About Friends of County Parks
The Friends of the County Parks, established in 1988, is a group of concerned citizens joining together to promote financial and community support to the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department. They develop public awareness of recreation as an important part of day-to-day life.
Funds provided by The Friends of the County Parks are used as a supplement to the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department budget and does not replace allocated tax dollars. These additional funds helps maintain, improve, and enhance services provided by the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. The Friends of the County Parks enjoys a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit exemption status.
Just wanted to share the story below with about the winners of this past Fridays Clash of the Cup. I
would like to thank you and the board for you dedication and continued support of our programming.
Below is just a small part of your overall contribution on how being involved in parks and rec makes a
lasting impact on the ones we connect with. Thanks again.
Patrick Cullina Jr, CPRP Recreation Manager – South - Parks and Recreation Department
Legacy on the Court: The Story of the Ruskin Ball Hockey Team
“On any given afternoon, the echoes of sticks tapping against the
pavement and the shouts of determined young athletes fill the air at
Ruskin Recreation Center. But for one special group of eight players,
this isn’t just any game of ball hockey. It is a legacy in motion.
This team has been together since they were six years old, growing
up side-by-side in the afterschool program at Ruskin. They have
spent years playing, learning, and laughing within these walls, never
venturing into outside leagues. Why would they? Ruskin Rec isn’t
just where they play, it’s their home away from home.
But the magic of this team isn’t just in their skills, it’s in their history. Five of the players have parents
who also spent their childhoods running through these same halls, and four of them once played “Court
Hockey” themselves, back before the name changed to ball hockey. Their parents tell stories of heated
games, last-second goals, and friendships that lasted a lifetime.
And then there’s their coach. Not just any coach, but one who also grew up at Ruskin Rec, attending the
Rec program as a kid playing Court Hockey just like their parents. He knows every inch of this place, every
tradition, and every unwritten rule of the game. More importantly, he knows what it means to these kids
to be part of something bigger than just a team.
That connection, that sense of history, has fueled their journey to greatness. In 2025, they stunned the
competition by winning a league offered by the Tampa Bay Lightning, proving that their dedication and
teamwork could compete with the best. But their biggest achievement came when they stepped onto the
court for the Clash of the Cup 2025, a 13-team tournament, facing off against the six-time defending
champions in the championship game. The game was a battle from start to finish, with neither team
willing to back down.
Regulation ended in a deadlock, forcing a dramatic shootout. With the weight of history on their
shoulders, the Ruskin Ball Hockey Team rose to the occasion. They buried four shots past the opposing
goaltender while their own netminder stood tall, allowing only two goals. When the final shot was
stopped, sealing their 4-2 shootout victory, the team erupted in celebration. Decades of tradition, hard
work, and dedication had led to this moment lifting the coveted Clash for the Cup trophy.
They play with heart, not just for each other, but for those who came before them. Every goal, every
save, every victory is another chapter in a story that started long before they were born. At Ruskin Rec,
ball hockey isn’t just a game. It’s history. It’s community. It’s family.
And this team is far from finished.”
would like to thank you and the board for you dedication and continued support of our programming.
Below is just a small part of your overall contribution on how being involved in parks and rec makes a
lasting impact on the ones we connect with. Thanks again.
Patrick Cullina Jr, CPRP Recreation Manager – South - Parks and Recreation Department
Legacy on the Court: The Story of the Ruskin Ball Hockey Team
“On any given afternoon, the echoes of sticks tapping against the
pavement and the shouts of determined young athletes fill the air at
Ruskin Recreation Center. But for one special group of eight players,
this isn’t just any game of ball hockey. It is a legacy in motion.
This team has been together since they were six years old, growing
up side-by-side in the afterschool program at Ruskin. They have
spent years playing, learning, and laughing within these walls, never
venturing into outside leagues. Why would they? Ruskin Rec isn’t
just where they play, it’s their home away from home.
But the magic of this team isn’t just in their skills, it’s in their history. Five of the players have parents
who also spent their childhoods running through these same halls, and four of them once played “Court
Hockey” themselves, back before the name changed to ball hockey. Their parents tell stories of heated
games, last-second goals, and friendships that lasted a lifetime.
And then there’s their coach. Not just any coach, but one who also grew up at Ruskin Rec, attending the
Rec program as a kid playing Court Hockey just like their parents. He knows every inch of this place, every
tradition, and every unwritten rule of the game. More importantly, he knows what it means to these kids
to be part of something bigger than just a team.
That connection, that sense of history, has fueled their journey to greatness. In 2025, they stunned the
competition by winning a league offered by the Tampa Bay Lightning, proving that their dedication and
teamwork could compete with the best. But their biggest achievement came when they stepped onto the
court for the Clash of the Cup 2025, a 13-team tournament, facing off against the six-time defending
champions in the championship game. The game was a battle from start to finish, with neither team
willing to back down.
Regulation ended in a deadlock, forcing a dramatic shootout. With the weight of history on their
shoulders, the Ruskin Ball Hockey Team rose to the occasion. They buried four shots past the opposing
goaltender while their own netminder stood tall, allowing only two goals. When the final shot was
stopped, sealing their 4-2 shootout victory, the team erupted in celebration. Decades of tradition, hard
work, and dedication had led to this moment lifting the coveted Clash for the Cup trophy.
They play with heart, not just for each other, but for those who came before them. Every goal, every
save, every victory is another chapter in a story that started long before they were born. At Ruskin Rec,
ball hockey isn’t just a game. It’s history. It’s community. It’s family.
And this team is far from finished.”