NZ Teams Return Home with Medals

Posted on 31/07/2010 by Admin

The New Zealand Inline Hockey Association entered two New Zealand representative teams in the AAU Junior Olympics held in Los Angeles in July.

Both teams entered in the 18 & Under age grade competitions, the junior women in the FIRS Junior Women World Championships and the 18 U Girls event and the Junior Men in the 18U International Championships and the "AAA/AA" 18U event.

Both teams were coached by New Plymouth based coaches, Sam Beardman coaching 18U Junior Men and Anna Carrington coaching Junior Women.

The teams were selected in December 2009 to compete firstly in the Oceania Inline Hockey Championships held in April 2010 against Australia where both won gold. The team members come from a cross section of New Zealand clubs from as far north as Keri Keri down to Christchurch in the south.

The AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) hosted its first Inline Junior Olympics in 1996, consisting of 20 teams competing within one age group. The tournament now features numerous age groups and divisions with approximately 50 international teams traveling to Southern California from countries as far away as China (Hong Kong), Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany and France. Canada, Mexico and Colombia have also committed numerous teams.

The AAU Junior Olympics includes several divisions, offering both club and international competition.

The AAU is the only organization that provides five guaranteed games for participating teams in all age divisions. Each team will compete in a four-game round-robin pool before being seeded in a playoff bracket. In addition to the AAU Junior Olympic Games for Inline Hockey, the Ducks and AAU have also teamed with the Federation of International Roller Sports (FIRS), the international governing body of inline hockey, recognized by the International Olympic Committee, will bring the inaugural Junior Women's World Cup Championships to Huntington Beach as well.

The 2010 Amateur Athletic Union Jr. Olympics (July 1-11) have finished in Southern California, with games being played at both THE RINKS facility in Huntington Beach and the 949 Roller Hockey Centre in Irvine.

Huntington Beach Inline is an original member of the Anaheim Ducks' The Rinks development program. Launched in February 2009, the Ducks now operate four local skating facilities consisting of two ice rinks (The Rinks Anaheim ice and The Rinks - Westminster ice) and two inline facilities (The Rinks - Huntington Beach Inline and The Rinks - Corona Inline).

Between 2,500 and 3,000 athletes comprising 200 teams from nine countries  competed in the event, which is presented by Reebok and Ace Jerseys in partnership with the Ducks, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Team USA Hockey Club and USA Rollersports.

Both New Zealand teams  competed extremely well in 2010 with the Junior Women placing second in the FIRS Junior Women Championship and in the 18U Girls event. The Junior Men were the highest placing international team in their divisions at the AAU Junior Olympics finishing with silver in the 18U International event and placing 4th in the "AAA/AA" event. For some players, this was the first time they had competed internationally in the USA and for some the first time they had competed internationally outside of Australasia. Many competing teams  have full sponsorship and / or funding (unlike the New Zealand teams) with full equipment supplied including playing uniforms, skates and safety equipment.

This year many games were streamed "live" over the internet giving New Zealand supporters the opportunity to watch  and support from afar.

Inline Hockey is a developing sport in New Zealand with limited funding support, players and their families cover the high cost to attend. This year the players were fortunate enough to receive a contribution towards their airfares from the Lion Foundation.

Four New Zealand Junior Men players featured in the top 20 player statistics with both New Zealand goal keepers featuring in the top 8.

Jensen Taiapa NZ Junior Men ( Wellington) and Anjali Thakker NZ Junior Women ( Hamilton) were the highest goal scorers for their respective teams.

In 2005, the New Zealand 18U team attending the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans for the first time and competed in the 18U World Championships finishing third next to USA and Canada. Again in 2008 New Zealand entered two teams (Junior Women and 18U Junior Men) who competed in Philadelphia, USA.

The AAu Junior Olympics will be held at the same venue in 2011. In 2012 the event will move back to Philadelphia. In 2013 the AAU Junior Olympics will join with the FIRS World Championships events and host all events in Los Angeles utilising the Huntington beach and Irvine rinks and will also include the Honda Centre (usually used for Ice Hockey).