International Hockey

John Carlson scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to give Team USA a 6-5 win over Canada at the gold medal game of the 2010 Word Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

A capacity crowd of 15,171 at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatchewan sat silenced as the Americans poured onto the ice following a wild contest which saw both starting goaltenders replaced by their coaches. 

In the end, it was Martin Jones in net for the Canadians when Carlson buried a snapper from the left face-off dot to finish off a 3-on-1 rush.

That marker negated a furious third-period rally from Canada to force the extra session.  Trailing 5-3 with less than three minutes remaining, Edmonton Oilers prospect Jordan Eberle—the tournament's MVP—potted two goals past American goaltender Jack Campbell in a span of 74 seconds.

Campbell—the losing netminder when the Americans played Canada on New Year's Eve—entered the game early in the second period after Mike Lee stopped just four of Canada's first seven shots.  The 17-year-old proceeded to stop the next 28 shots Canada put on net before Eberle tallied his two late markers.

From ESPN.com :

Chris Kreider, Jordan Schroeder, Jerry D'Amigo and team captain Derek Stepan also scored for the U.S., which had underachieved in this tournament in recent years with bigger names and more first-round NHL draft picks in the lineup.

The U.S. held a selection camp prior to this tournament for the first time instead of simply selecting 22 players for its team.

Canada has held selection camps for decades and the practice seemed to help the U.S. as it played a more cohesive team game in the tournament.

From TSN.ca :

The victory gives the Americans only their second Gold medal in tournament history and snaps Canada's streak of five straight Gold medals.

After the game Carlson was elated that he was able to come through in the clutch and beat a talented team.

"They're a feisty team, they're a great team and it was unbelievable playing them on New Year's Eve and now here it was just play our game," Carlson told TSN. "We know they're going to get chances and score goals, that's how good they are. We just needed to play our game and tonight it worked out."

When asked the difference between this team and previous American teams that appeared to be stocked with more talent, Team USA head coach Dean Blais gave a tip of his hat to the hosts.

"We played Canadian hockey," Blais told TSN.

GAME SHEET

On December 30, Team Canada recently announced the Men's Canadian Ice Hockey team for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. A quick look at the players selected to Team Canada this year shows some major changes from the last Winter Olympics in 2006.

Rather than emphasizing experience, as was done in 2006, when players such as Shane Doan, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St Louis, and Ryan Smyth were selected, all of them were left off the 2010 team. In their places are players with not nearly as much international experience, such as Eric Staal, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Jonathan Toews.

Forwards:

A good mix of experience and youth, as well as top six and checking line forwards are present in the selection of Team Canada. Canada has three top lines that should shoulder the bulk of the scoring, as well as a solid checking line with players such as Brendan Morrow and Mike Richards.

In 2006, despite a stellar start to his rookie campaign, a notable omission was that of the then 19-year-old Sidney Crosby. This year he'll be counted on to play a very important role as Canada's top center and one of three alternate captains.

Defense:

If there would be any controversial selections, it would likely center around the defensemen picked for Team Canada. However, while some might express surprise at players such as Mike Green, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf being left off the team, it actually makes a lot of sense leaving off players who are routinely among the NHL's highest scoring defensemen.

With the abundance of offense that Team Canada will have with all of their forward lines, Team Canada will be relying on their defense to do one thing and one thing only: play defense. Accordingly, it makes a lot more sense that more "defensive defensemen" such as Duncan Keith, Shea Weber and Brent Seabrook were chosen instead.

Both Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger will try to reproduce the same success in Vancouver that they had together as defensemen in Anaheim when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Goaltending:

No surprise here, as Team Canada's goaltending situation has been universally predicted to be Marty Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and someone else over all of 2009. Marc-Andre Fleury deserves this third spot as he's had a really solid start this year (22-11-1, 2.49 goals against average with a .907 save percentage though December 30).

Other Olympic hopefuls such as Cam Ward (5-13-5, 3.17 goals against average with a .896 save percentage through December 30) and Steve Mason (11-13-6, 3.18 goals against average with a .894 save percentage through December 30) have struggled this year, making Fleury the logical choice.

