Gentlemen, this crossover interview is for us the opportunity to bring together the former and the new captain of Team USA... Is it difficult to be the captain of such a team?
Greg Thompson : “I guess you can say it can be sometimes pretty difficult to be the captain of the United States. You are basically expected to win year in and year out, and people don't actually realize how good the competition actually is. You have to lead by example and make sure everyone is ready to compete. It is hard to get everyone to be in tune at the same time because there are usually so many different personalities on a team. Most guys are used to be a go to guy on their club teams, while on the US team they may just be for example a penalty killer or even a grinder. Not too many people get the opportunity to be named the captain of the United States team so it is a huge honor! Thanks to the past/present coaches and the board that gave me the opportunity!”
CJ Yoder : “First of all, this is the biggest honor that I have ever known I have to say that I have been blessed with some amazing players who have always made this leadership role very easy to me. The guys have always understood that, when I had to take decisions or had something to say, it was only for the wellness of the team. So I think they always gave me the utmost respect. I appreciate every single man who I had the opportunity to play with, througt all these years.”

Greg, you are the person who succeeded to CJ as captain of the american team. An heavy charge without doubt…
Greg : “YES! CJ has accomplished so much in the sport and has been a great leader. There is a lot of pressure! It is just very different for me because I am dealing with a whole new generation of players...A lot of the guys who CJ played with were in the team for a long time and knew what CJ expected on and off the rink. CJ was well respected by everyone so I had to gain the trust of my teammates and coaches (Obviously I am still learning).”


Thompson: "CJ is to roller hockey, what Wayne Gretzky is to ice hockey"


You will be embarrassed CJ with the following… A very large number of people with whom we share the view, say that you are the greatest roller hockey player of all-time. What do you think?
CJ : “This is not easy for me but I feel honored that you even think about the question . I have had the opportunity to play with some amazing players, and I'm not sure all of this would even have been possible without them. I have tried to represent the sport correctly both on and off the floor and I hope people remember CJ Yoder for both. I appreciate everything this great sport has given me and I hope I can be a part of its growth in the years to come.”
Greg : “As for me, even if the question is for CJ, I want to answer. My mind is made. CJ is to roller hockey, what Wayne Gretzky is to ice hockey. I'm not the only one to think like that. He is a player of great class and I do not see what I do not like about him. He is great with children, but above all, someone who deeply respect the game.”

Are you close to in life?
Greg : “Yes we are. We talk a lot together, by phone or emails. I'm even surprised that he answered so quickly to your interview (laughs). When I go for a ride to Colorado, I always take time to visit him. We usually meet in winter time or around March for the “Winter Wars.”
CJ : “As Greg said, yes we are close. This is an exceptional player and a wonderful person. I am happy to do this interview with him.”

CJ, we met you for the fisrt time when you were in the national team with your brother, Jamie, and when your father, Charles, was the coach of the team… It had to be a special adventure.
CJ : “This is one of the strongest memories I keep. This is a subject we often talk about when we are in family. Leading the U.S. team was a huge honor for our father and a real treat for me. My brother and I continue to evolve together in professional roller hockey league with the Colorado Springs Thunder. We appreciate every single minute. Having worn the jersey of the United States with my father and my brother beside me is something I will never forget.”

However today you decided to represent the United States only wearing the jersey of the IIHF and no longer the one of World FIRS, why?
CJ : “The authorities who run the chain FIRS here have acted in a manner that does not seem to be the best, I will say no more. I was a fervent supporter of USARS (USA Roller Sports FIRS affiliated body, ie) for over ten years and have done everything they asked me to, all over the past years. But things have changed and I had no other choice than to leave the group FIRS. One of the hardest decisions I have ever made… It still hurts to talk about it… Moreover, USA Hockey, which governs the national team IIHF version has been remarkable. The professionalism that has lived in this organization is well beyond what can be known elsewhere. The leaders were very good to me, I really enjoyed these last two editions of the IIHF world. I hope to be part of this year again.”


Yoder : "Being the coach of Team USA would be an honor"


You'll turn 36 this year… Could you imagine being the new coach of  Team USA forward?
CJ : “I always play as much as I can. But I get involved more and more in coaching children in Colorado. I have never dared to hide the fact that I would be more than honored to lead our national team one day. But I will play until they tell me that the time has come to stop.”

Greg, for the first time last summer, France defeated United States (2-1 win with goals from Benoit Ladonne and Renaud Crignier, ed.) You are of course well placed to evaluate the French roller hockey…
Greg : “Yes, thank you for reminding me (laughs). No team is perfect and losing is part of the game. It can be a useful lever to become world champion. France has a talent and an incredible love for this sport. Your players give their best to raise the level regularly and we still need more nations to take roller hockey that seriously. I have profound respect for the French team, I will not be surprised when they are world champions. It will happen, I have no doubt.”

