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Reebok Hockey is title sponsor of the Inline Hockey AAU Junior Olympics

09 Jun 2010

Montréal, June 8th 2010 –Reebok Hockey is proud to announce partnership as the title sponsor for the AAU Junior Olympics Inline Hockey Tournament. The Huntington Beach & Corona inline hockey facility will play host to the most important tournament in the world starting July 1st through to July 11th 2010.

The tournament will take place over 11 days attracting over 30 000 spectators to the event. In attendance there are over 400 teams in 24 categories registered who will each play for AAU honors. With more than 4000 inline hockey players in the tournament, it considered is the biggest of its kind in the world and in all of hockey including ice and roller.

“We hope to give talented inline players the chance to demonstrate their skills on the world’s largest stage” states Marc-Andre Charron, Brand Manager for Reebok Hockey. “We recognize that roller hockey is a growing sport, one that continues to garner much global respect.”

The Reebok Hockey team will be onsite at the Huntington facility for the duration of the tournament answering product questions. Participants, coaches, and spectators are invited to visit the Reebok Hockey interactive zone which will play host to special activities and surprises.

Reebok-CCM Hockey, a subsidiary of the adidas Group, is headquartered in Montreal. With operations in Canada, the United States and Europe, the Company is the world's largest designer, manufacturer and marketer of hockey equipment and related apparel under two of the most recognized hockey brand names: Reebok Hockey and CCM Hockey. Reebok-CCM Hockey equips more professional hockey players than any other company, including superstars like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Reebok-CCM Hockey is also the official outfitter of the National Hockey League, the Champions Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the Canadian Hockey League, and several NCAA and national teams. For more info, visit: www.reebokhockey.com.

Comments

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• Posted by Velma on February 24, 2011 at 10:29 a.m.

  When will this be taking place in 2011?

• Posted by necio204 on May 25, 2011 at 3:46 p.m.

  To whom it may concern:

  ??Hello. My name is Alejandro Bonilla. I am 25 years old and I currently live in Medellin, Colombia. I grew up in the DC area, and naturally grew up becoming a diehard fan of the Washington Capitals and the NHL in general. Inline hockey was fast expanding at that time too, and I was in the middle of it, playing in a local league trying to get noticed.

  I got a taste of hockey at a really young age, and although I didn’t always have the best resources, I always found a way to get a stick in my hand. I currently coach a group of individuals who have come to show the same passion for the sport as I have. Of the major cities here in Colombia, Medellin is the only one that hasn’t jumped on the inline hockey bandwagon. We are already drawing a lot of attention from the public and we are looking to push and promote the sport. It has become very clear to all of us that there is a developing market here for this sport, and no serious resources to support its growth.??

  I was born in Falls Church, VA and moved to a farm in South Jersey, where I was first introduced to hockey at about age 6/7. My dad’s friend had a son who played, and who gave me his old equipment. Living on a farm, there was very little pavement or anywhere for me to skate. My family also at the time didn’t have money to put me on any kind of team, so I learned to skate and play in our small car port.
  
  When I moved to Silver Spring, MD, I found more kids that had roller skates and sticks and we would play street hockey. For years, we would play in tennis courts or empty parking lots, since we couldn’t afford ice hockey. When I turned 14, I found a local house league and played there for many years, dedicating my time and money to hockey, both on and off the rink, going to Caps games, or any event involving the Capitals or hockey.

  I never had money to play on a competitive team, but I always found a way to practice. Everything from playing in the basement (ala Sidney Crosby) or on the backyard black top, to driving over an hour just to practice with my friends at one of the only local rinks available; Never paying to practice or play, but just because I loved to play, I loved to push myself, so I could perform well in any game, whether on Ice or Inline.??

  I now live here in Medellin, Colombia, where I have come to find a truly remarkable group of people. If you didn’t know, Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia, in population and economy, and as the most technologically advanced and modern city in the country, it is currently outpacing all other major Colombian cities, including Bogotá, the nation's capital and economic center, in the construction and proposed development of new residential and commercial centers.

