Usars usa team 2010

[Dean Portman]

Any news on who made it?

[zipyaj]

See news release:
http://usarollersports.org/news/2010/05/13/2010-inline-hockey-junior-world-team/35994

Congratulations go out to the following athletes who will participate in the 2010 FIRS Junior World Inline Hockey Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, from June 27 to July 2, 2010.

Keith Barter, Phoenix, Arizona
John Tyler “JT” Bovee, Englewood, Colorado
Jeff Carlo, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Casey Escarcega, Escondido, California
Forrest Ford, Jr.., Mechanicsville, Virginia
Brian Gibb, San Jose, California
Jacob Hickey, San Jose, California
Daniel Inouye, Campbell, California
Christopher Lowry, Huntington Beach, California
Jordan Nixdorf, Brownstown Township, Michigan
Brett Olinger, Costa Mesa, California
Garth Penman, Littleton, Colorado
Joshua Winters, Corona, California
Jared Occhicone, Hackettstown, NewJersey (Goalie)
Carl Weedman, Cincinnati, Ohio (Goalie)

BEST!

[Dean Portman]

Guess I should've specified the men's or juniors... I was talking about the men's team tryouts that ended yesterday.

[towson9]

Mens USA Team:

Fowards:

Ryan Bond
Dustin Roux
Travis Fudge
Pete Messina
Junior Cadiz

Defense:

Greg Thompson
Jon Mosenson
Eric Keene
Chalie Sgrillo
Kelly Spain

Goalies:

Mike Urbano
Dustin Brown

Alternates:

(F) Josh Laricchia
(F) Jim Redstreake
(D) Nick Posa
(D) Taylor Kane
(G) Joe D'Aloisio

[alex]

How the hell was Laricchia only an alternate?

[DCbullets14]

Yeah thats a big mistake ... that kid is sick... Did he have a really bad tryout or something? I would have thought he was a top 4 pick easily.

[towson9]

How the hell was Laricchia only an alternate?

good question, everyone was pretty shocked and most were telling them he needs to be on the team. no one from the committee knew who he was and he didnt have an overly dominant tryout. he was noticeable as always, regardless he should of been on the team. huge mistake. im sure he'll get a regular shift out there unless he has to pay his way out there. they werent sure if the alternates had to pay or were going to be covered it was still up in the air.

[socalhockey]

Not putting Josh Laricchia on the team is definitely a big mistake. He is quite possibly the best all around player in the nation. Every team he plays for, wins. Actually, they should try to get Charlie Middleton as well. Laricchia to Middleton on the power play is deadly!

[WhoKnows]

good question, everyone was pretty shocked and most were telling them he needs to be on the team. no one from the committee knew who he was and he didnt have an overly dominant tryout. he was noticeable as always, regardless he should of been on the team. huge mistake. im sure he'll get a regular shift out there unless he has to pay his way out there. they werent sure if the alternates had to pay or were going to be covered it was still up in the air.

The committee knew who he was... I'm pretty sure he helped them win a gold medal at FIRS and the World Games last year...

[Dean Portman]

Not to stir the pot... but what a joke. How do Roux, Bond, Sgillio, and Keene beat out Laricchia, Taylor Kane, Joey Doran, and Georgie Barber for spots on your "national team"?... Seriously. Messina, Thompson, Fudge, Mosenson, Cadiz, Laricchia, Doran, Barber, Kane, Spain. Thats your 10 right there. AAU is proving what a gongshow they really are. Again. When you have two dads who are heavily affiliated with AAU, and their kids are clearly not as good as others, but still make the team over players that are without a doubt more talented, it was only a matter of time before this got brought up. I wonder how they would hang against the IIHF team? :rolleyes: Just a little food for thought...

Oh yeah...Just out of curiousity, why weren't they paying for the SoCal Division winners to get to Disney? Was that every division that had to pay their own way?

[pghbandit11]

so dean were you at the tryouts? you said "not to stir the pot" but your obviously trying to. also who are you?

[DCbullets14]

Maybe Dean went a little overboard. Seems like hes definately a west coast guy who has not seen alot of the East Coast players on a consistant basis.

