Team USA(s)

**TheSnake22** · 07-10-2006, 03:41 PM

What are peoples thoughts on the USARS Team USA vs. the USA Hockey Team USA? Which team is better? Would one team dominate the other? Which players would make the best possible team and who doesn't belong at that level? And the ultimate question, will there ever be a unified governing body for our sport? Do any other countries have this problem? Does Canada send two different teams to each World Championships or do most countries send the same team? I think they should get both teams on the same rink and have them play for some serious bragging rights... After all, ice hockey may be from cananada, but this is an american game, it would be nice if we could show that with one dominant national team... And yes TJ, i said "Cananada"...

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**DannyG** · 07-10-2006, 04:21 PM

this discussion belongs in the argument about NGB(s)...the debate point is now moot, since there will be no inline hockey in the olympics anytime soon...

USA Hockey produces a representative team to play in the International Inline Hockey Federation (IIHF) world championship.

USARS/AAU produces a representative team to play in the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) world championship.

That's it...two international "organizing bodies," two sets of national organizations in each country, either one or both of the international bodies has an "affilliate" that organizes things under the international' auspices.

It is totally irrelevant to consider which organizing body is a national governing body, because there is nothing to govern. Any player may choose membership in either or both organizations. They each do certain things differently, certain things the same. Any player, parent, coach, or league will need to evaluate each program component and decide which one(s) they want to support.

In fact, many players have gone back and forth, playing in each organization' national team program from time to time.

Either one is fine, long-time readers of this message board certainly know where I stand, eh?

I choose not to debate this ever again. I choose to support the organization of my choice, and wish anyboidy else well on their choice(s).

"More hockey for everybody" is a way of life in my decision.

Good luck to anybody in theirs...

Thanks! for listening,

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

**TheSnake22** · 07-10-2006, 10:31 PM

whoa buddy, you're missing a lot of the point of my post. first, i know what the difference is with our governing bodies. i didnt mean which is a better organization. i just wanted to know what people think of the skill levels of the two teams. which one would win a game? doesnt anyone wonder about that? i have seen debates on the two organizations, but i'm more interested in the players and the teams. sorry if my post touched a nerve, but i thought it was a relevant topic seeing as how both world championships are happening or coming up...

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**DannyG** · 07-11-2006, 12:52 AM

good point...sorry if I went off on a tangent, haven't been in touch with the board for a while...

I consider that the two teams would generally include redundant and interchangeable players of a equal and comparable level each year...there are probably a dozen players that have played on both during the past several years.

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

**TheSnake22** · 07-11-2006, 03:52 PM

no problem at all... anyone else have an opinion? i tend to think that right now, usa inlines team might be stronger, but in the coming years, usars/aau is developing a much stronger base of young players... and danny, am i correct in understanding your first post where you said most other countries also have multiple ngb's?

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**WelshTimeKeeper** · 07-15-2006, 06:50 PM

TheSnake22 asks:
> am i correct in understanding your first post where
> you said most other countries also have multiple ngb's?

I can't speak for "most other countries", but I can shed a little light on the situation here in Great Britain.

First an explanation - at the International level there are two separate bodies with an interest in Inline Hockey

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) whose primary interest is Ice Hockey

International Federation of Roller Sports (FIRS) who administer: Artistic Roller Skating (Figures & Free), Roller Speed Skating (Track, Road & Downhill), Rink Hockey (for some reason known as Hardball Hockey in the USA) and Inline Roller Hockey.

Here in Great Britain both the IIHF & the FIRS have their separate GB National Governing Bodies.

IIHF is represented in Great Britain by Ice Hockey UK
~ IHUK appear to have no interest in inline hockey within Great Britain.
~ It would appear that no inline hockey organisation within Great Britain is directly affiliated to IIHF, although if anyone knows differently I'd be pleased to be corrected.
~ whilst it appears that there is no formal IIHF inline hockey representation, nor commitment here in GB - no IIHFi leagues, no IIHFi tournaments, no IIHFi futures (grass-roots) recruiting, nor training, there has been a Team GB in attendance at the IIHF Inline World Championship for as many years as my memory permits.
~ Team GB (IIHF) is selected from yearly open trails.

FIRS is represented in Great Britain by British Roller Sports Federation.
~ BRSF's Inline Hockey affiliate is British Inline Puck Hockey Association
~ BIPHA actively administer Inline Hockey (played to FIRS Inline Code) within GB and have been sending GB Teams to both the FIRS Mens and Womens Inline World Championship since their commencement.
~ Team GB (FIRS) (Mens & Women) is selected from yearly open trials.

TheSnake22 Comments
> but in the coming years, usars/aau is developing a much
> stronger base of young players...

Interesting - USARS is the FIRS affiliate in the USA, as the BIPHA is the FIRS affiliate here in GB. BIPHA certainly has in place a substantial commitment to training and encouraging the advancement of inline hockey at all ages, at grass roots level.

Having said that, there are also a number of independent and apparently un-affiliated domestic, regional leagues around GB who may or may not also be promoting and developing inline hockey at the grass-roots.

I trust this throws a little light into your arena.
---
John.

**MDE3** · 07-16-2006, 10:08 AM

In years past the USAIHL team USA, has been a select team from tryouts and some pre-selection as well...In the past couple of years, the use of off season professional and college select ice hockey players has started to dominate the USA hockey team USA lineup..mostly for AHL, WHL, and UHL leagues...no NHL'rs that I am aware of...

From my recollection, the USARS men's national team has been pretty much done by coaches selection over the years, but as their Junior Olympic team tryouts have become more formalized, the possibility of being selected "from the ranks", has been increasing...

My opinion....based on the results over the past 10 years or so...the IIHF World Cup seems to have tougher competition..as many of the participating countries use off season ice hockey professionals to populate their teams.

Up until about two years ago where there was much commonality between the two US National teams, at the IIHF inline World Cup Team USA get their hat's handed to them....regularily. During that period, a team comprised of many of the same players was taking gold and silver medals at the FIRS World Championships.....My conclusion..the IIHF World Cup had tougher competition...

The past two years team USA for IIHF has come home with the gold...Coincidentaly...the commonality of players between the two teams was minimal....conclusion...Team USA USAHIL would spank Team USA USARS....be fun to see though I agree.

**MDE3** · 07-16-2006, 06:56 PM

corrections to the above post...

The Team USA IIHF version "got their hats handed to them regularily"...by that I meant did not win the gold..or even finished out of the medals (2003)....

and I said "won the gold" the last two years..actually they went Gold, Bronze, Gold the past three years...

sorry I could no longer edit the incorrect information from my original post.

**teamlabeda** · 07-18-2006, 01:46 AM

MDE while I give you props for being knowledgable in most things you talk about this one you are totally off base with. While there has been minimal cross over between the two programs over the years, not the other way around, I believe only 2 maybe 3 years there were a real amount of cross overs. Team USA FIRS over the years has been comprised of the top players that attend the elite and pro circuit tournaments. Not ice players who take two weeks off to try and play roller hockey for a tournament with a splash of up and coming roller players. I have attended both tournaments and the USARS Team USA historically has fielded the better team. While I congratulate the IIHF team on a job well done, I cannot sit back idlely while people talk about both teams with limited knowledge of the events and teams. Outside of a 1-2 year span when Finland fielded a phenomenal roller team the competition at FIRS is very tough. Do not look at the amount of gold medals from one program to another as your determining factor as which program is tougher. FIRS World Championships over the last 4 years have all been determined by one goal. Two of them in OT (double and triple). Next time you meet a Team USA member who has played both ask him yourself I think you will be quite surprised!

Rob Chornomud
Team USA mens coach