RHI Collection

Hockey's Future Showed Up on Rollerblades

The man behind the WHA wanted your summer: in 1991 Dennis Murphy watched kids play roller hockey and decided to fill dark NHL arenas — photo 2 of 12
Then he rewrote the rulebook: four 12-minute quarters, no blue lines, no two-line pass and a blaze-orange puck — photo 3 of 12
Opening night came with a hat trick in Oakland, then security showed up when fans threw hats — photo 4 of 12
Two nights, two completely different leagues: 13,000 fans at the Pond for the Anaheim Bullfrogs, 1,917 in Utah the next night — photo 5 of 12
Nobody knew how to play it yet: crews coated concrete with Coca-Cola for grip and scores like 13-12 were normal — photo 6 of 12
Then it got big fast: 24 teams and an ESPN2 show by 1994, and the Buffalo Stampede won the Cup in front of 14,175 — photo 7 of 12
The night roller hockey filled the Forum: the San Jose Rhinos won the 1995 final in Montreal in front of about 15,000 — photo 8 of 12
So how did it fall apart: expansion for the fees, a lost Pepsi deal and the founders fighting over who owned the orange puck — photo 9 of 12
The last game: Vipers 8, Bullfrogs 6 — photo 10 of 12
Hockey kept the ideas: RHI played 4-on-4, shootouts and no two-line pass years before the NHL, and in 2026 the AHL's Barracuda wore Rhinos jerseys — photo 11 of 12
Filter
    Save $10
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Orlando Rollergators Hockey Shorts - front view
    Bench Clearers Orlando Rollergators Hockey Shorts - 3D FRONT
    Regular price $50.00 Sale price $40.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $10
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers San Jose Rhinos Hockey Shorts - front view
    Bench Clearers San Jose Rhinos Hockey Shorts - 3D FRONT
    Regular price $50.00 Sale price $40.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $26.70
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers St. Louis Vipers Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers St. Louis Vipers Hockey Hoodie - back view
    Regular price $89.00 Sale price $62.30
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $26.70
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Philadelphia Bulldogs Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Philadelphia Bulldogs Hockey Hoodie - back view
    Regular price $89.00 Sale price $62.30
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $26.70
    Bench Clearers Denver Daredevils Hockey Hoodie - 3D FRONT
    Bench Clearers Denver Daredevils Hockey Hoodie - 3D BACK
    Regular price $89.00 Sale price $62.30
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $26.70
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Chicago Cheetahs Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Chicago Cheetahs Hockey Hoodie - back view
    Regular price $89.00 Sale price $62.30
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $26.70
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Wings Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Wings Hockey Hoodie - back view
    Regular price $89.00 Sale price $62.30
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Phoenix Cobras Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Phoenix Cobras Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Orlando Jackals Away Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Orlando Jackals Away Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Minnesota Blue Ox Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Minnesota Blue Ox Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Los Angeles Blades Away Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Los Angeles Blades Away Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Wings Away Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Wings Away Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Stampede Away Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Buffalo Stampede Away Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Save $19.50
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Atlanta Fireants Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Atlanta Fireants Hockey Tank - back view
    Regular price $65.00 Sale price $45.50
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Pre-order
    Bench Clearers Anaheim Bullfrogs Away Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - FRONT
    Bench Clearers Anaheim Bullfrogs Away Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - BACK
    $199.00
    QUICK ADD
    YSYMYLSMLXLXXLGOALIE-S/MGOALIE-L/XLGOALIE-XXL
    Pre-order
    Bench Clearers Anaheim Bullfrogs Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - FRONT
    Bench Clearers Anaheim Bullfrogs Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - BACK
    $199.00
    QUICK ADD
    YSYMYLSMLXLXXLGOALIE-S/MGOALIE-L/XLGOALIE-XXL
    Pre-order
    Bench Clearers Vancouver Voodoo Away Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - FRONT
    Bench Clearers Vancouver Voodoo Away Elite Pro Embroidered Hockey Jersey - BACK
    $199.00
    QUICK ADD
    YSYMYLSMLXLXXLGOALIE-S/MGOALIE-L/XLGOALIE-XXL
    San Jose Rhinos White "Full Fandom" T-Shirt - FRONT | BenchClearers Hockey Apparel
    San Jose Rhinos White "Full Fandom" T-Shirt - BACK | BenchClearers Hockey Apparel