Oct 08, 2024
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By: Troy MacNeill
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 8, 2024) – The AAU has partnered with United States Roller Sports (USARS) to run a grassroots program since 2000. This partnership has provided an opportunity for the AAU’s higher-level athletes to compete on the USARS ‘NGB’ Team USA.
The USARS Team USA Inline Hockey program had compete in the 2024 Pan American Games Inline Hockey Championships in Ibague, Colombia, and the 2024 World Skate Games in Roccaraso, Italy.
The summer was filled with excitement, starting on August 1 in Colombia. Two teams were formed with Senior Men and Senior Women athletes in the Men’s and Women’s divisions. These Team USA’s showcased athletes from USARS and AAU Inline hockey programs members. Both the Team USA’s teams reached the Gold Medal Games. Team USA Men captured the Gold Medal and the women brought home the Silver Medal.
The men played the hometown team in the championship game. The game was played in front of over 4,000 fans cheering for the home Colombian team. In a hard-fought game, regulation wasn’t enough to settle the score. The game headed into overtime after Colombia tied the score with seconds left to the delight of screaming fans. But those cheers would soon be silenced as Team USA was able to score first in overtime and clinch the gold medal.
The women had the same matchup in their championship game and also went into overtime to finish it out. The women didn’t give up an even-strength goal the entire game, but the Colombian power-play goal in overtime ended up being the deciding goal. An outstanding tournament and an even better championship game, Team USA showed their heart until the final buzzer and captured the silver medal.
A few weeks later, USARS Team USA sent four (4) teams to Roccaraso, Italy to compete in the 2024 World Skate Games Championships. The USA was one of only four countries to send a team for all four divisions, USA had Junior Men’s and Women’s as well as Senior Men’s and Women’s Inline Hockey teams competing. From August 28 through September 23, teams took to the rink to decided who the best in the world was.
The Team USA Junior Men’s team lost a tough battle in the semi-finals but had a strong comeback against Italy to capture the Bronze medal in front of a packed hometown crowd. The Junior Women’s team made it all the way to the championship in a battle against Spain and brought home the Silver medal. The USA Senior Men’s and Women’s teams both dominated the tournament and took the top spot of the podium, winning Gold and earning the title of the World Champions in both divisions.
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The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 800,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.
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