Champions Crowned, Records Broken, and the Pro's take the Stage

It was another busy day at State Wars 22, with action taking place at both the PSM Icehouse and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The day started bright and early at the Coliseum, where our staff and an outstanding group of volunteers worked tirelessly to install the flooring. Their effort was nothing short of incredible, laying the floor in record time and transforming the arena into a world-class inline hockey venue. A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in to make it happen!

Meanwhile, championship dreams became reality at the PSM Icehouse as several divisions crowned their State Wars champions.

2013 AAA Champions: Texas
2013 AA Champions: British Columbia
2013 A Champions: Illinois
2011 A Champions: New Jersey
2011 B Champions: Missouri Blue

The championship games at the PSM Icehouse delivered everything fans hoped for — competitive hockey, great individual performances, and teams battling until the final buzzer.

2013 AAA: One of the biggest stories of the day belonged to Team Texas, who captured the program's first-ever AAA gold medal at State Wars. It was a historic accomplishment for the Lone Star State and one that many are already comparing to the legendary 1993 Texas team led by Stefan Noesen and Cason Hohmann. This year's squad proved they belong among the best Texas teams in State Wars history.

Texas didn't have an easy road to the championship, however. Team Georgia put together an outstanding tournament and pushed Texas every step of the way in a hard-fought championship game. Congratulations to Georgia on a tremendous run and a well-earned silver medal.

2013 AA: Another great story came from British Columbia, who returned to State Wars in impressive fashion. After being away from the event, BC made an immediate statement by capturing the 2013 AA Championship, showing they remain one of the premier programs in inline hockey.

2013 A: Illinois put together a fantastic run in the 2013 A Division, playing outstanding hockey throughout the tournament. They faced a talented Arizona team in the championship game, and the matchup showcased the depth and skill of both programs. It was a great representation of the level of competition throughout State Wars.

2011 B: Missouri Blue also had a memorable championship run, defeating a very talented Colombia team in a hard-fought battle. Colombia brought an exciting international style of play to the tournament and proved they could compete with the best, while Missouri Blue continued their strong tradition at State Wars.

In the 2011 A Division, New Jersey captured the championship after an exciting battle with Alberta. The game went down to the wire before Brady Gray delivered the deciding moment, scoring a huge late-game slap shot goal to secure the victory for New Jersey and send their team into celebration.

The championship games once again showed what makes State Wars special — teams from across the country and around the world competing at a high level, creating unforgettable moments and memories for players, coaches, and families.

The 2010 A Bauer Hockey Skills Competition also featured outstanding individual performances. Congratulations to all of our champions:

• Fastest Skater: Trey James (Tennessee)
• Accuracy Shooting: Aidan Barnett (New Jersey)
• Top Sniper: Easton Jensen (Alberta)
• Top Goalie: Mason Shoaf (Virginia)
• Obstacle Course: Nathan Johnson (Pennsylvania)

The PAMA Pro Play-In Tournament got underway with a full slate of highly competitive games. The level of play did not disappoint, and after an exciting opening day, Labeda FREEZ and the Tour Road Runners earned their spots in the PAMA Pro Invitational, where they'll join the top teams in our sport!

The FREEZ Women's Pro Showdown also gets underway tomorrow, bringing together many of the top women's inline hockey teams. With national team standouts, State Wars veterans, and rising stars all competing for the championship, fans can expect fast-paced, highly skilled hockey from start to finish. The Women's Pro division continues to grow each year and has become one of the premier showcases of elite women's inline hockey.

Tomorrow promises to be one of the biggest days of the tournament. The 12U and 14U NDP Inline Showcase gets underway, featuring many of the top young players from across North America and around the world. At the Coliseum, the spotlight turns to the PAMA Pro Invitational and the FREEZ Women's Pro Showdown, where the sport's elite teams will battle for one of the most prestigious titles in inline hockey.

This is shaping up to be a can't-miss day at State Wars 22. We can't wait to see everyone at the rink!