USA Rink Hockey

USA Rink Hockey Team: World B Champions

Coaches Comments:

Upon reflecting on the US Teams resent accomplishment, one determining quality has come to my mind; Unity. Our team found ways to win in many different fashions. Whether it was our stiffling defense, or our efficient and timely fast breaks, or our last second overtime goal, unity of our players was the most key factor in our success. There are many people that made our trip a success. But nothing short of team focus and unity could account for us winning this tournament. I will say except for one overtime win, we were for the most part very dominating with our full court man to man defense. Teams just couldn’t handle our pressure and deal with the aggressive blanketing defense that caused turnover after turnover. Another improvement in this years team was it ability to be more patient on offense. I had worried that we weren’t patient enough in prior games but in this tournament we demonstrated perhaps more calm and control than we have ever done before. Again I contribute this to the teams chemistry of unity and resolve.

I’d first like to actknowldedge our coaching staff for the find work and effort they put into this tournament. Pat Furgeson was very informative in assisting me on the bench. His timely advice was priceless in my eyes. His 10 world championship experiences was valueable in recommendations and timely substitutions. My appreciation to him and his contribution to our success was very evident. To Ron Torvik, our Goalie Coach, Trainer, and motivator. Ron’s presence as a leader was very important and his work with our goaltenders priceless. Stallman was by far the best goalie at worlds and a very important ingredient to our team. He was scored on only 6 times in 6 games. Also, Ron’s work ethic and intelligence on the goaltending was nothing short of supurb. Ron’s training technics are evident in Brian’s style and performance. And we owe alot to Ron and the time he put in helping Brian Stallman and all US goaltenders improve their skills. We would like to thank the other coaches as well. Daniel Vianna used his experience and input and help us in many ways assisting the players and adding advice to our coaching staff. He attending meetings with Barbra and assisted in the politics that are always evident in these types of tournaments. A special thanks to our team manager Don Allen. He performed his role honorably and he is a very supporting member of our staff who handles those arrangements that are outside the realm of playing hockey. Don and Barbra both helped our team in politics by filing a protest when organizers wanted us to play a playoff that was not fair or visited until after the tournament was underway. This protest was upheld and we stood for somethngs that nobody else seemed will to stand for. Thus my saying; “if you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing”. I am greatful that Don and Barbra stood for was was right and thus gave us an opportunity to allow our team a chance to compete fairly.

As for our players; our team captains Josh Englund and Brian Moyer were more than most teams could handle. Their leadership on and off the floor paved the way for us to be solid in our backcourt. I’m not sure which one scored more, but one thing is for sure their shots from the outside were very effective and goalies must have feared the inevitable. Josh and Brian have incredible velocity and quickness on their shots which proved to be very valueable in our success. Also, Josh and Brian had great ball handling and control skills that kept our offense patient and orderly, which usually is one of our flaws, but on this tournament, we were in control of the possession and flow of the game. They both were instrumental in leading our offense and defense.

In our forward positons the combinations of Dylan Sordayhl and Cameron Torvik, provided our team with solid defense and quickness around the cage that led us to many timely important goals. This young tandum would be a force to deal with when we were full court pressing. Dylan vertually blanketed his man suffocated any opportunity for is matchup to score, and on offense Dylan played a solid no nonsense opportunistic game of timely goals and assists. Cameron imposed his will in and around the offensive cage with timely slot goals and baseball like scores. Camerons defense was also superior to those attacking him. His quickness and recovery stiffled many good opposing forwards to frustration.

Our Bench was definately the reason that we were a superior team. Every coach wants a bench he can count on, and I had exactly that. A Reliable bench to relieve the starters or perhaps give us a needed boost. Everyone contributed and everyone on our bench played and scored. For those who do not know my system of coaching, this years bench speaks volumes of how we can use our players to aid in our own success. Alex Forbes usually first of the bench provided speed and defense for players who started. He not only defended well, but was creative on offense and accounted for several goals that he created on his own. Mike Trussell came off the bench and provide our team with control and stabilty in the backcourt as he usually came in releif of either a forward or defensemen. Chris Gibson provide his speed and defensive tenacity that sparked us at times when we were in need. Chris made some nice assist but his quickness and speed was most notibly evident. Kevin Hayes, our oldest team member, played nicely in several games. He too scored and was an asset that could play well as this level. Kevin is a thinker on the floor and showed that he could come in a break our players with solid defense and offense when called upon.

Our Goaltender Brian Stallman, was nothing short of outstanding. Teams has to deal with our strangling defense full court man to man pressure and then if they were fortuneate enough to get by that, they would encounter our half court man to man help trap defense which was no easy feat to beat in itself. Then our last line of defense was Brian. Brian came up big in games that we needed a big save. Perhaps a missed assignment or well created opportunity Brian was there to make what seemed like a tough save look easy. In our simi final overtime game Brian came up big more than once. The south africans were good at scoring near the goal and feeding the ball inside effectly. Brian held a team that had been scoring a average of 6 goals a game to only one. For those who think that any goaltender can play at this level without proper training and word ethic, they are badly mistaken. We hope that more US Goaltender will bring the professionality and effort in practising and playing that Brian has. As for leonard Burnett our second goalkeeper. We are greatful that a young man of 15 years of age had the opportunity to be apart of this team and its landmark accomplishment. Leonard played in some of the games as a coaches decision to rest Stallman and give him an opportunity to learn. Leonard did well and we anticipate this experience will be valueable in his growth into accomplishing greater successes.

As for myself, Jim Trussell, I have had no greater accomplishment than to be rewarded with such fine young men inwhich I am permitted to coach. This team bonded in a way that I thought not possible. They were fair with each other and treated other teams with respect. They were focused on the task and goals of winning this tournament. They listen to my coaching but more than that, they applied the coaching given to them on the floor. It is a very beautiful feeling to experience success with this group of young men. They were thankful to me, but I in return am more thankful to them. This team I surmmize is a expression of love and sacrific. I have been teaching that success comes by 4 qualities. Passion, Effort, Attitude, and Knowledge. They in themselve have proved all of these points by their dedication both in mind and body. They’ve worked hard these last two years. They utililized a new found winning attitude, and above all, they were able to learn truth and use it their game.

To all those players who attending our training camp and to those who support our quest I express my deepest thanks. At time our program may be riduculed by some, but results do not lie and our accomplishments will speak for themselves in the end. Many of the parents who attended this tournament with us were very helpful in documenting stats, or recording games. It is my personal belief that everyone can be apart of our success and that we actually perpetuate success to the entire world by our fine play. A special thanks to all those that see our program positive and I thank everyone for your support.

Sincerely,

Jim Trussell
US Mens National Hardball Team Coach