IIHF Inline WC 09 in Germany

[BourneRoller]

So, in my opinion, the most exciting tournament of the year starts tomorrow in Germany!:) News can be found at http://www.iihf.com/channels0809/inline/home.html
They usually have scores, pictures and some really good interviews. However, there never seems to be much good video floating around for these games or it's very hard to find. They full games I have found in the past are terrific to watch. Any one have any insider video leads? Or does anyone know if any will be streaming online? Might be something in german?
Any predictions? Canada is back in the top division, with an almost pure inline team (save a minor league ice goalie and an AHL player.) Sweden and Finland look very strong as always. Czech team is always strong but they are very quiet so far. Not sure about the USA this year. And Germany is the host country but made up for most ice guys.
In the lower (stupidly named Div 1), some new faces in Chinese Taipei and South Africa. I think I played against most of those Taipei guys in the Hong Kong last year. Good for them but I think they are going to get killed and are likely to be relegated. Austria was relegated to Div 1 from the Top Div last year and should clean up the lower div and hopefully re-qualify for the Top Div.

I am thinking Finland for Top Div and Austria for Div 1.

[BourneRoller]

I found one website with video of the Canadian teams games and some news clips of them before hand.
http://sports.antonssports.com/

Now if I can just figure out how to play wmv files on my mac!

[BourneRoller]

Jackpot!!!

http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=hockey


Monday- Australia vs Taiwan, followed by USA vs Canada, Sweden vs Czech Republic and Slovakia vs Finland

Tue- Czech Republic vs Canada, followed by Finland vs Slovenia, Sweden vs USA and Slovakia vs Germany

Watch the server time vs broadcast time to figure out when it plays for you!

[William Bourque]

Austria won't win Division I if they can win the Qualification game in the middle of the tournament.

Also, It is called Division I because they use the same structure as Ice Hockey.

[imasieve30]

Now if I can just figure out how to play wmv files on my mac!


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx


There you go Bourne, that should work for you.

-Joe

[Doug Jones]

I got to see Gerry St. Cyr and Kirk French and other Team Canada players last weekend at the NARCh tourney in Vancouver...they looked good...French has been on the p90x program and looked fantastic....

Good to see Mike Hunt is playing as well!!!

Go Canada and USA!

[BourneRoller]

Thanks Joe, did the trick.

Thanks William, I forgot about the possibility of changing divisions in the middle of the tourney. I realize the reason for the name of the lower div, but I still think it is confusing. Regardless, can't wait to watch the games!

[quick_dry]

Considering where Austria sits in the ice hockey world rankings, I'm picking them for winning their Div 1 round robin series - though obviously it'd be great to see teammates do well, I don't see the Australian team toppling Austria (especially not when we're split - half going to IIHF and the other half of us going to FIRS next month).

From what I've seen of those guys I agree about Taipei (did you mean Hong Kong Cup? which team were you in?), but the only chance they had to avoid relegation was IIHF having a brainsnap and putting South Africa and them in the same pool. (ditto for South Africa)

[skooled]

are there any results to speak of so far??? how is Australia going?

[nummer55]

They start today (Germany vs Slovenia) 7pm local (11am CST)

[quick_dry]

how is Australia going?
no results, but we're down one player - one of the guys had to drop out after getting diagnosed with glandular fever just before the trip

[BourneRoller]

So besides the live p2p games, are any of the other games (besides canada) online to watch after the fact? Some of those hours are killer in asia!

[skooled]

no results, but we're down one player - one of the guys had to drop out after getting diagnosed with glandular fever just before the trip

that sux.... how many NSW guys are playing?

[quick_dry]

Fritchley, Yorky, Cassacelli AFAIK - hopefully Cass won't pull his groin like last year - pulled it during a training game over there, and couldn't play any actual tournament games.

[AAA 91]

I also watched team canada play in vancouver.They got beat by a bunch of 18 year olds from vancouver island.They will be in tuff this year

[EagleBC]

Note: 6 members of Team Canada played in the NARCh Langley Regional for the TOUR HPC Blades. To clarify: they did not lose to 'a bunch of 18 yr olds from Vancouver Island'. They lost in the semifinals to the TOUR HPC Icemen, which is an Adult team.

