Canadians go for gold, deprivation of training will be compensated by the team spirit

Canada and hockey. This connection has always belonged together. And nothing changes the fact, ice will be missing in this year´s championship in Beroun. Canadian won silver medals last year and their goal is only of the highest ones this year. „We are coming to the Worlds only to win the gold - anything else would be a huge disappointment for us,“ said Richard Ropchan, President of Canada Inline Hockey Federation and the head coach of Team Canada.

The Canadian Men’s National Team held tryout camps in three different Provinces but no training camp was planned prior to the World Championship. The Team will arrive to Beroun on the 10th of July and our first team practice will be on the 11th. We will need to ensure everyone understands our system of play and the players will have the challenge of getting to know each other quickly,“ said Richard Ropchan. Canadians haven´t decided who will be the captain yet, but they are sure about the starting goaltender. „Martin Bradette will be our number one goalie and we have another very good goalie, Mark Servos, in reserve.“

Although Canada will have the first practise only one day before the beginning of the tournament, players don´t underrate themselves. „We come to the Worlds only to win the gold – anything else would be a huge disappointment,“ claimed Ropchan. But on the other hand... „I think there is a good balance in Pool A and Pool B. Any team is capable of winning.“

And what should be the strongest weapon of his team? „We have a lot of young talents, so we will rely on our speed, and team chemistry is very important in this type of competition,“ continued Richard Ropchan.

Head coaches of national teams of any sport have had a very iffy choice – to take the most talented and skilled players, or choose those, who will fit in with other ones? This situation was the same overseas. „We have certainly built the team based on the most talented and experienced players but players´ characters play an important role in our final decisions.“

The world championship takes place in the Czech republic, which isn´t that unfamiliar to the Canadian head coach. „I have look up the internet, but I also have personal experiences. I was in Prague and Pisek,“ he disclosed. „Many ice hockey players play in-line hockey as a part of their summer training in our country. It is very similar to the Czech Republic.“ In Canada, there are about 15,000 In-line hockey players and about 100,000 followers of the sport.