USA wins FIRS

[cal16]

The mens USA team won the FIRS World Championship today 7-2 over France. Women got the Bronze.

[RichardGraham]

Hey Cali,

Thanks for the update. I appreciate it. If any of the event participants would like to give us some details, they'd sure be appreciated! ;)

[Mtour71]

I heard the USA team really picked it up in the Quarters. From there they were just on fire. A lot of intensity and hard work.

In the Championship game the US was down 2-1 and after that they scored 6 unanswered goals. 4 by Yoder, 2 by Thompson, and 1 by Sullivan. From what I heard Mike Urbano started in net for them and played awesome.

Glad these guys could put USA Roller Hockey back on the map.

Congrats!

[quick_dry]

I think the route to the finals gave the USA the win on this one - a USA v Czech final would have been a different story IMO. In the round robin play it didn't look like the USA would get anywhere near the grand final - I think we were expecting a Czech - Swiss or Czech - France final. (A bit hazy, after a BIG post tournie night out and then 48 hours of travelling and delays to get home)

The USA were the stronger team - stronger being the keyword. The French team were very skillful, nimble and quick, but every member of the team was much smaller than the USA - it looked like they'd pitted a mob of Silverbacks against some Spider Monkeys.

The french guys were outmuscled, and never looked entirely comfortable with being in a gold medal match.

Contrasted with the Czech's who were of similar size to the USA team, and ripped the USA apart in the round robin play. (note from that game - yes spectators can be loud and call out crap, like the guy going for the czech team, but when players challenge the crowd it just makes them look like an ass)

[growl89]

Contrasted with the Czech's who were of similar size to the USA team, and ripped the USA apart in the round robin play. (note from that game - yes spectators can be loud and call out crap, like the guy going for the czech team, but when players challenge the crowd it just makes them look like an ass)

explain the last part ... that would be interesting to hear ... what happened with the crowd?

[quick_dry]

It was after the game where Czech beat USA 8-1.

Down one end next to where my team was watching from was a very vocal Czech supporter, and he'd been calling out all game - particularly when one of the USA guys roughed up a Czech unnecessarily after the whistle. I can't remember the exact details, but IIRC it was after the whistle, in the second period for Sullivan's hook+hold penalties (note: it wasn't Sullivan who did anything after the whistle)

Anyway, after the game as all the players were leaving the rink, the USA player (pretty sure it was 26, if not, my apologies) came over to the glass in front of where the Czech spectator was and was yelled abuse/challenge to the crowd. He looked like an arse, and all it did was play to the USA stereotype.

(big upset win to the Czech women in OT for the womens final, IMO the Canadian team dominated play, but Czech capitalised well against the run of play. Also hats off to the USA girls for taking the Aussies on in a cheering contest that game (USA cheering on Czech, Aussies for Canada), their USA v Canada playoff game the day before was better than the grand final IMO )

[kicksave60]

"Anyway, after the game as all the players were leaving the rink, the USA player (pretty sure it was 26, if not, my apologies) came over to the glass in front of where the Czech spectator was and was yelled abuse/challenge to the crowd. He looked like an arse, and all it did was play to the USA stereotype


Whats that.....that Americans don't take sh!t from no one?

[Drexel63]

Whats that.....that Americans don't take sh!t from no one?


Oh my god..... way to help the cause here pal...

[kicksave60]

why does it matter? Just because there is play after the whistle..... Just because he stood up to some dude from another country because he didn't like it. It's automatically a USA stereotype..Whether if it's helping "the cause" or not who freakin cares! It sounds like America BASHING to me!

[Drexel63]

ugh... Nevermind...

[RichardGraham]

Hi kicksave60,

Somehow, this doesn't sound like you. lol. Anyway, I don't see how your comments are adding anything constructive to the story. Let's not get into a flame war over something that sounds a bit unsportsmanlike on both sides of the glass.

[GoRangrHky]

Not for nothing, but this is something that, if it had escalated, would have gotten roller hockey on ESPN for totally the wrong reasons. I know that USARS bashes the Olympic rings thing into our skulls (which personally means zip to me, but I guess does to some people), so if you're going to be out there in a situation like that representing the Olympic movement and the United States and all that good stuff, at least have the decency to skate off the rink and let it go. What happens in a game is one thing, but to talk to spectators is a whole different situation.