Regardless of that fact, the team will be in tough up in the Top Division for the first time since 1998.

They started well today, jumping out to a 4-0 lead over Sweden before running into penalty trouble and eventually falling 6-4.

Game 2 goes tomorrow against the US.

[Puckdropper1]

Just a quick note. US beat Canada today 7-4.

[AAA 91]

Thanks for correcting me eaglebc.The ice men did beat team canada and the 18 year olds from the island beat the icemen3-2.I watched most of the pro games.The game canada lost they looked old and tired.The 18 year olds have 2 players that could play for canada now.Canada has gone to the veterans to often,time to go to the more speedy and skilled youth?I think they are finding out their age is catching up with them compared with the other countries.The future looks bright for canada,and good luck to them this tourney.

[TommyToedrag]

Same question as last few years. There are more roller rinks in the city of Chicago than in the whole country of Finland. There are more registered players in California than in all of Europe combined. There are more money in roller hockey in the USA than anywhere else. Can someone please tell me why nations with way fewer players than us can still put a better team on the floor year after year?

In Sweden they had a total of thirty (30!!!!) adult teams this year, in the whole COUNTRY! What are they doing to teach their players that we do not in America. I think it is getting ridiculous. Does anyone agree or am I out of line?

[J88]

No that you are out of line. Your facts are correct but the fact of the matter is that the Swedish team was fielded from a group of players that are currently getting paid to professionally play ice hockey somewhere in Europe. That is going to field a better team than an all-star team of 2 ECHL players, 1 college ice hockey player, and 13 "pro inline tournament" players. Granted those 13 "pro inline tournament players are probably 13 out of maybe the 15 to 20 best inline tournament players in the country, but you are still competing against players that get paid to play hockey. Most do not have side jobs. Those tournament players are also coming off of only 3 teams: the Pama Cyclones, Tour Mudcats, and Mission Syndicate. Even if everyone of those players are getting paid enough to not have another job, that would still be no more than around 40 players to choose from. Even though PIHA and AIHL call themselves "pro/elite", if you can just pay to play instead of play and get paid, they are just men's leagues. Sweden did not make a team of "inline players" sprinkled with a few minor league is hockey players. They pulled the best ice hockey players they could that would come play inline and bet our team of inline players sprinkled with ice players. If every team in the world had just their best "inline" players, I believe America would win every year. But when teams like Czech Republic can dress Ales Hemsky like they did last year, It makes it hard to compete with that. It doesn't matter if your entire team is made up of clones of CJ Yoder, a team with NHL caliber players will win 99% of the time. Now that that's out of the way, the team did an awesome job medaling for the first time since '06. It also shows that our inline players can compete against some top level ice players playing inline. When a "National Professional" inline league can be established, Team USA will probably win again.

[ACCCT2]

When a "National Professional" inline league can be established, Team USA will probably win again.

Stay tuned:cool:...

[Seven]

Same question as last few years. There are more roller rinks in the city of Chicago than in the whole country of Finland. There are more registered players in California than in all of Europe combined. There are more money in roller hockey in the USA than anywhere else. Can someone please tell me why nations with way fewer players than us can still put a better team on the floor year after year?

In Sweden they had a total of thirty (30!!!!) adult teams this year, in the whole COUNTRY! What are they doing to teach their players that we do not in America. I think it is getting ridiculous. Does anyone agree or am I out of line?
You aren't out of line. The difference is that their teams are built appropriately: with ice hockey players and professionals. Meanwhile, the US puts in college roller hockey players. Who the hell do you think is going to win? The best inline player still sucks compared to semi pro ice.

[J88]

You aren't out of line. The difference is that their teams are built appropriately: with ice hockey players and professionals. Meanwhile, the US puts in college roller hockey players. Who the hell do you think is going to win? The best inline player still sucks compared to semi pro ice.

