Team USA for the Men's World Championships Qualifier in Colorado is Set!

Between the 12^th and the 14^th of February the USA men's team will be facing off with Canada and Jamaica for a spot at the World Floorball Championships in Latvia in December. Now the US squad for the World Floorball Championship Qualifier is set.

- We are proud to be able to present a competitive team with players from all over the states, says General Manager Adam Troy.

The team sees a number of veteran players return as well as a number of players scouted at the development camp and subsequent US Nationals tournament that followed in Round Rock, Texas. Lee Payne had a great showing during the camp and the Nationals and is a great example of the growth of floorball in Texas.

Lee Payne during the US Nationals in Round Rock, Texas.

- It was a great camp and it is important that we take the opportunities given to help develop new players and floorball in general as well as bring fresh blood to the team. Floorball is spreading and developing in the states and the national team is helping to push the development forward, Adam Troy continues.

Beside national team newcomers from the Round Rock camp there are also several players from the U19 squad that played at the World Floorball Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden. Derek Fennelly and Brij Singh impressed on a combined team from Colorado at the nationals. On a day to day basis Fennelly can be found in New York and Singh is trying to get the University of Michigan Floorball Club up and running.

Derek Fennelly prior to the US Nationals in Round Rock, Texas.

The youngest player on the squad, Adrian Hiram, was also part of the U19 WFC squad and is on the team after strong showing at the Red, White and Blue Games in Alingsås, Sweden earlier this year.

The qualifier squad has players from all over the U.S. From New York to Austin to Menlo Park. It also boasts players that play in leagues in Europe, both veteran players like Stefan Zimmerman as well as up and coming youth like Alexander McVey who are making their mark on US National team history.

On the coaching side of things there will be a temporary change as head coach Stefan Hedlund has had to stand back during the WFCQ due to a work commitment and he will temporarily be replaced by U19 Head coach Joel Olofsson who has a great coaching background. Vince Faso will continue to step up as assistant coach and the team will be backed up by equipment manager Jonas Hedlind during the WFCQ.

From left to right, Vince Faso, Joel Olofsson and Daniel Palm (U19 General Manager)

For those following the event on social media use the hashtags ‪#‎floorball ‪#‎WFCQ2016

The WFCQ will be taking place at the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs and looks to be a great event with a lot of things planned beyond the qualifier.

The official IFF page for the event can be found here and if all goes as planned the games will be streamed live on one of the IFF YouTube channels.

Besides the WFCQ the IFF will be hosting a Coaching and Referee Development Camp February 11^th to 13^th that everyone who can should attend, more information on our website soon.

Be sure to check in on the USA Floorball website and social media channels for the latest news on the qualifier and all things USA Floorball.

The players on the US Men's National Team for the World Floorball Championships Qualifier in Colorado Springs are:

Adam Hammerman, Menlo Park
Adrian Hiram, Nynäshamns IBK
Alexander McVey, Borås IBF
Brij Singh, University of Michigan Floorball Club
Dan Torretta, New Jersey Blackout
Derek Fennelly, New York City Floorball
Fabian Länzlinger, Zürisee Unihockey
Keven Glanzmann, TSV Unihockey Deitingen
Lee Payne, Austin Floorball
Matt Nunez, Lonestar Floorball
Maurin Rüegg,  UHC Waldkirch-St.Gallen
Michael Binder, UHC Fricktal-Stein
Mikko Vähä-Vahe, FLOB
Philipp Fischer, Zürisee Unihockey
Randall Aa, Öya IBK
Raphael Möri, Lok Reinach
Reed Hearns, IBK Luleå
Richard Hedlind, Colorado Springs Floorball
Robert Oestreich, New York City Floorball
Stefan Zimmerman, Zürisee Unihockey

All photos by Adam Troy