MOUNT PLEASANT -- The section of Route 119 North just past the Mount Pleasant exit is quickly becoming a hot spot for family entertainment. The area is already home to 119 Swing and Hit Golf, and the Laurel Highlands Regional Family YMCA on Bessemer Road fronts the highway as well. Tucked between the two is a new spot that hockey and indoor soccer enthusiasts will probably want to explore. Hot Shots Indoor Sports Arena opened in late October, and general manager Rob Newton called the spacious facility "almost 50,000 square feet of fun." Hot Shots is located on Bessemer Road, next door to the YMCA, and includes two skating rinks, an arcade, a pro shop and a concession area, as well as party rooms and offices. Newton said that when owners Tim Davis and Mike Gerger decided to open the facility, location was taken into account, for both its Route 119 frontage and its neighbors. "We work in concert with the people next to us," Newton said, explaining that Hot Shots will most likely work with the YMCA and Swing and Hit to get kids involved in each other's events. At Hot Shots, the main attractions, of course, are the twin full-size in-line hockey rinks, equipped with what Newton said is a state-of-the-art Ice Court surface. "It's the fastest artificial surface for in-line hockey," he said, noting that Hot Shots is the first facility in the country to have the surface installed. "The players just love it." The rinks are equipped with a high-tech sound system. "Technologically, we're ahead of everyone," Newton said. "Each rink can be individually controlled, and the office can override everything." Newton explained that the scoreboards use a rear-screen projection system and can be customized for each individual sport. The rink area also offers plenty of space for players and coaches. "Each rink has four locker rooms," Newton said. "That should be very attractive to adults, and especially for tournaments." And Hot Shots isn't just for hockey. Just behind the hockey goal is a recessed soccer net. "I can change this rink from hockey to soccer in two minutes," Newton said. In the near future, bleachers will be added to the area between the rinks. "We'll have 100 feet of bleachers per rink, back to back. It should be very comfortable for the average adult or the average child," Newton said. "Each rink should be able to seat 280 people." And if the opening weeks are any indication, those seats should be packed. "At the open house, we were full, which was great," Newton said. "We had a really nice response." The open house officially christened the facility on Oct. 25, and Newton said the arena has already become a popular weekend spot. On Saturdays, Hot Shots features an instructional league for children ages 4 through 8. The instructional league begins at 9 a.m., and Newton said the rest of the day is devoted to the slightly older crowd. "The rest of the day, we have a third- through sixth-grade league and a seventh- through ninth-grade league," Newton said. "We're also adding a league which is for ages 15 and above. That will be on Friday and Saturday nights." The in-house hockey league is being held on Tuesdays, with leagues available for kids ages 6 through 17. A dek hockey league will also be held, mostly likely beginning in December. The arena is also looking to start a high school in-line league like the one which has already formed in the Pittsburgh area. And Hot Shots isn't just for hockey. "Soccer starts Nov. 15, and we will take registration up to that day," Newton said. "Most of the local teams have already given us their commitments." A variety of indoor soccer leagues, as well as several soccer and hockey tournaments, are slated for the near future. One in-line hockey tournament will be held Dec. 26-28, with more information becoming available on Tuesday. Flag football will get under way on Nov. 19 and will continue at 6 p.m. each Wednesday. "I had no idea it was going to be this big," Newton said. "We have eight to 10 teams right now, which is good for just getting started." Newton said aerobics will be offered in late December or early January. "We're offering a monthly membership, which is $25 per person, per month," he said, explaining that the classes will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. three times a week. A daytime aerobics course may be offered twice a week as well. In addition, the rinks are available at an hourly rate when not in use by a league. Newton said Hot Shots has been warmly received by the community and strives to offer something a bit different from the programs its neighbors feature. "We're not here to take anybody's business away," Newton said, noting that Divito Park, for example, is focused more on ice hockey than in-line skating. "It's all about just offering everyone a good time in a safe environment." A good example of that is the skating party scheduled for Tuesday. Local schools are closed on that day to observe Veteran's Day, and Newton said Hot Shots is hosting a skating party from 1-4 p.m. on one rink. "The other rink will be open for soccer," he said. For more information on Hot Shots or its programs, call the arena at 724-547-5700.

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