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Inline hockey tourney honors fallen officer

Tampa Police Department

Cpl. Mike Roberts, seen here at his promotion ceremony with Mayor Pam Iorio and Chief Steve Houge, was killed in the line of duty in August.

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By ERIC HORCHY

The Suncoast News

Published: October 29, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - In remembrance of a fellow man of service, a charity inline hockey event will be hosted Nov. 14 and 15 at New Port Richey's Sportszone 2.

The tournament is in honor of Cpl. Mike Roberts, a Tampa police officer shot and killed in the line of duty Aug. 9 while investigating a suspicious person.

Roberts, 38, was an 11-year veteran of the force and left behind a wife and 3-year-old son. All proceeds generated by the inline hockey event will go to the Roberts family.

Ken Petrillo, a former Pasco County sheriff's deputy now with the Tampa Police Department, is part of the organizing team working to honor his fallen comrade. In addition to working together on duty, Petrillo said Roberts was known by many other officers as the goalie on the police department's hockey team.

Holding a tournament to honor his service is fitting, Petrillo said.

In late August, the Tampa Bay Lightning held a charity scrimmage against the Tampa police team that benefited the Cpl. Mike Roberts Memorial Fund. The game was part of the National Hockey League club's annual Fan Fest event.

"Mike was the kind of cop that every one of us wanted to be," Petrillo said. "He was able to balance his personal and family life with the job, and he was successful at it all."

As for the November tournament, play will be broken into three divisions: Law Enforcement/ Firefighters, 16 and older competitive, and 16 and older recreational.

The registration fee is $300 per team and at least six to eight players are recommended per team, Petrillo said. Sign-ups are tentatively to be capped off by Nov. 1.

Individuals who would like to play but do not have a team are encouraged to call Sportzone 2 at (727) 845-7808 to request a place on a squad.

Teams are going to be traveling to New Port Richey for the event from across the state, Petrillo said. Fort Lauderdale and Collier, Sarasota and Manatee counties will be represented, among others. He said the initial goal was to round up about 30 teams, and spots are still available.

For information on how to register or donate money to the Roberts family, contact Petrillo at (727) 808-8453 or Rob Gallahan at Sportszone 2 at (727) 845-7808.

Sportszone 2 is in the International Granite and Stone Arena, 7716 Rutilio Court, New Port Richey. It is a 21,000-square-foot, air-conditioned indoor sports arena.

Reporter Eric Horchy can be reached at (727) 815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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