  It is also home to some of the most passionate and athletic people I have ever met. This can easily be seen in our team. There are 14 of us, ranging in age from 16 to 58, and with varied backgrounds, but one thing we all have in common, is our passion for hockey. Teaching the sport and sharing what I know, has proven to be a very organic next step for me, especially with kids (I worked 3 years for Montgomery Sports Association in Montgomery County, MD... Sharon Nagia, the director, can attest to my love to coach and my leadership qualities).

  At 58 years of age, Gildardo Pelaez still has the drive and passion to learn the sport. As he has skated all his life, he is definitely able to keep up with the younger crowd, but Gildardo had said he was not planning to compete, and was just there to skate and learn. After several months with me teaching them the game and running the team, Mr Pelaez is now one of the more excited players, ready to go out and compete. He is retired, so his only way of getting equipment is from his sons...

  Shirley Atehortua is a young college student who lives out of the city on a farm in the mountains. For morning practices, she must leave her house almost 2 hours before anyone else, so she can catch the bus, come down the mountain into the city, and catch another bus to the practice rink. After night practices, again, she has to catch a bus from downtown to take back up into the mountains where she lives. She never misses a practice. Like many, however, she also does not have the resources to fund her equipment. Much of what she uses now is old equipment of mine...(gloves, pants, shin guards.)
  
  Donzua Alvarez is a young man with great determination. Also lacking funds, many times you’ll find him arriving to practice on his bicycle. He rides an hour with his hockey gear to get to practice. In practice, he is the most hardworking, and it is starting to show in his play. After 2 hours of practice, when no of us can barley move from exhaustion, he must again hop on his bike and ride home. He never misses a practice. Seeing that type of dedication makes it easy for me to donate my old equipment to him as well (gloves, girdle, pants, shin guards).

  These are just a few examples of the type of characters that form this team, that form this family. All dedicated to represent their city, and show the world that Medellin can play hockey too. ??

  Also in case you didn’t know, there are already many leagues in Colombia and the sport is rapidly growing. Did you know that at this year’s World Inline Hockey Championships, the Colombian Men’s Juniors finished 5th, ahead of Australia, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy? Inline hockey is growing exponentially in this country, and our goal is to be the first official team to represent Medellin. We need your support to help us make history!

  If you still are unsure about the athletic talent here in Medellin/Antioquia... Did you know the only American Football team here in Medellin, are the national champions? Antioquia was also national champion last year in Men’s Traditional Roller Hockey and Women’s Artistic Skating... Not to mention, Colombia has dominated the world rankings the last several years in Speed Skating, and are current World Champs.

  The countdown has begun for this major urban metropolis to erupt in hockey fever. We are inviting you to be a part of this inline hockey explosion by helping us make a statement at the next National Tournament in Cali, Colombia, scheduled for August 13-15... (did you know that the 2013 World Championships of Inline Hockey are in Cali, Colombia?)

  I have also recently been in contact with the new director of Inline Hockey in Colombia, Jeff Prime. He will be speaking at the National Skating Convention next week in Cartagena, Colombia, where one of his main topics will be building hockey here in Medellin. He is ecstatic that I have organized a legitimate, functioning team that he can use as the primary model to showcase the sport’s growth in Medellin!

  My name is Alejandro Bonilla... Hockey is my life, it flows through my veins, it always has since the first day I picked up a stick. I have dedicated almost my entire life to sharing this sport with people anyone who is willing to pick up a stick and give it a try, and now, for the first time in my life, I have an enormous opportunity to make a significant contribution to the world of hockey, by championing a concerted and sustainable movement to fully develop this market to its true potential.

  The possibilities are realistic and measurable, and its only a matter of time until this sport takes over this city. Will you be with us when it does? ?
  Thank you for your time, and if you’d like you can check us out at http://www.spartahockeyclub.co.cc/
  ?Sincerely,

  Alejandro Bonilla
  Founder
  Sparta Hockey Club
  Medellin, Colombia

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