Team USA returns to throne at Inline World Championships By Phillip Brents
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fter posting a disappointing fifth-place finish at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Inline Hockey World Championship, USA Hockey was determined to return to the medal platform when the 2017 edition of the tournament unfolded June 25-July 1 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Americans, guided by six players and a head coach with California connections, were successful in their quest after defeating Finland 4-2 in the championship game. The gold medal was the U.S. team’s record seventh in tournament history. “We are absolutely thrilled to bring the gold medal back to USA Hockey,” said Team USA head coach Joe Cook, a Mission Viejo native. “It’s been an honor to coach this team. It was an incredible effort from great players.” The U.S. squad’s California contingent included forwards Matt White (Whitter) and Travis Noe (Thousand Oaks), defensemen Nielsson Arcibal (Vista) and Derrick Burnett (Corona) and goaltender Troy Redmann (Brea). White proved a powerhouse with seven goals and nine assists to lead the team’s perfect 6-0 showing. Noe collected five goals and three assists, while Burnett racked up 10 assists and Arcibal added one goal and five assists. Redmann posted four wins, a 2.25 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage. White (Best Forward) and Redmann (Best Goaltender) earned All-Tournament honors. Noe and White each scored goals in the championship game and Redmann made 23 saves on 25 shots
to backstop the winning effort. nett each picked up one assist. The gold medal was the first for Team USA in the Redmann, who was credited with one assist, tournament’s top division since 2013. The Americans stopped 18 shots to earn his first victory of the tourpocketed the bronze medal in 2014 and captured the nament. silver medal in 2011. The U.S. has medaled in all but Cook called the confidence-building win over Canfive of the 20 tournaments held so far. ada “another terrific effort and great all-around perforThe U.S. juggernaut made its mance.” presence felt early. Team USA White continued his scoroutscored its three round-robin ing prowess for Team USA by opponents 24-5 and seemed to scoring three goals and adding build momentum with each win. four assists as Team USA rolled “After 10 training days togethpast Croatia 8-2 to conclude er, the chemistry of the team really round-robin play. Burnett (five asshowed,” Cook said. sists), Noe (one goal, two assists) Team USA faced off tournaand Arcibal (one goal, one assist) ment play with an 8-1 win over each notched multi-point games Slovakia as White (one goal, two alongside White. assists), Burnett (three assists), The Americans defeated GerNoe (one goal, one assist) and many 4-1 in the quarterfinals. Noe Arcibal (two assists) each made capped the U.S. scoring with a contributions. power-play goal while Redmann Jack Combs, a St. Louis nastopped 17 of 18 German shots tive who played one year with the to earn his second victory in the California Wave Midget ice hockey Whittier’s Matt White paced the United States tournament. in scoring to earn the Best Forward Award at team, opened the tournament on this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation Cook called his team’s 5-4 an auspicious note for Team USA Inline Hockey World Championship tournament comeback victory over the Czech by scoring four goals in the game. in Slovakia. Photo/Rene Miko/IIHF.com Republic in the semifinals “a real Combs finished second in team scoring with 12 huge character win.” points (nine goals, three assists). Team USA overcame a 3-1 deficit as White collectThe Americans improved to 2-0 in round-robin play ed two assists and Burnett and Arcibal added assists with a key 8-2 win over defending champion Canada as to fuel the Americans’ dramatic come-from-behind win. 11 different players picked up points. White led Team Redmann stopped 13 shots to pick up his third victory USA’s California corps with two goals and one assist in the tournament. while Noe recorded a goal and assist. Arcibal and BurRedmann’s fourth win in the tourney was golden.
Californians rolling to Poland to compete in World Games By Phillip Brents
ed past Italy 3-2 in the championship game at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia. he 2017 World Games are scheduled for July 20Tustin’s Tyler Svoboda and Long Beach’s Jeff Prime 30 in Wroclaw, Poland and the global-participation will serve as coaches for the 2017 Team USA entry. multi-sport event features 31 sports in 42 sub-categoWith the Americans having won championships at ries, including inline hockey. the last three World Games events, expectations are The World Games, which are organized by the understandably high. International World Games Association and recog“Our expectation going in with a team with this nized by the International Olympic Committee, include much depth at all positions is nothing short of a gold sports or events within a medal,” Svoboda explained. sport that are not contest“However, some countries ed in the Olympic Games. have really closed the gap The World Games are held skill wise, so every game every four years, one year will be close and after the Summer Olympic a battle.” Games. Eight nations More than 2,900 athwill compete in letes from 103 nations the inline hockey competed in 36 sports at tournament. The the 2013 World Games. field is based on The 2017 World Games placement at last marks the tenth edition of year’s FIRS (Inthe event and the third featernational Federation of turing inline hockey. Roller Sports) inline hockey The United States re- Tristan Gonzalez is one of three Californians named to the world championship tournational team that will compete in the 2017 World Games mains the only nation in U.S. nament. in Poland. Photo/Revision Hockey World Games history to win The Czech Republic dethe gold medal. feated Italy to win the 2016 FIRS senior men’s chamThe United States defeated Canada 5-2 to capture pionship in Asiago and Romano, Italy. the inaugural championship title at the 2005 World Poland, as the host country, automatically qualifies. Games in Duisburg, Germany. The Canadian roster The Americans, braced by three Californians on featured seven NHL pros. the roster, hope to maintain their World Games gold The Americans topped France 5-1 to win the gold medal-winning tradition in Poland. medal at the 2009 Games in Chinese Taipei and skat“We have a very strong team from all around the
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country,” Svoboda said. “Goaltender Tom McCollum (formerly of the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League) is going to look like a monster in those small nets and will be tough to score on. “The major issue is getting the boys together and finding chemistry quickly. We only have one practice in Philadelphia the day before we fly to Poland. I believe we have one skate there and play our first game that day. We have the talent to win the gold, but a lot of the players have never played on the small rinks with the tiny nets. “Our focus will be staying out of the penalty box. “I expect our team to get better every game as the boys adjust and learn to play the style of hockey needed to be successful with the different nets and rules.” The three California players — Tristan Gonzalez (Costa Mesa), Matt Sarvak (Newport Beach) and Jackson Faught (Santa Margarita) will all be main contributors to the squad, Svoboda said. “Sarvak’s name will show up on the score sheet consistently, while Tristan and Jackson will do more of the little defensive things to allow our forwards to be successful,” Svoboda said. Globetrotters The 2017 FIRS World Championships will take place in conjunction with the World Roller Games Aug. 27-Sept. 10 in Nanjing, China. The event will include competition in senior men’s, junior men’s, senior women’s and junior’s women’s divisions. Team USA’s senior men’s squad remains the most dominant team at the FIRS inline worlds, having won 15 of the 22 contested championships.