I would not go as far to say they "suck." They did win silver (with a team of "pro" inline players vs. at most, high end pro ice players to sweden. Most of the players on the USA team could play minor pro ice. Czech Republic had at least two players who have played in the NHL (Rachunek, Tenkrat) and USA beat them in the Round Robin.

[TommyToedrag]

Thanks for your comments on this. I think it is a very interesting discussion, and that the situation needs to be addressed moving forward with roller hockey in the US. Should we go away from the "roller hockey kids" representing team USA and try to attract pure Ice Hockey guys?

Of course, I think Team USA did a good job getting the silver medal but it still feels bittersweet knowing nations that barely has an organized roller league wins the gold year after year.

Like someone here said, if the tournament was restricted to pure roller hockey players, the US would more than likely dominate the event (followed by Canada). I love the sport of roller hockey, but like I have said time after time, the different systems/organizations in the European countries compared to here makes me wonder what is better to achieve results.

Thank you,
-Tommy T

[RichardGraham]

Hi Tommy,


Should we go away from the "roller hockey kids" representing team USA and try to attract pure Ice Hockey guys?

Hmmm, give up on inline hockey players to try and win an international inline hockey event with ice hockey players? Call me crazy, but that seems a bit out of whack.

Until we can come together as a whole (the infighting must end NOW) and create grassroots programs that start with little kids and give them a clear path through grammar school, high school, college, world championships and potentially as professionals, our national teams will probably struggle to come close to the domination they once held on the international stage.

Call me unpatriotic, but I think the emphasis on the success or lack thereof of Team USA at these world championships is misdirected. Until the bottom of the pyramid is strengthened, only a few people will know, let alone care, whether a Team USA wins or loses at world championship events.

[quick_dry]

Should we go away from the "roller hockey kids" representing team USA and try to attract pure Ice Hockey guys?
why not just lok for the best players who go to the tryout/training camp?

Europe has less of a stigma associated with ice/inline - they have so many popular "hockey but not ice hockey" sports that are big, and played by ice hockey people.

My goalie from last year (playing div 1 Sweden) comes from a city/region where ice hockey is 'like' inline in status, because up there the game you play on ice is 'bandy' (ice hockey on a rink the size of a soccer pitch), and the bandy players are the local 'rockstars'.

The other swedish imports all played innebandy (deck hockey with the whiffleball), and the year before that our Austrian import said that many of the guys he played with on the national team played inline and liked it until most clubs had put in contractual clauses blocking them from playing in case of injuries.

I think you also have to look at the style of play, North American hockey isn't like Euro hockey. Growing up with big rinks (don't forget world championship play is on Olympic sized 60x30 not small NHL size) and a free flowing style of play lends itself to modern inline hockey.

[TommyToedrag]

Until the bottom of the pyramid is strengthened, only a few people will know, let alone care, whether a Team USA wins or loses at world championship events.

Richard,

Thank you or your input. If it is as you propose, that only a select few actually does care how the US does on the international stage, then I suppose my topic of discussion has no basis. The lack of interest seems to be a fairly good explanation.

Of course, I also think that the bottom of the pyramid is important as it is what gives most kids a chance to participate in a great sport such as roller hockey. I do not want to take anything away from the great roller hockey programs and leagues around the country, I am sure most European countries are jealous of those since they do not have them themselves. The reason I opened my mouth (started typing) was that I was curios of the different approaches to how to put together a "top" team. Not to criticize the way it is done here. I apologize if that is how it sounded. I still think a moderate and well mannered discussion about this, and any other topic involving our sport, is a great base for improving all aspects of it.

[ACCCT2]

Like someone here said, if the tournament was restricted to pure roller hockey players, the US would more than likely dominate the event (followed by Canada). I love the sport of roller hockey, but like I have said time after time, the different systems/organizations in the European countries compared to here makes me wonder what is better to achieve results.

