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Team USA gathered a few days before the WFC 04 in Zurich, Switzerland just like in Helsinki, Finland in 2002. And just like in 2002 they lost their two friendly games. But the competition in '04 would prove to be one step up on '02...
Official World Floorball Championships 2004 website
Game 1, Hungary vs. USA 8-3
It wasn’t quite the start that Team USA had planned for the 2004 Men’s Floorball World Championships. However, it was a start that left something to build on.
Team USA was very optimistic going into it’s second World Championships after finishing 13th overall and sixth in the B Division two years ago in Helsinki, Finland. Grouped with Italy, Hungary, Great Britain, and Singapore, The U.S. has set a target of the semifinals in Division B this time around.
The match against Hungary started as well as can be expected as veteran players Henrik Kok, Ollie Rupp, Jan-Eric Paris, David Brown, and Daniel Karvick lined up in front of newcomer in goal Terrace Frank. The U.S. had several shots on goal before Hungary slipped through the defense to score 3:24 into the match. The U.S. got aggressive play at the net from Kimmo Huikka, Jani Blankenship, Chris Wright, Daniel Gilgen but nothing got past the Hungarian goalie until the U.S. managed to take advantage on a power play as Daniel Slettomoen netted his first goals of the tournament at 12:14. Winger Florian Schmid, who earned player of the match honors for his three assist performance, centered a pass which Slettomoen put away to equalize the match and charge up the U.S. bench.
The U.S. lead was not to last as Hungary’s Dennis Schmidt pulled a “Zorro” on the U.S. defense to give Hungary the 2-1 lead going into the first break.
The second period promised plenty of fireworks as the teams combined for a total of 51 shot. Hungary made it 3-1 before the U.S. used its effective power play in the 30th minute to pull within a goal of tying the game. Blankenship took a pass from Schmid who was behind the goal, to net a top-shelf shot from close range. Unfortunately as the period came to a close, Hungary netted two goal ten seconds apart in the 19th minute. “Zorro” struck again leaving the score 5-2 at the break.
Hungary didn’t let up in the third period, scoring 27 seconds in to make the score 6-2. The U.S. showed its fight and spirit with a goal from Gilgen four minutes later off another centering pass from Schmid. The U.S. took 28 shots in the period but where unable to put anything else past an aggressive Hungarian team. The match ended 8-3.
While one match may have gotten away from the U.S., there are still a lot of games to play. Next up is Italy. So Let’s Rock USA!
Game 2, Italy vs. USA 6-2
This was going to be a tough game from the get-go. Italy had thoroughly demolished Singapore in their opening game 11-0 on Sunday.
Team USA came out strong in the first period and may have surprised the heavily favored Italian team, which has quite a few players who play in Switzerland, by getting on the scoreboard first. Florian Schmid notched his first international goal 13 minutes into the period taking a pass into the center of the box to wrist one home.
The Italians took aim and pound the U.S. goal but the defense and goalie Adam Troy held strong up until six second from the break when Italy managed to equalize the score. The long shot came from the right corner and found the net through the traffic in front of Troy.
The second period proved to be a difficult one for the U.S. attack which was able to muster maybe eight shots during the period. Italy kept the pressure on the U.S. defense which finally gave way in the 35th minute and again with nine seconds left in the period. The U.S. was down 3-1 but was sure to put the pressure on Italy in the third period.
Team USA did once again show their fight in the third period as Phillip Winkler, who made his debut in the red, white, and blue also scored his first international goal in the seventh minute. Winger Jani Blankenship, who showed that being tripped over the boards can also be an opportunity to get a few push-ups in, placed a shot on goal and Winkler pounced on the rebound to put the ball past the Italian goalie. However a foul by U.S. defender Andy Hostettler set up a penalty shot for Italy and a few nervous moments for Team USA. However, Troy stood tall in goal and batted the shot away with his left hand.
So while it was a difficult game, Italy managing to win 6-2, it was also a clean match with only three penalties called for the entire match. The U.S. played at a great pace and once again showed it’s fighting spirit against a tough opponent. So next up Great Britain which lost 8-5 to Hungary on Monday.
Tuesday – Rest Day
Tuesday was a bye day for Team USA. So the players took advantage of the break time before training at 2:00 p.m. to get some extra and much-needed sleep. Several players took the opportunity to have a leisurely breakfast before seeking out a Laundromat to do some washing. Still others took an opportunity to have a look around Zurich in the city center or in Oerlikon where our team hotel is located.
At 2:00, the team had a training session in Kloten where they worked on some basic skills and strategies before the coaches discussed our goals for the next three games – three wins. As is usual for the end of practice, the team huddled for its daily language lesson. Today’s was an Italian phrase and Eric Rosen acted as today’s instructor. The phrase was “Fratelli miei” which means “My Brothers” and that is what the players of Team USA must feel they are in order to give their all for their “brothers” in the next three games.
