A trio Delta Revolution Roller Hockey players were in Team Canada colours this summer representing their country at the AAU Junior Olympics International in Corona, California.
Nelson Griffths helped Canada capture gold in the U16 Division thanks to a 3-0 win over Team USA West in the final. Gabriel Maunsell and Nicolas Novakowski came home with silver as members of Canada’s U18 team after a hard-fought 3-2 overtime loss to Team Hawaii.
All three boys say it’s an experience they soon won’t forget — not only playing international inline hockey at a high level but with players from around the country.
They attended tryouts back in May in Langley to earn their roster spots. Maunsell and Novakowski were among four B.C. players to make the U18 squad that also included talent from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario.
Griffiths was one of just two B.C. players on his U14 squad that featured mainly Ontario players.
“It was the most competitive roller hockey we have ever played. At the start, I was basically out of breath but by the end we had really gelled as a team and got better and better with each game,” said Maunsell. “It was definitely the fastest I have ever bonded with a group of guys.”
It was Griffiths’ second straight trip to the Junior Olympics after playing for Canada’s U14 team a year earlier.
He finished with a goal and four assists in five games as Canada avenged its only loss of the tournament with its win in the final. Other victories came against USA Stars (5-0), USA Stripes (12-1) and Australia (6-0).
“It was unbelievable the way we bonded,” recalled Griffiths. “From the very first day we were all talking together. Usually it can be awkward at first but it wasn’t at all for us. It was kind of surprising actually.”
Maunsell and Novakowski were key point producers for their team as well. Maunsell had three goals and five points, while Novakowski added four.
U18 Team Canada opened with a 3-1 loss to Hawaii but then produced three straight victories — including a pair against Team USA by 4-2 and 8-2 scores. There was also a convincing 8-1 romp of Mexico.
The gold medal game saw Canada lead 2-0 at one point before Hawaii battled back to force overtime and eventually pull out the win.
That game provides plenty of incentive for the 2019 championships which happen to be taking place in Hawaii. All three South Delta boys are eligible to play for the same Canadian teams.
“That Hawaiian team has been playing years together. Only three players from our team graduate so we are going to try and get all the boys back together and build the same team,” added Novakowski.”
Maunsell and Novakowski graduated from South Delta Secondary in June and both are going to UVic next month. Griffiths will be heading to SDSS for his Grade 11 year.
