisiana State University (LSU) national basketball champion Angel Reese signed to the WNBA team Chicago Sky in May at the start of the league’s four month season, this likely encouraged increased betting activity in the state during the month.
Revenue growth in Louisiana
As for gross gaming revenue from sports betting, this totalled $33.5m. The figure is 18.8% up on the previous year and marginally ahead of $33.0m in April.
Online betting accounted for $31.2m of all sports wagering revenue in May. Revenue from the retail market amounted to $2.3m.
Parlay betting drew the most revenue across both channels, with online at $21.3m and retail $1.4m. For a single sport, basketball was the biggest money-maker for online at $2.2m, whereas baseball took top spot in the retail sector with revenue of $479,857.
In terms of tax, online betting generated $5.5m in May, with retail at $244,950.
For the year to date, total wagered in Louisiana hit $3.12bn during the 10 months to the end of May. This includes $2.85bn in online bets and $275.6m in retail wagers.
Revenue-wise, for the whole market, this hit $361.8m for the same period. Some $333.4m is from online betting and $28.5m retail wagering.
Handle down again in New Hampshire
Turning now to New Hampshire, total spend in May hit $58.0m. This is 11.3% higher than last year but down 3.2% from April. It is also the second consecutive month of decline in the state.
Players spent $51.7m betting online in April compared to the $6.3m wagered at retail books.
As for revenue, this topped $6.5m in May. This is 7.1% lower than last year, despite higher spending, but 22.6% more than April and its higher handle.
Of all revenue generated in May, $5.9m came from online betting and $652,270 the retail sector.
New Hampshire generated $2.8m in tax from sports betting during the month. This includes $2.5m from online wagers and $293,521 retail bets.
For the year to date, total spend in New Hampshire during the 10 months to the end of May was $703.7m. This comprises $616.9m in online wagers and $86.8m in retail bets.
In terms of revenue, the total generated in the same period hit $71.5m. This includes some $64.5m from the online sector and $7.0m retail.
Louisiana
Video Shows Truck Engulfed in Flames at Popular I-10 Travel Center in Louisiana
![Video Shows Truck Engulfed in Flames at Popular I-10 Travel Center in Louisiana](https://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/06/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-06-23T203207.323.jpg?w=1200)
A dramatic incident unfolded at a popular travel center off I-10 in Duson, Louisiana, on Sunday (June 23) when a truck caught fire. Numerous photos and a wild video surfaced online, showing the vehicle completely engulfed in flames.
The fire occurred at the I-10 Travel Center Chevron near Miss Mamie’s Casino, a well-known stop for travelers along I-10. According to a Facebook post from the Duson Fire Department, the blaze was reported at 10:52 AM. Firefighters arrived swiftly at 10:54 AM to find a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck fully engulfed in flames.
The truck was parked under a metal covering near the fuel pumps, causing heat and smoke damage to the structure. Despite the dangerous proximity to the fuel pumps, the firefighters successfully extinguished the fire with assistance from the Lafayette Fire Hazardous Materials unit, preventing what could have easily been a catastrophic explosion.
Duson Fire Chief Coby Duhon praised his team’s quick response and effective actions, saying, “With the proper personnel and response time, only a vehicle was lost today. No injuries were recorded, and there was minimal structure damage.”
A video from Jamie Stutes Fontenot on Facebook showed just how dramatic the blaze was.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Chief Duhon also thanked the Scott and Mire Fire Departments for their assistance in managing the situation.
We will update this story if any more new developments are confirmed.
LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades
Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF
Louisiana
Former OSU Wreslter Inducted Into Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
![Former OSU Wreslter Inducted Into Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3696,h_2079,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_pokes/01j134r0vh5jwrg2a1by.jpg)
One of Oklahoma State’s most memorable wrestlers was honored by his home state over the weekend.
On Saturday, former OSU wrestler Daniel Cormier was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Cormier was a dominant wrestler in high school.
At Northside High School, Cormier won three state wrestling championships. After his success in high school, he attended Colby Community College in Kansas.
He also dominated there, winning two NJCAA national championships while going 61-0 in two years. Following his undefeated career at Colby Community College, Cormier made his way to Stillwater, where he would be a force for the Cowboys.
READ MORE: Analyzing Oklahoma State’s Toughest Opponents in the New-Look Big 12
At OSU, Cormier went 52-10 across the 2000 and 2001 seasons. With 36 bonus-point wins, Cormier was good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships in both years.
In 2001, he earned All-America honors for his performance as he finished national runner-up at 184 pounds. In both seasons, Cormier played a significant role in OSU winning Big 12 championships.
After wrestling for two years under John Smith, Cormier went into freestyle wrestling and represented the United States on a few occasions. Cormier won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in 2002 and the Pan American Games in 2003.
Following his wrestling career, Cormier took up mixed martial arts and eventually joined the UFC in 2013. Cormier would end his MMA career with 22 wins in 26 fights. He now works with ESPN as part of its mixed martial arts coverage.
As Cormier is in another Hall of Fame, he recognized the importance of his home state in his career.
Boy, it’s good to be a kid from Louisiana,” Cormier said.
READ MORE: Why Oklahoma State’s Defensive Line will Outperform Expectations in 2024
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