COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named 16 players to the U.S. InLine National Team that will compete at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation InLine Hockey World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia, June 21-29.

The roster is highlighted by seven players that earned a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship including goaltender Jamie Bufalino (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.); defensemen Derek Kern (Kings Park, N.Y.) and Lee Sweatt (Colorado Springs, Colo.); and forwards Tommy Bruce (Riverhead, N.Y.), Sam Ftorek (Wolfboro, N.H.), Aaron Moss (Tustin, Calif.) and Chris Peterson (Macomb, Mich.).

Other U.S. InLine National Team veterans include forward Pat Lee (Tustin, Calif.) who will be making his fourth appearance with the U.S. InLine National Team (2002-04) and blueliner James Beilsten (St. Charles, Mo.) who will return to Team USA for the second time (2007).

Seven players will be making their U.S. InLine National Team debut, including netminder Kyle Mikel (Centennial, Colo.); defensemen Steven Oleksy (Chesterfield, Mich.) and Rafael Rodriguez (Oceanside, Calif.); and forwards Itan Chavira (Big Bear, Calif.), Dan Comrie (San Diego, Calif.), Kevin De Vergilio (Rockland, Mass.) and Kyle Gouge (Wentzville, Mo.).

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The 2008 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship will include 16 teams divided into the A-Pool and B-Pool World Championship. The United States will compete in the A Pool alongside Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden. Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan and New Zealand will comprise the B Pool.

Seeding for the pools is based on the results of the 2007 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship. The A Pool features the eight highest ranked teams from the 2007 World Championship, while the B Pool includes the next five lower ranked teams as well as the three newly qualified teams.

For the preliminary round of the 2008 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship, the A Pool and the B Pool will each be divided into two groups of four teams based on their rankings. Following round-robin play within each group, the two lowest ranked teams from the A Pool and the two top teams from the B Pool will face off as part of play-in games to determine their pools for the playoff round.

NOTES: Darren Turcotte, who has led Team USA at the last two IIHF InLine Hockey World Championships, will serve as head coach for the 2008 U.S. InLine National Team. Tim Graham will be the assistant coach for Team USA … In the 12-year history of the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship, the United States has earned gold medals in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2006; silver medals in 1998 and 2001; and bronze medals at the 2000, 2003 and 2005 tournaments.

2008 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship Team USA Schedule
June 21-29 . Bratislava, Slovakia

   Date     -  Opponent Time (local/EDT)
   June 22 - Germany 4 p.m./10 a.m.
   June 23 - Finland 6 p.m./noon
   June 24 - Czech Republic 2 p.m./8 a.m.
   June 25 - Qualification Rd. TBD
   June 26 - Play-off Rd. TBD
   June 27 - Semi-final Rd. TBD
   June 28 - Medal Rd. TBD