Garrett Muir is trying to go where no Butler in-line hockey player has gone before: onto the list of AAU All-Americans.

The Golden Tornado's junior goaltender was nominated the honor by his coach, Roger Hitchcock.

"The criteria for nomination are so difficult that only a handful of players from the league are even considered each year," Hitchcock said. "I never nominated one of our players before."

Butler plays in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Roller Hockey League, a league that debuted in 1999 with nine schools and 18 teams. It has 24 schools and 72 teams this year.

The league has about 800 players and is part of the Amateur Athletic Union. All of its players are registered with AAU.

Only five were nominated for All-American last year and this year.

Criteria include athletic ability, academic performance, work ethic and attitude.

Only his coach can nominate a player. Other league coaches must then support the nominee.

"Other coaches and referees, they all like Garrett," Hitchcock said. "Even Jon Roux, the league's commissioner, supported the nomination."

And why not? Muir started all 18 games for Butler's top-tier varsity team, going 9-9 with a 4.38 goals-against average while facing nearly 50 shots per game.

He carries a 4.3 grade point average and ranks 37th in his junior class of 631 students.

As part of the nomination, Muir had to submit a paper detailing his accomplishments.

"They wanted me to list all of my achievements, my statistics, school stuff - everything," Muir said.

Players named AAU All-American are invited to try out for the organization's Junior Team USA, an in-line all-star team that plays weekend tournaments throughout the country.

All-American selections will be announced during the PIRHL high school championships April 9 and 10 at Harmarville BladeRunners.

Muir has been a goaltender since third grade.

"When my family lived in Titusville, I played street hockey in the driveway with my Dad," Muir said. "When we moved to Butler, I saw an ad for in-line hockey at Family Sports Center and checked it out."

He's been playing ever since - always between the pipes.

"It's a unique position," Muir said. "There's usually 10 to 14 guys on a team, but only one goalie. And you get to be out there all the time.

"In-line hockey is the only sport I play now. It's faster-paced than ice hockey because you're not allowed to check. Checking slows up the game."

"Garrett is a rare commodity," Hitchcock said. "The toughest position to play in hockey is goalie and he enjoys playing that position."

Butler's in-line hockey program has five teams this year - two varsity, a junior varsity and two elementary school squads - with about 70 players involved.

All five teams reached the playoffs.

Next year, Butler will field three varsity teams, a junior varsity squad, two middle school teams and might add a third elementary team.

"We could have had more teams this year, but we didn't have enough coaches," Hitchcock said. "We're still looking for coaches for next year. We have a training program for it."

Hitchcock figures to have at least 100 kids in the program next year. Muir, for one, isn't surprised.

"It's the fastest-growing participation sport in America," he said.

And while Muir is petitioning his coach to let him skate a game or two for one of the Tornado's lower-tier teams, Hitchcock balks at the idea.

"No way," the coach said. "He's the only goalie I have on our top team. I'm not risking an injury."

Muir is also the starting goalie for the Butler Cobras, an 18-under Butler County all-star team that competes in the Pennsylvania Power League. Butler won that league a year ago with Muir in goal.

Muir isn't planning for his in-line hockey career to end in high school.

"Most colleges have teams now and I want to play," he said.