2019 Winter Deaflympics Ice Hockey Team Announced
EVANSTON, IL – The American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) is pleased to release the 23-man roster that will represent the U.S. and compete in the 19th Winter Deaflympics. Hosted under the purview of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, the Deaflympics will take place December 12 – 21, 2019, in Valtellina Valchiavenna, Italy.
“We're excited about our team and their pride in representing the United States at the Deaflympics,” said head coach Joe Gotfryd. “The team is prepared for the high level of competition that we will face in this tournament. We will be competing in Italy with one goal, winning a gold medal.”
Of the 23 players rostered, 16 are returnees from previous international competitions, including the U.S. teams that won a bronze medal at the 2015 Deaflympics held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, and a gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Amherst, New York. This year’s team ranges in age from 16 to 34 and hail from 14 states.
19th Winter Deaflympics - USA Ice Hockey Team
Name | Height, Weight | Age | Position |Hometown
Curran Allison* | 6'–1", 160 | 22 |Goalie | Laguna Niguel, CA
Tyler Balcerak |5'–10", 200 | 18 | Defense | Elgin, IL
Troy Benson* |6'–3", 196 | 29 | Forward | Henderson, NC
Christian Buczek* | 5'–10", 170 | 22 | Defense | Hamburg, NY
Max Finley* |6'–1", 180 | 25 | Forward | Peoria, IL
Henry Fusco* |5'– 9", 140 | 18 | Forward | White Bear Lake, MN
Miles Gates* |6'–2", 218 | 30 | Defense | Erie, PA
Garrett Gintoli* |6'– 2", 160 | 22 | Forward | Shelton, CT
Peter Gintoli* |5'–8", 175 | 27 | Forward | Shelton, CT
William “Bill” Holtzer 5'–10", 160 | 16 | Forward | Akron, OH
Sam Holzrichter* |5'–10", 150 | 22 | Forward | Sioux City, IA
Scott Humes* |6'–3", 215 | 23 | Forward | Columbus, OH
Grant Isenbarger* |6'–2", 180 | 25 | Forward | Ft. Wayne, IN
Ryne Krueger* |6'–2", 165 | 21 | Defense | Barrington, IL
Danny Kurchena* |6'–2", 195 | 22 | Forward | Rutland, VT
Anders Lindgren |5'–11", 170 | 20 |Forward | Saint Anne, IL
Jeff Mansfield* |6'–1", 190 | 34 | Goalie | Arlington, MA
Trevor McHugh |6'–2", 150 | 18 | Goalie | Montclair, VA
T.J. Oricchio* |5'–11", 160 | 22 | Defense | Plattsburgh, NY
Luke Peinado |5'–7", 140 | 16 | Defense | Winnetka, IL
Jake Schlereth |5'-9", 175 | 18 | Forward | Fenton, MO
Max Stephens |5'–10", 155 | 17 | Defense | Medford, MA
Derek Struwing* |5'–9", 165 | 21 | Forward | Bartlett, IL
*Previous international team experience
Staff
Kevin Delaney, AHIHA President, Evanston, IL
Richard Dumas, General Manager, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Brad Finley, General Manager, Peoria, IL
Joe Gotfryd, Head Coach, Brookfield, IL
Ben Johnson, Assistant Coach, Ely, MN
Tony McGaughey, Assistant Coach, Holbrook, MA
Larry Sterczek, Assistant Coach, Wheeling, IL
Dave Zimmerman, Assistant Coach, Devils Lake, ND
Mike Bracko, Ed.D., Skating & Conditioning, Calgary, Alberta
James Leonard, MD, Team Physician, Western Springs, IL
Rob Malnory, Equipment Manager, Madison, WI
Brian Swatek, Equipment Manager, Prospect Heights, IL
Weylan Deboard, Video/Equipment, San Antonio, TX
Jennifer Maulding, Interpreter, Naperville, IL
Jana Swenson, Interpreter, Minneapolis, MN
The team operates under the guidelines of USA Hockey and the USA Deaf Sports Federation. To qualify, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in their "better ear." Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed during competition to ensure all athletes play on the same level.
AHIHA funds the team through private donations as well as support from the USA Hockey Foundation. Donations to help team expenses can be made at www.ahiha.org or mailed to the organization at 9345 Harding Ave., Evanston, IL 60203-1320.
About the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA): AHIHA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is one of the leading sports organizations in the U.S. serving deaf and hard of hearing athletes. Founded in 1973 by National Hockey League Hall of Fame member Stan Mikita and businessman Irv Tiahnybik, AHIHA supports deaf and hard of hearing athletes to develop confidence and self-esteem while building life skills through the game of hockey. To learn more about AHIHA, please visit www.ahiha.org.
For information about the 2019 Winter Deaflympics
http://www.2019deaflympics.com/