Isn't this kinda' like saying if Germany or Japan had the atom bomb THEY would've won the war...?!?:confused:

You go with your "BEST" whatever their 'hockey' background or 'pedigree'. If someone with NO "pure" inline hockey experience (GEEZ,what IS "pure" inline in our sport anyway?) can step off an ice rink straight onto a "Sport Court" and spank the "pure" inline boys then, hey, THAT's a guy on MY "National" team roster, dude -- inline "purity" and "pedigree" be damned, he's VERY clearly and evidently a BETTER player. Get your heads out of the sand on at least THIS one people -- it's a "NO-BRAINER" in any REAL "pro's" book.;)

Ultimately, the "BEST" inline team is the "BEST" one that WINS. Period. That we somehow have to 'excuse' or 'excuse-away' why the US National Team -- supposedly "the BEST" we can roster -- can't beat low-to-mid-level 'ice' players momentarily crossing over into 'inline' to bag a WC medal should tell everyone that North America'a ridiculous labeling of glorified men's "rec" leagues and tournaments as "Pro" or "Elite" is TOTALLY out of touch with the reality of the TRUE levels of the international game. While their actual 'rink-venue' facilities are not anywhere near as good, the European "Elite" inline hockey leagues BLOW AWAY ANYTHING presently constituted in the USA or Canada (team owners, clubs, coaches and managers use it as a way to keep their players fit and 'in-line' during the 'ice' off-season). Get used to things only getting tougher for especially the US if USA Hockey Inline and USARS keep insisting on rostering "National" teams with VERY-low-to-mediocre 'hockey' talent -- many of these ("TOP"?) 'inline' guys wouldn't even make an ACHA "club" team, let alone a fourth-tier paid-to-play "SEMI-pro" ice hockey team.:(


Hi Tommy,

Hmmm, give up on inline hockey players to try and win an international inline hockey event with ice hockey players? Call me crazy, but that seems a bit out of whack.

Until we can come together as a whole (the infighting must end NOW) and create grassroots programs that start with little kids and give them a clear path through grammar school, high school, college, world championships and potentially as professionals, our national teams will probably struggle to come close to the domination they once held on the international stage.

Call me unpatriotic, but I think the emphasis on the success or lack thereof of Team USA at these world championships is misdirected. Until the bottom of the pyramid is strengthened, only a few people will know, let alone care, whether a Team USA wins or loses at world championship events.

SPOT-ON, IMO!;)




why not just lok for the best players who go to the tryout/training camp?


DUHHH...?!?:confused:

Europe has less of a stigma associated with ice/inline - they have so many popular "hockey but not ice hockey" sports that are big, and played by ice hockey people.



My goalie from last year (playing div 1 Sweden) comes from a city/region where ice hockey is 'like' inline in status, because up there the game you play on ice is 'bandy' (ice hockey on a rink the size of a soccer pitch), and the bandy players are the local 'rockstars'.

VERY TRUE.




I think you also have to look at the style of play, North American hockey isn't like Euro hockey. Growing up with big rinks (don't forget world championship play is on Olympic sized 60x30 not small NHL size) and a free flowing style of play lends itself to modern inline hockey.

GREAT observation -- if anyone's ever played the European "BIG-sheet" style of 'ice' game, this clearly makes GREAT sense!;)

[WhoKnows]

ACCCT2,

Nothing against ANYTHING you HAVE written, BUT why do your POSTS always seem TO HAVE some words randomly CAPITALIZED? That last POST WAS like HALF and half LOL. Ok IM done.

[nummer55]

Being from Europe I got a question. Like most national teams in pro sports I assume your national team in ice hockey is selected by the head coach, who watches a lot of games, makes a short list, practise camp, final selection? At least that's the way our national soccer squad (Netherlands) is selected. Because your country is so large having try-outs will never result in the best possible team. Some people don't have the money to go and you can't have try-outs in all states. Because there is no national league how is a federation's head coach supposed to pick the best players?

I would also like to add that there are also countries that don't play IIHF (especially France) that do have a very good team. If you're talking about matching up roller only players I think they are the best team in Europe.

It starts with a decent worldwide (combine IIHF inline and FIRS inline, damnit) and national organization (centralized) and then money, money, money.

