Pama Pro Play In Preview

The History

State Wars has been at the pinnacle of roller hockey tournaments over the past several years, and one idea that came to light was the Pama Pro Play-In. Before the Play-In started, the Pama Pro Invitational was an invite-only Pro tournament selected based on previous results from events like State Wars Summer Slam and other State Wars tournaments.

In 2024, the Play-In was introduced as a preliminary tournament with two brackets of four teams each. Of those eight teams, the top two teams from each bracket after round robin would move on to the Pama Pro Invitational.

Now, a lot of people tend to overlook the Play-In because of the spotlight that gets shined on the Invitational, but there is still a really great tournament happening with teams that are knocking on the door of the big dance. The remaining teams continue on to their own playoff series, where one team is crowned the Play-In champion.

This year, there are some new teams and some surprising teams competing for a chance to play in the greatest roller hockey tournament our sport has to offer.

RDN Ranking - Anths and Robbs predictions for the 2026 Pama Pro Play In

The Teams

Rinkster Blood and Feathers

Let’s start with last year’s winner of the Play-In, Rinkster Blood and Feathers. BnF has been competing in the State Wars Pro Division since 2022. They received their first bid by finishing second in the East Coast Summer Slam before making their way to the Pama Pro Invitational.

This team has made several changes to its original roster and has improved its results year after year. Now, there seems to be this overwhelming hate for these guys, and I can’t say I haven’t been one of them. But over the years, you get to know the guys competing, and you have friends who find their way onto this team. Then you realize they’re just trying to do what everyone else wants to do: win.

That finally happened last year as BnF defeated Rinkster 5-4 in OT. I was live for this game, and I will say it was one of the best games of the summer, with several lead changes, late goals, and a ton of pride from both teams.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 3rd | Robb — 3rd

Rinkster

We wouldn’t be doing the blog justice without breaking down the runner-up, Rinkster.

Rinkster is a particularly interesting team. Originally, Rinkster, formerly Rink Rat, was in the Pama Pro Invitational but seemed to lose grip on its roster year after year. Last year, Ryan Daubenmire was tasked with building a roster for the Play-In. I can recall him asking guys at NARCh to join the team to make sure the roster would be one of the top teams in the tournament.

His roster consisted of a lot of guys from California, with a sprinkle of Arizona. His most noticeable pickup was Jack Perry. Perry is a native of Massachusetts and got a lot of hype after his call-up to Boston University’s D1 team. Jack did not see any action in the NCAA, but he sure did see a ton in the Play-In.

Since there was so much uncertainty with last year’s roster, it’s really difficult to know what this year will bring. But if the boys bring back a similar roster, they will be knocking on the door of the Pama Pro Invitational. 

RDN Ranking: Anth — 4th | Robb — 5th

Labeda FREEZ

If you want to talk about coming onto the roller scene with a bang, then you have to mention the Labeda FREEZ. Whether it’s on the rink or off the rink, the FREEZ are not shy.

Much like BnF, the FREEZ did not start in the Pro Division. The Men’s Platinum team, run by Vince Free, became dominant in the roller scene, so it was only natural that they eventually made the jump to Pro.

Justin Greenberg, along with his brother Jordan, were the first guys I can remember, years back, saying they wanted to make the jump to Pro. Eventually, they did. They’ve added pieces like Kyle Novak, Jakub Bernad and Jonathan Joy. All of which carried the FREEZ through last year's Play In. 

Their roster is another one that is never set in stone and never satisfied. The biggest pickup we know of is between the pipes: Jimmy Teed. I had the privilege of playing with Teeder on a few occasions, and there is no one in the sport who wants to win more than this guy. The combination of Teed and Joy is the best 1,2 punch in the entire tournament. 

With Teed in net, the FREEZ have to be the heavy favorite in their bracket to make it to the Pama Pro Invitational.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 1st | Robb — 2nd

Tour Roadrunners

No, this is not a typo. The Tour Roadrunners are in the Play-In.

We could stop it there, but what fun would that be?

The Roadies have been a consistent team in the Pama Pro Invitational for years, but they have seen a bit of a decline in round robin play over the past two tournaments. Now, I say this while treading lightly because you could start them in the Invitational without a Play-In, they could win their bracket, and no one would bat an eye.

Unfortunately, they will have to earn that chance by finishing at the top of their bracket in the Play-In first.

Is this a bad thing for the Roadies? F**k no.

This is the team I think benefits the most from the Play-In. In the past two years, the Roadies are 1-7. They seem to start tournaments slowly and never find themselves on the winning side of close games. I think the Play-In will be a head start for the Roadies and will only help them if they make it to the Pama Pro Invitational.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 2nd | Robb — 1st

Mach 1 Kemistry

Anthony Violante is going to have his hands full this year with not one, but two teams in the Play-In.

Kemistry is an up-and-coming team on the scene. Or are they?

This is the team I am most interested in outside of the top four teams above. Kemistry never really seems to shock anyone with big wins, but they are a team that will hang around with top teams until the final push.

Their biggest issue is simply youth and inexperience. After two years, the boys have gone 3-3, which isn’t going to get you to the Invitational, but it barely scratches the surface of what they could become as a top team in the Play-In.

I would love to see Kemistry pick up a few veteran players to help the kids through these growing pains and become the next Roadrunners of the future.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 6th | Robb — 6th

Hockey Plus+

Staying on the East Coast, we move to Hockey Plus+.

These guys made a name for themselves last year at TORHS with a small roster, but it was a roster that shocked the roller world by making the playoffs and putting up a good fight against a stacked Carshield team in the quarterfinals.

There aren’t a ton of games to look back on with these guys, but being a mostly PA team, I know the cast of characters very well. As we know, roller hockey rosters change when the wind blows, but based on last year’s roster, two names really stand out: Joel and Sam Eisenhower.

The brothers are legitimate Pro players and have played for the infamous Unify Konixx Black Ice. Crash-out moment: can we chill with the team sentences?

Joel is a stud in net, and Sammy is an elite two-way forward with great leadership qualities. Anyway, with Joel and Sam leading the charge, I wouldn’t be surprised if this team is playing its last round robin game for a chance to make the Pama Pro Invitational.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 5th | Robb — 4th

Rinkster Sweden

Is Rinkster the new Labeda? Holy hell, how many Rinkster teams are in this Play-In?

In all seriousness, Rinkster Sweden is traveling a long way to play hockey in Indiana. They haven’t found a win yet in the Play-In, but each year they seem to get a little better.

Last year, they lost to BnF in the semis by one goal. The year before that, they were in the Invitational and had one of the wildest games of that tournament, taking the Roadrunners to the brink in their third round robin game.

I am calling Rinkster Sweden to get their first win in the Play-In.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 7th | Robb — 7th

Tour Jr Mudcats

Welcome the new kids on the block: the Tour Jr Mudcats.

This is the only team that has yet to compete in a Pama Pro event. Or is it?

The Jr Mudcats will be compiled of the USA Jr National Team. Over the past two years Team USA has really dumped all of its chips into the NDP Program and this seems like another step in the right direction. But will they be competitive? The Jr Men haven’t even won their own division in several years and have really been on a steady decline since 2018. 

Regardless of the results the Mudcats are back, and it’s an iconic team from Pro Roller Hockey. So we have to assume they have a few tricks up their sleeve.

Could you imagine CJ Yoder making his way back into Pro and competing in the Play-In? Unlikely, but I have to assume he’s at least the coach.

Regardless, this team is by far the biggest question mark of the tournament.

RDN Ranking: Anth — 8th | Robb — 8th