Im sure it is always difficult picking these teams. If the selection committee is mainly East Coast guys than they are more likely to pick alot of the East Coast players who they are more familiar with.

The team is solid however, there were certainly some mistakes that were made. Laricchia is a nasty player (possibly one of the top 3 ive ever played agaisnt) he should have been a lock on this team. Let see how this team does and then make our decisions.

[InlineMBA]

When you have two dads who are heavily affiliated with AAU, and their kids are clearly not as good as others, but still make the team over players that are without a doubt more talented

I guess, some things never change.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

[Mlrhnorthfan]

I think that no matter what the roster is, people are going to be upset.

with only 10-12 akaters and two goalies alot of guys that can play at that level will not be selected.

Tony King was on the team last year and did not make it this year.

The roster over the last two years has seen around 50% of guys repeating.

Prior to that the team was 80% the same guys year after year for almost ten years and the team didnt even medal in Spain. Competition and turnover are good things so that guys do not get complacent.

I remember that last spring people were knocking the roster and then look what happened....the team won both the Italy games and the World games in Asia in the same summer.

Theres alot of talk about an East Coast bias but most of those guys that used to play both IIHF and FIRS and now only play IIHF are East Coast players born and raised.

The job of the committee was to select the best TEAM and not the best PLayers. USA Ice Hockey this year took heat in the fall for their selections and what happend? They beat Canada in the round robin and lost to them in OT in the finals. Choosing Joe Pavelski looked silly in November but now look where he is.

Lets wait until the games end to judge the team.

Go USA!

[towson9]

The committee knew who he was... I'm pretty sure he helped them win a gold medal at FIRS and the World Games last year...

umm you woulda thought they knew who laricchia was but trust me they didnt i was there and talked to a bunch of people involved that said they werent familiar with him.

there was a new coach (well guy running the tryouts who will probably be the coach) and 2 selection committee members along with 2 others helping out with some input. Most didnt know who he was but that were picked early made sure they knew who he was but apparently that didnt work out so well.

[towson9]

Not to stir the pot... but what a joke. How do Roux, Bond, Sgillio, and Keene beat out Laricchia, Taylor Kane, Joey Doran, and Georgie Barber for spots on your "national team"?... Seriously. Messina, Thompson, Fudge, Mosenson, Cadiz, Laricchia, Doran, Barber, Kane, Spain. Thats your 10 right there. AAU is proving what a gongshow they really are. Again. When you have two dads who are heavily affiliated with AAU, and their kids are clearly not as good as others, but still make the team over players that are without a doubt more talented, it was only a matter of time before this got brought up. I wonder how they would hang against the IIHF team? :rolleyes: Just a little food for thought...

Oh yeah...Just out of curiousity, why weren't they paying for the SoCal Division winners to get to Disney? Was that every division that had to pay their own way?

so you just wanted to hear a roster so you can bash USARS and the committee?

granted most had laricchia on the team and were shocked when he was an alternate but you cant bash other players that made it, especially when you weren't there.

Bond, Roux, Sgrillo, and Keene all had really good tryouts. When you have a 3 day tryout thats exactly what they are gonna look at. Who plays the best in those 3 days. They arent going to go by reputation, that would make it more bias.

There were alot of good players that got cut but that will happen when you have alot of talent trying to make up 10 spots.

plus some of those guys you mentioned didnt even have that great of a tryout, i dont doubt they are great players but based on this past weekend they pretty much got it right.

there were a couple that could of have been changed but thats just what the guy running it decides.

one of the kids from the 495ers had an outstanding tryout in my opinion and no one knew him, was never on the radar and probably was never even considered. that kid should have more of a problem not getting picked than "Dean Portman" who wasnt there didnt tryout and only trying to defend his buddies....

[wednthavddr]

Which kid from the 495ers?

