San Jose, Steel City deadlocked in AIHL elite finals

The American Inline Hockey League’s elite men’s championship series faced off July 1 as part of the USARS-AAU Junior Olympics in Feasterville, Pa., with the Western Conference champion San Jose Pirates and Eastern Conference champion Steele City Phantoms playing to a standoff in the opening two games of their best-of-five series.

The series wraps up July 2.

The Pirates captured the early momentum with a 6-4 victory in Game 1 but it was the Phantoms who leveled things with a 6-5 win in Game 2.

U.S. teams go undefeated in FIRS championships pool play

A clean sweep of pool-round play has landed the United States junior men and women's teams into the playoff round of this year's FIRS inline hockey world championship tournament in Varese, Italy. Quarterfinal-round action is scheduled July 2, with semifinals to follow on July 3. Medal-round games are scheduled July 4 – perhaps a fitting tribute to the American squads and the eight California players on their roster.

Team USA finished 4-0 in the junior men's Group A and 3-0 in the women's Group B as the round-robin play concluded play July 1.

Selects defenseman Goodenough to play for Fresno

FRESNO – The Fresno Monsters have signed their first player and announced a title sponsor for their upcoming inaugural season in the Western States Hockey League.

LA Selects defenseman Nicholas Goodenough, who is from Visalia, will play this season for the Monsters. Goodenough is a member of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans.

"Nick played in our Fresno youth leagues when he was growing up. He is a great two-way defender with a tremendous shot. We expect Nick to be one of our top defenseman," said Coach Brandy Semchuk.

U.S. teams remain unbeaten at FIRS World Championships

Heavy rain has caused the rescheduling of several games at this year's FIRS inline hockey world championship tournament in Varese, Italy. While the roof at the competition has sprung a few leaks, the United States junior men and women's teams have kept the puck raining down on opponents in remaining undefeated through the opening two days of group play.

The American men, braced by three players from Californian along with head coach Ken Murchison (Corona), improved to 3-0 in Group A play by defeating Germany, 9-2 and then added a 5-1 victory over Australia in games played June 30. Team USA is scheduled to round out group play with a game against France on July 1.

The American women, buttressed by five players from the Golden State and head coach Jeff Prime (Long Beach), improved to 2-0 in Group B play after handing Finland a 7-4 defeat in a game also played June 30.