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Yes, Seattle Has an Underwater Hockey Team

Seattle’s underwater hockey team heads to nationals

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This article originally appeared in the June 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.

!–paging_filter–pSeattle is known for its rabidly loyal fans—we love our Seahawks, Sounders, Storm and even the troubled Mariners—but there’s one local team that has yet to gain a vocal following: the Seahammers. The lack of team scarves, 12th men and bobbleheads is likely due to the fact that the Seahammers are hard to see. Seattle’s underwater hockey team, founded in 1988 by Western Washington University grad Patrick Carboneau, plays at the bottom of a swimming pool, the athletes only surfacing briefly to grab a breath. Also known as octopush, this coed, limited-contact sport has been around since the 1950s (with competitive teams in the U.K., Australia, Canada, South Africa and the U.S.), and follows the same basic rules of ice hockey, played underwater, with snorkels, swim masks, fins and a short stick used to push the puck. Always looking for new members (massive lung power a plus), the Seahammers are hoping to increase their name recognition and fan base—they practice at the Seattle University pool, and welcome “spectators” (although it involves signing a waiver in advance at the front desk). Last year the team placed seventh at the National Underwater Hockey Tournament and this month returns to nationals (June 27–29 in Minneapolis), among a watery field of about 24 teams. So if you happen to be in the area, consider devising a Seahammer costume and cheering those splashes on thenbsp;surface. a href=”http://www.seattleuwh.com” target=”_blank”seattleuwh.com/a/p

 

SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction

SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction

Dance, drag, and immersive art collide in an eight-week exploration of our phone-obsessed lives, with a few surprises along the way. 

What do drag queens, smartphone addiction, art installations, and an old luggage shop have in common?  According to longtime Seattle choreographer Alana O’Farrell Rogers, a lot.  “There’s no dead time anymore,” says Rogers, explaining how the proliferation of smartphones fills the empty spaces that once served as time for rest or connection. Where we snuggled…

Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power

Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power

Ahead of their performance at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture gala, the hip-hop pioneers talk about creative ownership, connecting with new generations, and the songs that still resonate.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) will host its annual ICONS of Pop Culture Gala in Seattle on October 22, honoring five artists and institutions whose work has helped shape entertainment and culture.  This year’s honorees are martial arts and film legend Bruce Lee, fashion designer Jeremy Scott, the video game franchise Halo, hip-hop pioneers…

Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan

Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan

Drawing on childhood memories, neighborhood history, and salvaged materials, Christopher Paul Jordan’s latest show at Cornish’s Behnke Family Gallery explores how the past stays with us.

Start in the middle. It’s good advice for telling a story, and a way into Christopher Paul Jordan’s paintings. By the time you encounter them, their materials have already been something else, and who knows what they might move on to become. The Tacoma interdisciplinary artist works with salvaged objects, including screens, picture frames, canvas,…

Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look 

Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look 

Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).

WEDDING BELLS I’ve been a bit absent from this column lately, but I think I have a pretty good excuse: I got married! It’s already been three weeks since my September 19 wedding, but I’m still reflecting on the magic of the day. My fiancé, well husband now (I can’t get used to saying it!),…