[Dean Portman]

Okay.. You can take Bond, Roux, Sgrillo (never seen him or heard of him in my life, which says a lot considering the amount of inline hockey Im around) and Keene.. Ive seen 3 of the 4 play for years upon years. I'll take Laricchia, Doran, Kane, and Barber. In a game to 10, I'll spot you 6. Go ahead and say that I have a SoCal bias. It's a nice place to visit, but I have no reason to have a bias towards Southern Cal roller hockey. It isn't about friends or buddies or anything like that. I'm not here to fight a battle for anyone. I'm going by what I know. I KNOW that AAU is notorious for things like this. When I KNOW that at least 3 kids got cut while 3 less talented kids (whos fathers just so happened to be involved heavily with AAU) made the team. It doesn't look good. To anyone who says that you only pick a team based on how they performed in those 3 days, you are lying to yourself. If they are going to do things that way, they need to have a representative from every region (CA, MI, MO, NY/NJ/PA, FL) form a committee to independently select a team. Having a bunch of dads doing the evaluations and running the tryouts is not only a joke, its completely unprofessional. If AAU ever wants to change the minds of people like me (and there are PLENTY of people like me out there) who think they are a complete joke, they can start with not having the dads of kids trying out running the tryout and picking the teams. Maybe then, their nationals will attract as many teams as the Narch Regional at Dumars.

But my second question never was answered... Did AAU pay for all of the division winners in AIHL to go to Disney?

[towson9]

Which kid from the 495ers?

all of them that came out played great but joe mazzie had a really impressive tryout, he could have made the team for sure

[towson9]

Okay.. You can take Bond, Roux, Sgrillo (never seen him or heard of him in my life, which says a lot considering the amount of inline hockey Im around) and Keene.. Ive seen 3 of the 4 play for years upon years. I'll take Laricchia, Doran, Kane, and Barber. In a game to 10, I'll spot you 6. Go ahead and say that I have a SoCal bias. It's a nice place to visit, but I have no reason to have a bias towards Southern Cal roller hockey. It isn't about friends or buddies or anything like that. I'm not here to fight a battle for anyone. I'm going by what I know. I KNOW that AAU is notorious for things like this. When I KNOW that at least 3 kids got cut while 3 less talented kids (whos fathers just so happened to be involved heavily with AAU) made the team. It doesn't look good. To anyone who says that you only pick a team based on how they performed in those 3 days, you are lying to yourself. If they are going to do things that way, they need to have a representative from every region (CA, MI, MO, NY/NJ/PA, FL) form a committee to independently select a team. Having a bunch of dads doing the evaluations and running the tryouts is not only a joke, its completely unprofessional. If AAU ever wants to change the minds of people like me (and there are PLENTY of people like me out there) who think they are a complete joke, they can start with not having the dads of kids trying out running the tryout and picking the teams. Maybe then, their nationals will attract as many teams as the Narch Regional at Dumars.

But my second question never was answered... Did AAU pay for all of the division winners in AIHL to go to Disney?

this shouldnt be about which 4 can beat that 4 in an ironman game. thats dumb, thats why they had a drills session and than numerous scrimmages to determine the team. some guys stood out more than others thats all. everyone there is skilled no question.

i do somewhat agree with you that the fathers involved does look bad when they are right there when the teams are picked, etc. they really should get more guys for the selection committee that arent involved with players directly to make it seem more fair. personally i dont think the guys you are referring to had much input at all because one of them was probably the only one who knew who laricchia was and was pressuring them to take him and they still didnt. this does not take away from how their sons played this weekend though. they all stood out and played great. if they all played terrible and still made it you can argue that but they didnt. i have no reason to lie and you werent there so thats a mute point. ask other guys that got cut and you arent close with that wont give you a bias answer and you'll see those guys stood out.

those players are solid, most of them i saw for the first time this weekend or didnt know exactly who they were in the passed. i dont question their talent but like i said before good players are gonna get cut in something like this.

[sid21]

Okay.. You can take Bond, Roux, Sgrillo (never seen him or heard of him in my life, which says a lot considering the amount of inline hockey Im around) and Keene.. Ive seen 3 of the 4 play for years upon years. I'll take Laricchia, Doran, Kane, and Barber. In a game to 10, I'll spot you 6.

I'm all for questioning this roster but you do go overboard. Keene and Roux played last year, won the gold, and are both sick. You overrate Doran and Kane, they are absolutely not way better than Roux and Keene so it'd come down to better tryout and apparently they didn't have the better one. Roux and Keene played last year so it's not like they're nobodies. I'll give you the rest though. Sgrillo and Bond are questionable. Not taking Laricchia is simply wrong, regardless of how the tryout went. Barber probably should have made it but not sure who else went and got cut.

