INDIANAPOLIS -- Manute Bol's efforts to raise money for the people of his war-torn homeland got more ice time than the former NBA player.

	Swollen feet force Manute Bol to leave the Indianapolis Ice bench after one period.

The 7-foot-7 basketball shot-blocker from Sudan sat on the bench Saturday night as the puck dropped in his hockey debut. He didn't stay long, leaving the rink while the Central Hockey League game was still going on.

Bol made his first appearance with the Indianapolis Ice at Conseco Fieldhouse when the team faced the Amarillo Gorillas. Bol signed a contract with the Ice earlier this week.

The game drew a crowd of 5,859 -- the most attended Ice game this season and above average for the team compared to past Novembers.

But Ice officials said Saturday's appearance is likely to be Bol's last with the team. Bol's arthritic feet began to swell inside his custom-made ice skates, and after the first period he was out of uniform and signing autographs.

Sitting behind a table, Bol signed photos of himself showing him in hockey gear. As he waited at a nearby elevator, several teenage girls ran up to shake his hand; they rushed away giggling.

"It was good,'' Bol said, laughing. "It's the first time I got up close to the rink. It's a beautiful game.''

Banners publicizing the toll-free number for the Ring True Foundation, a charity Bol set up to benefit southern Sudanese children hung from the upper levels of the arena.

But Bol didn't venture out on the ice during team introductions and watched the game's opening minutes from a stool placed on the end of the bench. He wore an Ice uniform and socks, with his skates lying at his feet.

"I tried them on,'' he said. "They fit OK. They feel funny.''

Bol played 11 seasons with four NBA teams, blocking more shots per minute than anyone in league history. But he said Friday he's never been on ice or worn skates.

Joining the Ice is just one example of Bol's attempts to raise money and awareness of conditions in Sudan -- efforts that included spending most of his life's savings and taking on former football player William "The Refrigerator'' Perry in a bout on Fox TV's Celebrity Boxing show.

Bol donated his $35,000 fight fee to the Ring True Foundation and he plans to use money he makes with the Ice for the same cause.

The addition of Bol wasn't what brought Gregory Wable of Lafayette to Saturday's game. Wearing an Ice jersey autographed by players, Wable said he goes to most of the games. He said whether Bol takes focus away from hockey "depends on if he's playing or not.''

"Hockey's hockey,'' he said. "When the puck drops it's hockey time. I don't think anything they do off the ice takes away from that.''

A need for something to do and relatively cheap tickets brought teenagers Brandon Anweiler and Jill Sexton to the arena. When asked about Bol, Anweiler turned to Sexton and said: "I hear he's like 7-10 on skates, which is amazing.''

Ice players are trying to stay focused on winning.

"Our coach told us in practice a couple days ago, 'Don't let it distract you. Go with the flow and make sure you're ready for the games,''' defenseman Ryan Aikia said.