[dan sangiorgio]

You go with your "BEST" whatever their 'hockey' background or 'pedigree'. If someone with NO "pure" inline hockey experience (GEEZ,what IS "pure" inline in our sport anyway?) can step off an ice rink straight onto a "Sport Court" and spank the "pure" inline boys then, hey, THAT's a guy on MY "National" team roster, dude -- inline "purity" and "pedigree" be damned, he's VERY clearly and evidently a BETTER player. Get your heads out of the sand on at least THIS one people -- it's a "NO-BRAINER" in any REAL "pro's" book.;)

agreed picking players because they are roller hockey first guys is not gonna do anything but further prove that more then any other sport its a who u know and what u can do for them rather then a who's the best when it comes to picking these teams. i for one thought a solid roster was selected for germany with a good mix of youth and vertans. other then going out and getting nhlers who play roller, guys like bobby ryan and tj hensick ect but at this point are players of this caliber willing to play is the question.


on a side note: if you compare the sa hockey vs aau team usa's its clear which team is much stronger. due to aau neoptism picking players to have no bussiness being on team usa but thats a whole other issue.

[LABEDA]

Reading some of this gets frustrating from a personal standpoint and I try and avoid getting pulled into things like this but here we go!

I think it is important for everyone to realize the International inline championship scene has been around since 1995, that is 15 years.

If you remember the RHI which was based on minor league pro ice hockey players with a sprinkling of true roller hockey players and it was a very competitive roller hockey league.
The ice players would come over in May look terrible for a few weeks as they adjusted to their inline skates. They would look okay in June and would look great in July after playing and practicing for two months. Think of the great NARCH/RHI pro players like Joe Cook, Gerry St Cyr, Mark Woolf, Taj Melson and the many others who came from minor pro league ice hockey roots which made our pro roller hockey events that much better to watch.

Traditional ice hockey countries like Sweden, Finland, Czech and Germany to name a few, with very strong pro ice hockey programs (Swedish Elite League i.e.)have organized inline leagues the moment their pro ice hockey seasons end.

Countries like Italy, France and Spain have year round inline hockey leagues. The developmental scope of the sport is growing in each country, year after year.

I like most believe it is our sport so my expectation level is always high when I am representing the US in international competition. I have coached a US team in 8 events over a 6 year period and it has never been an easy task. We have been fortunate to always have a good group of players that have responded to the task at hand and we have had much success during that span (6 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 5th place finish) To expect that we should clearly dominate just because we are the US is really not understanding the talent pool we are up against. I hope the RHI/NARCH reference of pro players makes people realize that Sweden, Finland and the Czechs all have their Joe Cook's and Gerry St Cyr's coming through their ice programs playing inline.

The US team faced NHL players, top level international pro ice hockey players who have been on their inline skates for months preparing for the Championships. We were up with 3 minutes left in the Championship game for the gold medal only to lose it in the final two minutes.

Now with all that being said I stand behind the group that represented the US at the IIHF World Championships, as possibly one of the best group of inline players to ever represent the US. We had a great balance of youth and veteran skill. You look at their hockey backgrounds and realize that the team was comprised by at least half or more from "true" roller hockey players and the ice hockey background players grew up playing roller hockey too. So when you think about it, our US group had beaten many of the top level ice hockey pro athletes from around the world and was minutes away from winning a World Championship with a group of some of our best developed "roller" hockey players. While I was disappointed we did not win gold I was very proud of the group and realized it was still quite the accomplishemnt and statement to the development of roller hockey in the US.

We are doing our best to try and find the best players to come and try-out for the program. While we cannot turn over every rock to find a player it is important for players to do their best in coming to and showcasing their talents at the big summer events. Trust me there is always someone watching!

We want to continue seeing countries develop the way they are. To have the US win every year would be great from a patriotic standpoint but not for the growth of the sport. It was great to see countries like Brazil battling for a medal in the D1 division and come to realize how far they have come.

That is my two cents.
Robert Chornomud
IIHF Team USA Coach

[TommyToedrag]

Message

That is my two cents.
Robert Chornomud
IIHF Team USA Coach

Coach,

Thank you for your input. It is always nice to hear from someone on "the inside".
-Tommy

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

On a related note (and to steal Jay Piz's scoop ;) -- http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=431695