[riotact]

My son tried out for the team and I was able to watch the tryouts. There was one goalie who was wearing a red jersey there that played awesome ( I look more at goalies because I was one). I thought that he was the best goalie there from the performance throughout the weekend. I don't really know many of the players, but my son also thought that he had the best tryout out of all the goalies, yet did not make the team.

My point being that.. At tryouts like these there will always be players and others who think people got snubbed. My son didn't make it, but also has some improving to do on his game before he would have a chance. They took the players that they thought would make the best TEAM and give them the best chance to win.

Also I do not really see any of the players who tried out on this thread knocking the tryouts, so maybe everyone should take that into consideration. The committee has a tough job they did the best they could.

Harry.

[DannyG]

for what it's worth, the proper way to do this is:

hold three levels of trials. The first one is a weekend long, open trial series on a local/section level. Players of specific ability are selected and invited to attend a regional trial.

Regional trials are held for about forty players, maybe eight regions nation-wide. From a weekend long series of exercises, a regioanl team, ten skaters, two goalkeepers are selected for participation in the national trials.

National trials are held over a five day period, from which the national team is selected (however many skaters/keepers).

This sequence provides a ready-made, perhaps two-month long process that will generally produce a top-end team for whatever national level competition there is. It also lets any and every player put up or shut up. Hopefully, it limits the "gotta be known by somebody" syndrome. It also allows for a previously unknown player to shine through.

USA Hockey has had a two-step process, and of course we are all familiar with AAU's "eighty-nine national teams" process, but a defined, three step culmination process should make it a level playing field for anybody to play. It would be nice if some organization would implement this.

If you think it can't be done, I will forward my resume, hire me, and I'll personally produce it for 2011...no problem!

[Mlrhnorthfan]

There just isnt the money to have multiple weekend tryouts around the country. i dont think the program could afford it, nor could most players afford to travel to three consecutive tryouts.

Furthermore, USARS/FIRS does technically have a regional process already:

The AIHL.

The AIHL is regionally based and has teams from around the country. Every team is asked to give nominations in the winter to FIRS for invitations to tryouts.

This is a decent enough system. There are 40-50 AIHL teams and there is a large talent pool of players to select from around the country. In addition its not the only avenue to invitation.

Theory behind that seems to be that the youth systems would feed the AIHL which would then feed the USARS/FIRS team. its not perfect but there seems to be a method to it.

as mentioned before there are many guys on this board and in this thread that have tried out the last two years and didnt make the team but havent said a negative word.

Again, its not perfect and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you cannot knock the process if it resulted in two gold medals last summer.

canada is not concerned that maybe Dan Cleary really should have been on the team when they won gold in vancouver are they?

[towson9]

for what it's worth, the proper way to do this is:

hold three levels of trials. The first one is a weekend long, open trial series on a local/section level. Players of specific ability are selected and invited to attend a regional trial.

Regional trials are held for about forty players, maybe eight regions nation-wide. From a weekend long series of exercises, a regioanl team, ten skaters, two goalkeepers are selected for participation in the national trials.

National trials are held over a five day period, from which the national team is selected (however many skaters/keepers).

This sequence provides a ready-made, perhaps two-month long process that will generally produce a top-end team for whatever national level competition there is. It also lets any and every player put up or shut up. Hopefully, it limits the "gotta be known by somebody" syndrome. It also allows for a previously unknown player to shine through.

USA Hockey has had a two-step process, and of course we are all familiar with AAU's "eighty-nine national teams" process, but a defined, three step culmination process should make it a level playing field for anybody to play. It would be nice if some organization would implement this.

If you think it can't be done, I will forward my resume, hire me, and I'll personally produce it for 2011...no problem!

Like Zuba said, its not like it cant be done. its more of a money issue than anything. Not only will the players not be able to afford to travel to 3 different locations and pay to tryout as well, USARS itself said they are on a tighter budget from last year. i know flights alone to Czech cost approx $1300 plus all other expenses. Which is why I doubt they will be able to send any of the alternates over for free, maybe 1.