In relation with French team let's talk about the “Old World”, which memories do you keep of your own experience in Europe?
CJ : “Apart from my career in the U.S. team, the fact of being a member of the Asiago Vipers especially during European competitions was something terrific. I looked forward to it every year. This is the best organization I have known and it allowed me to live great experiences. The passion that European countries have in playing and supporting their team is unmatched. I think I am an honest person and the way the Vipers treated me well would make me think twice before playing for another team. I didn't have the opportunity to join the team this year but I'm always ready to think about it if somebody asks. The French are amazing, I could consider the possibility of playing in France.”
Greg : “The Europeans seem to be more chauvinist than us. I do not know if it's me, but I suspect a lot of players here to consider that things are granted in our country. As CJ said, the feeling of passion and support in Europe is very strong. Sometimes I had the feeling of being at a football game with all these drums, whistles, sirens. The players play all year long and many countries have excellent players and guards. This is the case of the French team, who has exceptional skaters. And skating prints the pace of a game and therefore better help to control it. I also feel that Europeans are shooting more often than we do.”


Yoder : "If one day the roller hockey wants to turn to the Olympics,
I think the role of the United States should be more engaged"


In an interview he recently gave us, Itan Chavira said that the future of roller hockey, is Europe. What do you think about it?
CJ : “At the present time in the U.S., I agree with him. All the experiences I have had in Europe were particularly professional and everything seemed much better structured. If one day the roller hockey wants to turn to the Olympics, I think the role of the United States should be more engaged.”
Greg : “I totally agree with Itan. We have big and beautiful tournaments here, but Europe has shown the way to the world. It's complicated to explain that to someone who has not lived he experience, how in Europe things are done professionally. We are always looking to raise the level. We have big leagues too (PIHA, AIHL, MLRH ...) but everything is much more serious in Europe. There is more money and I do not know a lot of players who are paid to play here in the United States. I hope someday we could live again the experience as RHI.”

CJ, Olympism for roller hockey, can we really believe in it?
CJ : “It's something I have always dreamed of. But to become true, the 2 world championships will have to be united. We can not have two American teams, or even 2 French teams one day. I really hope my children will have the opportunity to represent their country at world championships, but also at the Olympics.”
Greg : “I have often heard rumors but I'll believe it when I see it. I lived twice the World Games (2005 and 2009) and these are the most beautiful experiences of my sport life, then I cannot imagine what could be the Olympics. It will become true oneday, but not yet, and I hope I'll be witness of the event.”

Undeniably the sport has grown up considerably, but we are far to say that the Worlds are close to be united….
CJ : “Yes, nothing will happen before a long time , but it is so essential!. This partly explains the disorder of the sport in the United States. We will need someone or a group of people who take this problem head-on body and if we fail, we will be in big trouble. This sport has grown up considerably with the boom of the 90’s. But today has come the time when the generation of typically players from the roller hockey are more numerous. Parents themselves follow their children in this second generation, it is very exciting.”
Greg : “A reunification would be ideal for our sport, but I do not think it will happen. We need everybody on the same wavelength. It's still very diluted, even thought today we would need some sort of central authority. This sport has taken so many steps that it is now perfectly entrenched in different parts of the world. But in the United States, the number of players is not increasing. We need people who are involved in the sport, and help new players to be involved too. It is also the youth who will help the roller hockey to go higher.”

Just between us gentlemen, the way the U.S. dominated the sport couldn't be a brake to its development?
CJ : “No, I don't think so. Early in the history of the World, we were clearly above the average. The understanding and assimilation of this new sport were maybe more natural to us. This probably explains that for many years , and still sometimes nowadays, the opponents of our nation are often coming as outsiders and rarely as favorites. That obviously prevents them to play with their true potential, if only mentally. Several teams, including French team, have hugely grown up and gold medail is more uncertain every year.”
Greg : “I will talk only for U.S. teams. I can say that we try to respect everyone, every time. Somewhere, we represent the United States of America and certainly that our parents instilled good values. But I do not think this is what makes us win. Respect the opponent is an essential foundation for me.”

End on a funnier touch ... What little story about each other can you tell us?
CJ : “I feel I'm not going to be on my advantage on this question ... (laughs). I'll be honest, Greg is a classy guy. I'm racking my brains to get a revelation, I can not find one. I'm just proud to have had the opportunity to play with and against him. This is one of the best players I know.”
Greg : “I'll be less fun, it's a joke between us ... I will propose him to take off his hat and hangs it on here ... (laughs).”