19812 AHM June/July 03

19812_AHM_Cover/J/J.03:19812_AHM_Cover/J/J.03 5/5/10 4:17 PM Page 2 INSIDE: Red, White & Blue-Collar • The Easton Revolution • College Hockey Champs Star Of Ice And Inline Hockey, Brett Sterling Is At Home On Any Rink DDiissppeelllli ngng The The IInnlii nene MMyytthh Ice Coaches Warm Up To The Merits Of Inline Hockey Official Publication of USA Hockey & USA Hockey InLine : l Wraps Nationa e The “We Ar ons!” Champi $3.00 • JUNE/JULY 2003 • www.usahockey.com If Brett Sterling keeps it up, roses aren't the only thing Pasadena, Calif., will be known for. Growing up playing both ice and inline hockey gave Sterling the tools he needed to star at the NTDP and Colorado College. 14 AMERICAN HOCKEY MAGAZINE Where Once Ice Hockey Coaches Turned A Cold Shoulder To Their Wheeled Counterparts, Many Are Now Warming Up To The Benefits Of The Inline Game By Bob Schaller eorge Gwozdecky and Scott Owens stand virtu - ally shoulder to shoulder in their respective Groles as the head coaches of the University of Denver and Colorado College. They work 50 miles apart at well-respected schools with outstanding academic reputations. Both run pow - erhouse programs in the Western Collegiate Athletic Conference. And both wage an annual recruiting war for the same talented players, who are sought after by large schools like the University of Wisconsin and Boston College. So when Gwozdecky and Owens search for tomor - row’s hockey talent, they no longer fix their sites to the north and eastern portions of the United States. Owens has struck it rich in California, while Gwozdecky has begun to cast an eye toward Texas, Arizona and anywhere else where ice is more readily available in a drink than at a rink. The same holds true for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Recruiting efforts are no longer focused on the three Ms of Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts. These days the Under- 17 and 18 Team rosters are dotted with players from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz. On one hand, it is a testament to the growth of the ice game in non-traditional markets. But more impor - tantly, it represents a change in attitude among ice hockey coaches that what’s taking place on inline hockey rinks across the country can no longer be dis - missed or ignored. And as Owens and Gwozdecky can attest, anyone who turns a blind eye to this rich resource of hockey talent will be left behind. JUNE/JULY 2003 • WWW.USAHOCKEY.COM 15 Roller Hockey. “Most of my [ice hockey] buddies who be consid - played both said they had some of their ered blasphemous best ice years following an inline season.” among established ice It’s a testament to the sport that has hockey coaches. Most have resisted endured its ups and downs, but has seen embracing inline hockey, its roots embedded firmly in the sporting claiming it led to bad habits, culture of the United States and around both in terms of the skating the world. stride and the basic concepts The politics, prejudices and power plays of the game. are slowly being pushed to the side as the As a former professional ice sport is gaining acceptance within the ranks and inline player, Aaron Kriss of ice hockey coaches, especially college L L has been on both sides of the coaches, who are finding southern and E M M I K debate. Separating the myths west coast recruiting hotbeds full of veter - M O T from the facts is one of the ans of inline hockey programs. challenges he faces as the Owens’ Colorado College squad is a “Look at coordinator of USA Hockey prime example. The Tigers spent a good players coming out of the InLine’s coaching and player portion of the 2002-03 season ranked atop R O S S so-called non-hockey D development program. the American Hockey Magazine/USA Today E T T M hotbeds, like Arizona and A “Some coaches still have College Hockey Poll, and they did it with a N California — the kids we’re that old-school mentality, number of players who cut their hockey getting from there are The success that Brett Sterling saying the sport develops teeth on inline skates, including Brett darn good players,” says has enjoyed with the NTDP bad habits, and that kids Sterling and Noah Clarke. Clarke was Gwozdecky. “They might and now at Colorado College, aren’t as focused defensively. named a first-team All-American and not have had much access more college coaches are But if they’ve ever watched recently signed with the Los Angeles Kings, to ice for a good part of taking a closer look at inline some high-end inline hockey while Sterling set rookie marks for goals in hockey players. their careers, but they they’d be surprised how CC’s black and gold. come up through the good these kids are,” says “I think roller hockey gives exposure to a ranks, playing inline, and they develop the Kriss, who was selected by the San Jose lot of kids in non-traditional hockey areas,” muscles for skating and the fundamental Sharks in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft and Owens says. “We’ve seen ice hockey players skills they need.” also played inline hockey professionally for come through our program that got their It wasn’t long ago that such talk would the Columbus Hawks of the Major League start in roller hockey.” INLINE HOCKEY MYTH VS. FACT Myth: Inline hockey creates bad skating habits. Fact: The stride in inline hockey is the same as it is in ice hockey. What’s more, a good skater tends to shine whether he or she is on blades or wheels. Myth: In inline hockey players only do rink turns rather than quick stops and changes of direction, which take them far out of the play. Fact: Watch any high-end inline hockey player and you’ll be amazed at how fast he or she can stop and change direction. Myth: Inline hockey players can’t spell defense, let alone play it. Fact: Inline players are forced to be excellent defenders by the very nature of the sport. With only four players on a team, you have to pick up your defensive assignment earlier and stick with him or her. Blow a defensive assignment and there’s usually no one behind you to pick up the slack. 16 AMERICAN HOCKEY MAGAZINE “Most of my [ice hockey] chance for me to go out there and have a lot of fun.” buddies who played both More and more players are turning to inline as a way to stay on skates year round said they had some of their while getting a mental break from the rig - best ice years following an ors of the more physical ice hockey season. It also allows players to improve their skills inline season.” and stay in “hockey shape” during ice hockey’s off-season. –Aaron Kriss “The skating stride itself simulates an ice- skating stride,” says Gwozdecky. “It’s a good Sterling is a prime example. A native of workout, and the players can have a lot of Pasadena, Calif., he started playing ice hockey fun using the inline skate. We especially in the local youth hockey program at 4 years encourage our players to [inline] if they can’t of age. During his middle school tenure he get on the ice or get to a gym.” added inline to his hockey resume, gaining While there are noticeable differences valuable skills and confidence on the south - between the two sports, checking vs. inci - ern California Sport Court. dental contact, ice vs. Sport Court or con - “I still love playing inline hockey,” says crete, blue lines and red lines vs. a more wide Sterling, who finished his freshman season open style, there are more similarities than with 38 points after two successful seasons differences. But still, a growing number of ice with the NTDP in Ann Arbor, Mich. hockey coaches point out that the different “It’s a chance for me to be a little more aspects of the inline game can make better individually oriented and work on differ - hockey players. ent parts of my game, especially my For example, inline players tend to hands and release.” spend more time with the puck on their And what’s more, it’s fun not having to stick due to the wide-open nature of the dodge hulking defensemen on a search and game and the absence of checking. And destroy mission for the 5-foot-8, 165- while ice hockey may be a faster-paced pound who is not afraid to stand his game than inline, many ice hockey coaches ground in front of the opposition net. like the speed and stamina the top inline “[The physical] part of the game is a lot players possess. of fun, but now that I’m in college, it’s Ultimately in either version of the sport, more of a business,” he says. “By that I whether its breaking out of a zone, setting mean, the school is giving me a scholarship up a power play or penalty kill, or charging worth a lot of money. They expect produc - in on a three-on-two or two-on-one, the tion from me. When I play inline it’s a nuances of the game are basically the same. Myth: Inline hockey players are puck hogs. Fact: While there’s more room to move on the rink and a player doesn’t have to worry about getting run into the boards by a body check, inline players gain more poise and patience with the puck, which allows them to be more creative.

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