The process now is the best one, you base it off all AAU run events (including AIHL) select the best from those invite them to tryout and pick a team. Its not like you need to hold 3 different tryouts anyway. There was only like 35 players and 8 goalies at tryouts this past weekend anyway. I know some cant make it certain weekends, etc. but this is the way to do it.

[socalhockey]

By the way, Laricchia led the entire AIHL in scoring in the leagues absolute toughest and most competitive division by far(Pacific South). Anyone that is anybody knows who he is and what he is capable of. It absolutely makes no sense that he's not on the team. Kane, Doran and Barber, I could see all three of them being close and not making it because they are all from the west coast and not as well known, but they're is no reasonable excuse for leaving Laricchia off the team.

[Dean Portman]

Sid- Please. In your own little AAU world, they are phenomenal players. Outside of it, they are good. Nothing more, nothing less. When is the last time either one of those two played Narch Pro, Junior Platinum, or D1? If you cant agree with me that those are the 3 highest levels of North American inline hockey, there is no point in me arguing with you. Prove something at the highest levels then talk to me about who deserves to represent the US overseas. Its definitely not some kids whos parents pick the team. That s*** belongs in house leagues, not on a national level.

While I do think that Keene, Roux, Sgrillo and Bond should've been replaced with Laricchia, Barber, Kane, and Doran, you can have an arguement for Keene and Roux. Im not that closed minded. But anyone who thinks that Bond or Sgrillo deserve to be on this team more than any of those 4 needs to have their head checked out.

Can someone confirm that Redstreake was also added to the team? Unless there was a failed drug test or someone backed out, this could be one more point in my arguement that AAU is continuing to take strides away from becoming a credible, responsible part of roller hockey.

[DannyG]

I obviously failed to identify the advantage to a three-step process, when it is referred to in rely as "three try-outs."

this isn't three try outs.

what I describes is a process that is already being undertaken in many different sorts throughout the world. it works. It is indeed the best way to establish a known procedure that players look forward to as they grow up through their sport's junior program and enter the senior mainstream:

"Hey, I made the section team,"
"I made the State Team,"
"Next season I am going to work real hard and make it to the Provincial Team."
"I'm looking an an invite to try for the National Team."

From the time you are a kid, you know how the 'ladder of success' works and you can visably work your way up. This is the way that other sports in this and other countries are serious about developing players for their national program.

Players won't/don't have the money to "do this?"
AAU doesn't have the wherewithal to make it happen?
Players won't participate in such an impingement on their time?

Sheeesh! guys, not trying to be argumentative here, but the AIHL/AAU/USARS national team "process" that you describe is comparatively not there.

[Hockeydevil29]

Dean Portman is definitely a Cali based guy who thinks that is where roller hockey was invented and only exists but he does bring up some good point. Points that if you go back and look at posts from last years tryouts haven't changed.

We all agree that tryouts are tough and you can't always be a Monday morning QB after a tryout. Look Mike Green didn't make Team Canada this year but here are my issues.

One, AAU does not name a coach to the team, they want to name a coach after tryouts and do not want the coach to have a "say" in the selection of the team. From what I have heard that is why Rob Labeda stopped coaching the FIRS team and went to IIHF. Who would want to coach a team they have no say in. It is obvious that the reason AAU doesn't want a coach to come in and make the picks and why they want their "evaluation committee" to do so is simple. They need to insure that "their people" get their kids on the team and they can "return favors". Now I do not know the Roux kid, the Bond kid, the Redstreake kid, or the Sgrillo kid. But I think we can all be honest and say it is bs that players who are picked (and mainly those in question) have parents who are part of the selection committee or offer financial aid/support. Anyone who denies this is a liar.

So my problem is not about these players being good enough. From what I understand after you got past the first 5 or 6 players at tryouts, the talent pool was so weak that these guys may indeed have been the better ones there. I just feel bad for other guys who attended who probably were just as good or better than those mentioned but did not have their parents there helping to pick the team.

It is a shame what kind of process this has become for something that should be such an honor for all of the players in the sport. Happy though to hear a local great kid in Dustin Brown made the squad!

