PRHS's Nate Fleissner Competes in International Inline Hockey Championship

Inline hockey player Nate Fleissner knows what it's like to travel to another country and be treated like a star.

The rising senior was one of a dozen players who represented Team USA in the Inline Hockey Junior World Championship held earlier this month in Roccarasso, Italy. 

Not only did Team USA participate, but it compiled a 5-1 record, losing only to the Czech Republic in the final championship game.

“It was a great experience,” Fleissner said. “After our last game, even after we lost, we felt like we were actual stars because everyone was asking us for autographs and wanted to buy and trade equipment with us.”

Fleissner said the teams traded things like jerseys and some of the items given to them.

“I actually have a Swiss jersey, a shirt from China, a Mexico jersey and a Brazil outfit,” he said. “It was just awesome because people would seek us out in the stands and want to see members of Team USA. We really felt like players in the pros.”

Perhaps a reason for the attraction to Team USA was partially due to their record. They defeated Brazil, Columbia and Germany in the round-robin portion of the tournament. Then the team defeated Columbia again in the quarterfinals, and beat France in the semifinals to set up the championship game against the Czech Republic.

“(The Czech) players were really very good,” he said. “You could tell that they had been together for a lot of years, and they play together on the ice as well. They’re a team that is very skilled.”

Fleissner was selected to attend tryouts for Team USA by Jon Roux, his coach and manager for the Pittsburgh Bandits, who play at Harmarville Bladerunners.

Fleissner and Jake Druga from West Allegheny were the only players selected from Western Pennsylvania. Others on the team came from California, North Carolina and Florida.

“We arrived in Italy on July 1 and had our first practice session that evening,” Fleissner said. “We were players from all over coming together for the very first time. We only had an hour and a half to get used to each other.”

As one of five defensemen, Fleissner was often paired with a different player each time he hit the floor.

“It was really a challenge for all of us because we were putting guys together who had played different systems for different coaches. It was amazing that we were able to do as well as we did with such a short time together. We faced some teams that had been together for seven or eight years.”

Fleissner said the entire atmosphere around the tournament was one of excitement, typical of any world championship.

“Roccarasso is southeast of Rome, and it’s a lot like the Seven Springs resort,” he said. “The arena holds about 3,000 people, and it was nearly filled to capacity for the championship game. It was really a big deal for people, and everyone you talked to had plans to come to the game.”

Fleissner said signs advertising the tournament and trucks playing music and carrying tournament billboards were riding all over town.

“It was my first chance to play hockey internationally, and it was really an experience of a lifetime,” he said. “It was just so amazing because we could have come in last place, and Team USA would have been the most popular team there.”

Fleissner said he plans to continue playing locally for the Pittsburgh Bandits and will continue to hone his skills.

 “They say that if you make the USA Junior Team, you have a better chance of making the Men’s World Championship.  I think I’ll stick around here right now and probably try out for the World Junior Championships again next year.”