Junior World's simulate inline

[MDE3]

Watching the game between USA Juniors (ice) and Russia last night, I could not help but think how much more the game resembled inline with the two line pass removed, and them calling the interference so much more closely....reaffirming what an exciting game inline can be.

[123456]

I agree, that was some great hockey and we really enjoyed watching them play. We will be ready to watch every game they play for the rest of the tourney. The game was fast paced and it showed where with a few changes even the NHL could make the sport more exciting to watch. I prefer a more open game to the clutching and grabbing monsters type of game the NHL plays now. If they would go to 4 men on the ice just watch the game really open up and the scoring and excitement rise for the rookie fans. It probably make make it easier to recruit more fans and help the sport grow. I know it will never happen but its fun to think about it.

[Maskman]

What station is it on?

[MartyAlexander]

Are the games in North Dakota and Minnesota both being played on the big ice (international size surface)? Certainly had the same sentiments that both of you have had. Just thinking that you don't need to go to 4-on-4 if its played on the big ice surface. Just a thought.

Marty Alexander

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by MartyAlexander on 12/26/04 09:12 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[123456]

Here is the full schedule.

Chris Bourque and Team USA open vs. Russia on Dec. 25.
ESPN2 HAS WORLD'S BEST UNDER 20
Team USA opens defense of its IIHF World Junior Championship of Hockey title by facing Team Russia on Christmas night at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota. ESPN2 will carry all Team USA games in the preliminary and elimination rounds, and if Team USA advances all the way to the final on January 4, 2005, ESPN will carry the game live. Back in the USA for the first time in eight years, the World Junior Championship is sure to offer the most exciting, most promising, and most competitive hockey available this holiday season.

&gt;&gt;&gt;RESULTS, STATS, STANDINGS
&gt;&gt;&gt;COMPLETE 2005 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE





Date Matchup Time (CST)
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Dec. 25 USA vs. Russia 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 USA vs. Switzerland 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 USA vs. Belarus 8:30 p.m. (tape-delay)
Dec. 30 USA vs. Czech Republic 7:38 p.m.
QUARTERFINAL/RELEGATION ROUND
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jan. 1 TBD TBD
Jan. 2 TBD TBD
SEMIFINAL/RELEGATION ROUND
Jan. 3 TBD TBD
MEDAL ROUND
Jan. 4 TBD TBD
*ESPN2 will televise all U.S. games leading to the gold-medal game. A U.S. appearance in the gold-medal game would be televised live by ESPN.
**All games will be audiocast on USAHockey.com, except the Dec. 25 game vs. Russia.

[MDE3]

Hi Marty...I checked their website, and there is no mention of it being Olympic sized, but they do mention a second rink adjacent to the main complex which is.....By omission I suspect then that it is a standard 85 x 200 surface, or I think they would have mentioned it. They do not specifically give the ice surface dimensions on their website. But I do tend to agree with you, although I have had the chance to watch some inline palyed on a full Olympic surface...(Scranton Pa has a full Olympic sized
Sport Court facility that goes almost unused.[img]/wtimages/icons/frown.gif[/img]), and that is really wide open stuff.

[MBurke]

From what I've heard, it probably goes unused because of the rental price.

Mike Burke
Director of League Operations - NCRHA
Commissioner - ECRHA

[MDE3]

well it's realy no different that the prices in Jersey now...$200.00 per hour....or Long Island for that matter....the problem is it's in Scranton...and they want to get the same price as they do for ice....plus the only local players used to play ball at the "Y" and pay $40.00/year plus swimming privileges. Maybe they should lease that side of the building to the "Y" lol.

[MBurke]

That's my point.

I live on Long Island and used to go to school in Wilkes-Barre, so I'm keenly aware that the cost of living is completely different. Trying to charge the same price for ice as roller won't work.

Even on LI the costs are different - $200/hr for inline average and $350/hr for ice.

Mike Burke
Director of League Operations - NCRHA
Commissioner - ECRHA

[MDE3]

Well even in North Jersey it's getting to be about the same...and I can remember on LI 4 years ago when the cost of some rinks were even higher than $200.00/hr. The real problem is that the cost of the building and the maintaining the facilities is still about the same in either place, and probably more for a newer building. The only difference is really the property values and the wages...and wages may not be that much different for rink employees..at the bottom of the feed chain.

The real problem is that the organization has to market their facility as hosting a different level of inline hockey, with clinics, better run leagues, local pros to effect training etc. etc. etc. They cannot market it as a cheap floor hockey alternative to the YMCA program. The YMCA program certainly has it's value too, and it should be able to serve as a feeder program for those who want to grow in the sport...but that takes some dedication and conviction...read marketing.