Game 3, USA vs. Great Britain 4-6
It is difficult to pull back a game when your team has a slow start in the first period. Team USA wishes it could have back the first 20 minutes of Wednesday’s game against Great Britain because a slow start was its undoing. Great Britain was up three goals at the end of the period leaving the U.S. a big hole to dig itself out of.
The second period started with the U.S. declaring its intentions to not go away quietly as Jani Blankenship scored just 59 seconds into the period. Three minutes later, Florian Schmid pulled the U.S. within one goal of the Brits. Unfortunately, Britain’s high-sticking, ball carrying No. 7 banked a shot in off the foot of a U.S. player making it 4-2 at the break.
Then as if to try and seal the game away, the Brits scored off the face-off in the third. However, the U.S. didn’t back down. In the fourth minute, defender Henrik Kok sent a long shot into the area which Daniel Slettemoen, who earned player of the game honors, scored on the rebound. Phillip Winkler then pulled the U.S. within reach of a tie for his second goal of the tournament. Slettemoen had the assist. With two minutes to go, goalie Terrance Frank was pulled to allow extra attacker Jan-Eric Paris on the field. The U.S. pressured but was unable to put another goal past the British goalie, who seemed to like having his goal area swept up quite a bit. I guess he is a very sweaty guy or something. The match ended 6-4. Team USA will now aim to win its next two games.
Game 4, USA vs. Singapore 7-3
Everything finally came together for Team USA against Singapore. It was also a game where everyone eventually got a chance to play which is a good feeling for any team.
The U.S. dominated the game pummeling the Singapore goal with 33 shots, converting eight of those for goals and allowing Singapore to score three.
Steve Brown put the US on the board in the 11th minute off an assist from Daniel Gilgen. Steve Brown, he of the extra long armbands, added a second goal three minutes later. The U.S. had an opportunity to add a third for the period after Singapore gave up a penalty shot. Phillip Winkler took the attempt for the U.S. but was tripped up by Singapore’s goalie which resulted in another penalty shot. Dave Brown made an attempt at the shot but hit it high.
Team USA came out firing in the second period with Florian Schmid added to his goal tally just over one minute into the period off a pass across the box. Just three minutes later Jani Blankenship notched a goal off a pass from Peter “Peach” Bagdasarianz. Singapore got on the board during the ninth minute but it was not enough as Schmid added another goal for the U.S. during the 16th minute of the period with Andy Hostettler giving the assist.
The third period was a four goal affair with Singapore scoring two and the U.S. adding two to its tally. Blankenship stripped a Singapore defender in the tenth minute to score an unassisted goal while Daniel Karvick scored a goal off a pass from Jan-Eric Paris who was behind the goal. The third period also saw the U.S. debuts for defender Arup Charavarty, Eric Rosen, and Lee Altpeter, who was the only U.S. goalie to earn a “shut out.”
With the win, the U.S. now faces its rival from the Helsinki World Championships Australia. The U.S. expects a hard physical match from the boys from Down Under.
Game 5, USA vs. Australia 2-1
Who would have thought that a Floorball World Championship game would be delayed by rain. But it happened when Team USA met Australia for the 7th and 8th placement game on Friday. The delay occurred in the third period while the U.S. was up 2-1 in what would be its second win in Zurich.
The last time the USA and Australia met, at the 2002 World Championships in Helsinki Finland, it was a tough physical battle which ended in a 5-5 draw. This time, the Aussies looked like they had the momentum in the first period as they scored in the 15th minute on a fluky goal that escaped the grasp of goalie Terrance Frank. The USA had a difficult time mustering shots against the Aussies in the first period.
However, the second period was a different story as Team USA put pressure on the Aussie goal. It finally paid of on a restart in the 19th minute as Florian Schmid made a cross-court pass which Daniel “Skipper” Karvick finished with a low shot to near post.
Karvick again showed his leadership skills with a second goal in the third period to give the U.S. the win.
/Gina Rupp |
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Floorball California's Report from the U.S. Championships!
10.08.31 The US National floorball Championship tournament hosted by myself, Erik Larsson of floorballca.com, was played August 14-15, 2010 at The-Rinks in Huntington Beach, California. It was played in combination with the 3rd annual US Open Championships. 
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Taking Aim at 2012!
10.08.23 In February of this year the U.S. Men’s Team fell to Canada but preparations for the next World Floorball Championships Qualification games are already in full swing.
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The USFA becomes the USFbA!
As you might have noticed the USA Floorball Association acronym has been changing on the website. The work is not yet complete but we feel we should inform everyone why. The simple fact is that the USFA is the US Fencing Associaton.
We where not aware of this and aplogise to the USFA for any inconvinience this might have caused them. We also send thanks for their understanding in this matter.
We will continue the work with changing the acronyms on the website until it is complete. So from now on the USA Floorball Association is know as the USFbA. |
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