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U.S.EWHA
PowerHockey News Release: August 14, 2001
U.S. EWHA
7216 39TH AVE. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55427
Tel: 763.535.4736
Fax: 208.279.1368
Web Site: www.powerhockey.com
Email: info@powerhockey.com
PowerHockey World Cup is a success
By Luke Pedersen
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota [September 14, 2001] - The world's best
wheelchair hockey teams and players came to the United States for
the first ever PowerHockey™ World Cup. The event took place
Sunday August 5th through Thursday August 9th, 2001 at Augsburg
College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The PowerHockey™ World Cup
was the largest power-wheelchair sporting event in U.S. history.
It was also the first PowerHockey tournament to have teams from
Australia, Canada, Europe and the U.S., competing against each other.
Eleven teams competed for a chance to capture the PowerHockey Cup.
Teams included: Minnesota Stars (USA), St. Paul Saints (USA), Michigan
Mustangs (USA), Power Roos (Australia), Calgary Selects (Canada),
SW Ontario Canucks (Canada), Toronto Rock (Canada), Finnish National
Team (Finland), Nording Bulls (Germany), Rocky's Rolling Wheels
(Germany), and Thunder Roma (Italy).
Months of planning finally came to fruition with the Opening Ceremonies
emceed by Wally Shaver with special guest Tod Leiweke, President
of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild, and culminated with
the Toronto Rock winning the PowerHockey Cup. The first day of competition
began with the Minnesota Stars playing the Michigan Mustangs, and
the St. Paul Saints playing the Calgary Selects. The Stars won 6-0,
while Calgary beat the Saints 8-1. Each of the eleven teams was
placed in one of two pools or divisions. After two days of pool
play all teams advanced to the playoff round. [Note records below.]
POOL A
Toronto Rock (Canada) - 5-0-0
Finnish National Team (Finland) - 4-1-0
Minnesota Stars (USA) - 3-1-1
Nording Bulls (Germany) - 2-3-0
Power Roos (Australia) - 1-3-1
Michigan Mustangs (USA) - 0-5-0
POOL B
Calgary Selects (Canada) - 4-1-0
Thunder Roma (Italy) - 3-2-0
Rocky's Rolling Wheels (Germany) - 3-2-0
St. Paul Saints (USA) - 1-3-0
SW Ontario Canucks (Canada) - 0-5-0
A spirited day of play on Wednesday set the stage for Thursday's
Championship Round, which proved to be full of close and exciting
games. The day began with the Michigan Mustangs 2-0 defeat of the
SW Ontario Canucks [11th place finish as a result of the loss],
which advanced the Mustangs to the 9th-10th place game. The St.
Paul Saints beat the Michigan Mustangs 2-0 for 9th place. In the
7th-8th place game Rocky's Rolling Wheels beat the Australia Power
Roos 2-1, and Thunder Roma beat the Nording Bulls 3-1 for 5th place.
In the semifinals, the Toronto Rock beat the Minnesota Stars 2-1,
and the Calgary Selects beat the Finnish National Team 1-0 to set
up an all-Canadian final. The Stars played the Finnish National
Team for third place, losing 2-1. After a 1-1 tie through overtime,
the game went to a shootout. Finland put home its third shot to
seal the victory. In the title game the Toronto Rock came back from
a 2-1 deficit to beat the Calgary Selects 4-2 and claim the PowerHockey
Cup. The Toronto Rock's Michelle Du Boulay was named Championship
Game MVP, and the Minnesota Stars Chris Kram was named Tournament
MVP [voted on by coaches of each team].
"I knew we had a good team judging by the players we were
used to seeing play, but most of the teams at the tournament were
new to us," said Toronto Rock's Kevin Humphrey. "Even
with the unknown, I think we had a confidence about us, not that
we knew we were going to win by any means. It was funny how when
we were able to see some of the teams play I think everyone on our
team became concerned and even thought we might be in trouble."
"I feel that my team performed very well considering the circumstances.
We only had one level one player [strongest player level] on our
team despite the rules allowing each team to have two on the floor
at any time," said Calgary Selects coach Jason Hebert. "We
went all the way to the championship game and the game was much
closer than the final score suggests."
The PowerHockey™ World Cup was hosted by the Minnesota-based
U.S. Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (U.S. EWHA), a non-profit
organization dedicated to providing a quality hockey program for
persons requiring the use of an electric (power) wheelchair during
daily life. The U.S. EWHA was founded by members of the United States'
first organized PowerHockey team.
"I have been to many National Tournaments in Australia and
have run the Nationals last year in my home state. In my ten years
experience I would say that the PowerHockey World Cup 2001 was one
of the best tournaments I have ever been involved with," said
Tom Dickson of the Australia Power Roos. "Transport was good,
playing venue was good, food was good and accommodation was reasonable.
I give it an eight out of ten." Calgary's Hebert echoed those
sentiments. "I felt the tournament was very well organized
and executed, and is a testament to the fact that the United States
Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association is a world-class organization,"
he said.
"The tournament proved to be a tremendous success," said
Craig McClellan U.S. EWHA President. "It was our goal to create
a venue that would surpass anything we, or any of the visiting teams
had ever participated in. Not just from a game-playing standpoint,
but also in providing excellent accommodations and organization.
I think we more than went out of our way in accomplishing this."
PowerHockey™ is a sport specifically designed for electric
(power) wheelchair users. This segment of the disabled community
is very under-served when it comes to available athletic opportunities.
The Special Olympics and Paralympic programs do not serve these
athletes. The potential market for PowerHockey™ is the same
if not greater than those very successful national/international
programs, quite possibly making it the world's next big disabled
sports movement.
This sentiment was expressed by a number of athletes, including
the Toronto Rock's Humphrey. "What caught my attention [during
the PowerHockey World Cup] is now I believe this sport can become
very big, and very popular if we all work together to make it happen,"
he said. "That to me is very exciting."
"What I enjoyed [about the tournament] was the fact that it
was the first time I've played PowerHockey ," said Australia's
Dickson. "I thought the rules were excellent. It gave an equal
opportunity for everyone, no matter what strength level, to play
on the same court." [Teams in Australia play a version more
like field hockey, while teams in Europe play a form of PowerHockey
or electric wheelchair hockey they call E-Hockey. At this point
there are no uniform international rules.]
For more information about the PowerHockey™ World Cup (specifically
game statistics), or the U.S. EWHA and its programs you may visit:
www.powerhockey.com or call (763)-535-4736.
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