USA Hockey Magazine

JUNE/JULY 2017 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 7 O F F THE D R AW 3 U S A H O C K E Y N E W S , P E O P L E & P R O G R A M S PHOTOS Special To USA Hockey Magazine Sneak Peak B rody Roybal hasn't even reached his 20th birth- day, but he's already a veteran of the interna- tional sled hockey scene. So when asked to describe the atmosphere at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the Team USA forward drew on his experience at the last Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. "It was like Sochi but with fewer people," the Chicago native said. "It was a really nice setup." The comparison makes sense. Gangneung Hockey Centre will also serve as the home ice for the sled hockey competition at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. This year's world championship not only served as a test event for the host country; it also gave the U.S. a chance to experience life in Pyeongchang before the puck drops on March 9. Though preparations are still ongoing, the Gangneung Hockey Centre was ready for the world's best athletes to take the ice when the teams hit the ice in April. Along with the experience at the rink, the players got a chance of what it will be like to spend extended time in South Korea, getting used to a drastic time change while experiencing the athlete's village. "The on-ice stuff is the easy part," said Dan Brennan, general manager of the U.S. National Sled Team. "It's important that these guys get the lay of the land and get used to what it will be like next year." This will be Roybal's second kick at the Paralympic can. As a 15-year-old, the Chicago native helped the U.S. win gold in Sochi. He said playing in this year's world championship will benefit the entire team, par- ticularly those who are new to the international scene. "We know what we're getting now," Roybal said. "It's great to get that experience. The new guys get a feel of how big things are going to be and realize it's probably the biggest event they've ever played in." Though the U.S. lost in this year's gold-medal game to Canada, the players can now turn their attention to becoming the first U.S. team to win three consecu- tive Olympic or Paralympic gold medals. "Hopefully this [loss] is a blessing in disguise," Brennan said. "We're hoping that these guys are motivated by this. They hadn't finished lower than first in an international tournament in four years. They want to get back on top." P Team USA Takes Silver In Paralympic Tune-Up Members of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team take a break from competing at the 2017 Para Sled Hockey World Championship to enjoy the nice weather outside the Gangneung Hockey Centre in PyeongChang, South Korea. Clockwise from top left are Nikko Landeros, Bo Reichenbach, Jack Wallace, Tyler Carron, Paul Schaus and Brody Roybal.

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