[sid21]

Sid- Please. In your own little AAU world, they are phenomenal players. Outside of it, they are good. Nothing more, nothing less. When is the last time either one of those two played Narch Pro, Junior Platinum, or D1? If you cant agree with me that those are the 3 highest levels of North American inline hockey, there is no point in me arguing with you. Prove something at the highest levels then talk to me about who deserves to represent the US overseas. Its definitely not some kids whos parents pick the team. That s*** belongs in house leagues, not on a national level.

While I do think that Keene, Roux, Sgrillo and Bond should've been replaced with Laricchia, Barber, Kane, and Doran, you can have an arguement for Keene and Roux. Im not that closed minded. But anyone who thinks that Bond or Sgrillo deserve to be on this team more than any of those 4 needs to have their head checked out.


Stopped going to AAU 5 years ago and am an ardent NARCh supporter, but whatever assumptions you want to make to make your argument seem stronger, go for it.

Keene and Roux could play NARCh pro without question. That they don't isn't a good argument. It's not like they're at NARCh playing men's silver. They're just not there. They could hang at that level no problem. And I'm not arguing that those are the 3 highest levels of play in North America, keep setting up straw man arguments for yourself to knock down here, bud.

Make up your mind. They're only good in "my little AAU world" but then you say "you can have an argument for Keene and Roux." Those 2 are good enough to be on this team regardless of whether their moms picked the team, I don't care. And Laricchia is the only inarguable snub here.

[Troho9]

Eric Keene plays for the TOUR Savage Wolves in Narch Pro & Torhs Pro as well as for the AIHL's Garden State Savage Wolves. Sgrillo and Redstreake have both played for us as well.

I didn't want to get in this debate but Eric Keene is a world class player and continues to get better every time he steps on the rink. He is one of the best skaters I have seen, is great in the room, isn't high strung, has an excellent work ethic and both he and his brother were raised well. They are two of the nicest most honest people I have met and I believe character should be judged as well as talent. It would have been an injustice to leave him off the team.

Obviously I am biased because I have the honor of coaching him but I have seen most of the other players that have been mentioned and Eric is on that level if not above.

[kevinsmithAZ]

There just isnt the money to have multiple weekend tryouts around the country. i dont think the program could afford it, nor could most players afford to travel to three consecutive tryouts.

Furthermore, USARS/FIRS does technically have a regional process already:

The AIHL.

The AIHL is regionally based and has teams from around the country. Every team is asked to give nominations in the winter to FIRS for invitations to tryouts.


The only problem with this is the same problem that supposedly happened this weekend-- parents or other people who can, at times, be biased are often involved with their local AIHL organization. Someone could be nominated over another because of this, and then that other person didn't even get looked at at all.

[DCbullets14]

Tro great post. I would agree 100%. Keene was dominant at the NARCh east coast winter nats in the pro division. He was a major reason for the success that the Savage Wolves had. He is one fo the most consistant players you will see on the rink.

After playing with him for many years I can honestly tell you that he is the best dman I have ever skated with. He rarely gets beat and is always looking to make his teammates better rather than pad his own stats.

Your correct that Keene did not play NARCh last year but it was not because of a lack of ability he was busy winning gold. Had he been at NARCh you would have noticed him on the rink... take some time to watch a game this year because he will be tough to miss.

I spoke with a number of guys who all said Sgrillo had a phenominal tryout.

[riotact]

Guess Im a little late reading this again, but as a fan/parent I like to read the input of the players. I agree I think fathers and relatives can be biased and even if they aren't it looks so bad on the organization as a whole. I noticed a number of players who have legitmate arguements and questions as to why they didn't make the squad.. Especially between the pipes.

Troho I also agree that character should be judged in these type of tryouts... So I ask this how are people allowed to barely even play during the tryout, despite most likely knowing that they have already had a spot on the team. This is something else that made the people running the tryout look bad. That attitude shows bad character and laziness. How does one expect to improve their game like this? As someone who has been around the sport of hockey for a long time, I notice these little things, and I am sure the players do too.

Despite this I still think that a good job was done picking this team.