[Jon Mosenson]

Well for those of you that care I can assure you it was not #26 and the player did not do anything to the fan. He yelled one thing to the Irate fan who was yelling at me after a collision between me and one of the czech star players in the last minute of the game. To be honst I did not even hear what the fan said even though he was yelling at me. When I play I get hardcore tunnel vision. This player however, did get reprimanded.

Sorry Richard, I am not much of a writer and to be honest, my experience was completely different from that which you are hearing on here. I had a great experience for my first Mens World Championships. Coming from being on the Junior team for many years and going to the Mens was a world of difference. As for the refs I did not find many issues with them and as for the buses, we only had one mistake and that was for our practice. But honestly that was not that big of a deal.

[Drexel63]

How did I know Jon was involved somehow? Haha... just kidding Mo...

[quick_dry]

Jon: like I said, apologies for getting the number wrong a few of your team looked similar.

The buses seemed to only be a problem if you were at Dusseldorf - we were one of the few mens teams not staying in Rattingen. We had a great time in Dusseldorf and at the rink - but getting to and fro was a nightmare. I'm not saying the tourney was bad, but they had some major issues - outside of that it was good fun, caught up with some old faces, made some new friends - Milan should be great next year.

How'd you guys enjoy Old Town?

[Mlrhnorthfan]

Yes the US-Canada womens semi was way better than the womens final.

the US women were clearly the better team.

85% of the play was in Canada's zone. Their goalie was phenomenal (Keelie brown sp?) and won that game for Canada 2-0. The US was something like 0 for 6 on the powerplay.

Both of Canada's goals were odd. One went in off a U.S. players skate and the other one was off a strange turn over.

IMO that was the women's final. The U.S beat Czech in the finals last year 6-1.

The loss for the U.S women to Canada was their first FIRS loss in over Three years. They had won two straight gold medals.

For the men's final I didnt see much wrong with what happened. You have to realize that this is an international sports competition. Other countries are very prideful of their nations and teams and EVERYONE cheers against the US men and women. EVery other country wants to see the US lose and they are very vocal about it.

Being in Europe there were probably 20 US fans there at the most while most other european countries had twice that. I dont know about you but when there are fans yelling 'F*** the USA' I would get pretty mad too.


I think that the US teams both represented our country very well. The men were very classy and the women cheered on other teams and toasted with the czech women after the medal ceremony.

Congrats to both teams!





It was after the game where Czech beat USA 8-1.

Down one end next to where my team was watching from was a very vocal Czech supporter, and he'd been calling out all game - particularly when one of the USA guys roughed up a Czech unnecessarily after the whistle. I can't remember the exact details, but IIRC it was after the whistle, in the second period for Sullivan's hook+hold penalties (note: it wasn't Sullivan who did anything after the whistle)

Anyway, after the game as all the players were leaving the rink, the USA player (pretty sure it was 26, if not, my apologies) came over to the glass in front of where the Czech spectator was and was yelled abuse/challenge to the crowd. He looked like an arse, and all it did was play to the USA stereotype.

(big upset win to the Czech women in OT for the womens final, IMO the Canadian team dominated play, but Czech capitalised well against the run of play. Also hats off to the USA girls for taking the Aussies on in a cheering contest that game (USA cheering on Czech, Aussies for Canada), their USA v Canada playoff game the day before was better than the grand final IMO )

[GoRangrHky]

I'd be upset too, but imagine Michael Phelps getting out of the pool, running up the the crowd, and yelling something at a foreigner because they said something anti-U.S. Whether it was a prolonged argument or a few words, the damage is done.

If this is going to be 'the team' that represents us, then they need to act as such.

[William Bourque]

I'd be upset too, but imagine Michael Phelps getting out of the pool, running up the the crowd, and yelling something at a foreigner because they said something anti-U.S. Whether it was a prolonged argument or a few words, the damage is done.

If this is going to be 'the team' that represents us, then they need to act as such.

well said...