Harry

[growl89]

Guess Im a little late reading this again, but as a fan/parent I like to read the input of the players. I agree I think fathers and relatives can be biased and even if they aren't it looks so bad on the organization as a whole. I noticed a number of players who have legitmate arguements and questions as to why they didn't make the squad.. Especially between the pipes.

Troho I also agree that character should be judged in these type of tryouts... So I ask this how are people allowed to barely even play during the tryout, despite most likely knowing that they have already had a spot on the team. This is something else that made the people running the tryout look bad. That attitude shows bad character and laziness. How does one expect to improve their game like this? As someone who has been around the sport of hockey for a long time, I notice these little things, and I am sure the players do too.

Despite this I still think that a good job was done picking this team.

Harry


Welcome to the corrupt world of roller hockey. Like you said, even if they aren't favoring their kids, it looks horrible. And the idea that the coach isn't involved with the tryouts is an absolute joke. Someone brought it up before about Rob leaving USARS and going to IIHF team because of this very reason. That should be a tip off in itself. Anyone wondering why roller hockey isn't big time, just take a look at what goes on in our NGB.

With all of the action and talent in the sport of roller hockey it's a shame that all of the power hungry people don't look at what REALLY should be done.

[riotact]

It is so interesting that this stuff goes on, even at the highest level roller hockey provides. I never thought that this would go on, I am so far on the other side of this... I would cut my own kid if I did not think he was good enough or fit in with how a team was being built. With that said it is so hard for me to believe it. I even over heard some players talking about how the team was picked after the second skate, probably even before that.

My heart goes out to all of those players who played so well during the weekend, a couple come to mind for me and I don't really know names (I wish I did so I can give those players some credit for playing how they played) Just seems like so many kids/ young men did not get a fair shot at something many kids grow up dreaming about doing.

I just don't get how the people in charge of the tryout can let players half ass it though out the tryout and pick and choose when they play or not play. In my opinion those players should be cut regardless of their history. Everyone should have to earn their keep year in and year out.

The players on this board have been every classy and respectful about how they approached this issue. As a spectator, I should not have overheard what I did, and I hope that people on the USARS committee read this so that they can know that people other than players noticed how these tryouts were run. The players deserve an explanation because they were wronged.

Harry.

[dan sangiorgio]

only in roller hockey would a national team be decided in such a crooked manner. with that being said i think keene made the team on his own merit but some of those other players in question would not be on a third best team let alone one of the top ten players if it wasnt for politcs.

[Patn Lawton]

I will admit two things up front: 1) I don't know ALL these guys, only some. 2) I didn't read this entire thread.

Is it possible that some players were selected over others based on attitude, coaching recommendations, being a role player, maturity, etc. Maybe player A is a better scorer but player B has a higher roller derby IQ and is more mature, a better leader, solid two-way player, etc.

Could there have been a player from the team last year that the coaches didn't want back this year for one reason or another? (Directed towards nobody specifically).

Again, I don't know all the players who made it or the guys who were potentially snubbed, just trying to add something to the conversation.

Was disappointed to see my buddy Craig Brodmerjangles didn't make it (goalie from 495ers) but happy he at least was asked to try out.

[Mlrhnorthfan]

I echo katinsky's comment about the world of roller hockey...

everyone thinks they are a superstar and should be treated like an NHL player. Everyone wants free equipment, free 'rides', etc.... Lots of guys want a hand-out but dont want to put any effort into the sport.

I wasnt at tryouts this year because of surgery so I cannot comment on snubs (but larrichia is NASTY) but I go back again to the fact that with so many good players there are going to be some left off the team.

the 'good old days' before wasnt so 'good'; the team was essentially picked BEFORE the tryouts with maybe one or two open spots every year.

im sure that the IIHF team has similar issues.

[quick_dry]

only in roller hockey would a national team be decided in such a crooked manner.
no, you'll find similar issues in cropping up in any other sport where picking a squad is subjective rather than based on some objective metric e.g. swimming - whoever gets the fastest times.

I'm not so familiar with soccer as I am roller hockey, so the team for the soccer World Cup I just see and go "hmm, good team, I thought maybe Player X would've made it, oh well" - (meanwhile in the elite soccer world there are people are seething over someone making it and others not, but I'm not aware of it).