With such a talented group of skaters up front, no matter who is picked to be the starting goalie for Team Canada will not be required nor expected to "steal games." Rather, a talented team like Team Canada just needs a goaltender who is simply just solid in net.

Predictions for 2010:

Overall Team Canada this year seems like a balanced team. Of course, this team is going for gold and anything less would be a huge failure. With the players selected this year and with no glaring weaknesses, coupled with the fact that the Canadian team is playing in front of their home crowd, a gold medal will very likely be won by the Canadian men's ice hockey team in February 2010.

Team Canada (http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=24276.html?cid=rsstsn )

Team Canada needed overtime to come from behind and beat Team USA 5 to 4 on New Year's Eve at the World Junior Championships at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The high tempo game, played in front of over 15,000 junior hockey fans, had breakaways, a penalty shot, and three short-handed goals.

Both teams were undefeated going into the game, easily defeating Latvia, Slovakia, and Switzerland. Canada outscored the competition 30 to 2 in the first three games while the USA beat the same teams 22 to 4.

Team Canada is the five-time defending gold-medalists for the IIHF championship. The last team to beat them was the USA, back in 2004.

Canada got on the scoreboard early as Stefan Della Rovere put the puck past Jack Campbell of the USA at three seconds after the two minute mark.

The USA tied it less that two minutes later on a power play as Philip McRae scored on Jake Allen. The first period ended with the score tied 1-1.

Jordan Schroeder got a breakaway and scored short-handed while Team Canada had a powerplay in the first half of the second period. 

Jordan Eberle tied the game at 8:43.

Kreider was awarded a penalty shot, after getting tripped in front of Canada's net, but he failed to score on Allen, who stopped Kyle Palmieri on a breakaway shortly after. 

Tyler Johnson got the lead back with another short-handed goal for the USA with 11 seconds left in the second period.

It was the USA 3 and Canada 2 at the end of two periods.

Taylor Hall missed on two chances at the start of the third period and Danny Kristo scored to make it 4 to 2 for the USA at the start of the third period.

It became a one goal game when Jordan Eberle scored for Canada at 9:52 of the third.

Team Canada got a short-handed goal to tie the game Alex Pietrangelo with four minutes remaining.

Canada got a go-ahead goal a minute later but it was waved off and the fans in the stands littered the ice in response.

The game was tied at 4 after three periods. 

In the five minute overtime, playing 4 aside, both teams had big chances in the final minute but no-one scored.

Each team had three shots after the overtime period. The USA won the coin toss to determine the shooting order and elected to have Canada go first.

Jordan Eberle was the first shooter and he scored for Canada. Danny Kristo scored for the USA. Nazem Kadri scored for Canada. Brad Morrin scored for the USA. Brandon Kozum scored the winning goal for Canada.

Canada won first place in Group B in the tournament so they claim a bye, to go straight in to the semi-finals, while the USA, will have to play a quarterfinal game against Finland.

Sweden clinched first place in Group B with a 7-1 win over Finland, earning a bye into the semifinals, earlier in the day.

Last time we looked at the defensemen and goaltenders likely to play in Vancouver (see article here), now it’s time to look at the forwards.

As stated before, as the tournament progresses, it will be less and less likely that the Americans can out skate their opponents.  The US needs to play a physical game low on style points, and high on toughness.  The smaller North American rink will encourage that to some extent, but the team needs to force such an approach.

In these low scoring games, fewer mistakes beat more great plays.  Special teams will be extremely critical, as will experience and leadership.  Here is a look at the forwards that should get a passport ready for February.

1.  Dustin Brown – LA

The captain for the 2009 World Championships, Brown has amassed 20 points and 36 penalty minutes for his international career (including Juniors).  The Kings captain might well be wearing the “C” again for Team USA.  It’s hard to imagine Brown not being one of the first players on Burke’s list.

Brown is second among US born NHL players in hits this season, and will be used to set the tone for the type of game the US wants to play.  With the use of a North American sized rink this year, look for more physical games that international play usually provides.  This will suit Brown as well as anyone.

2.  Patrick Kane – CHI

Perhaps the most skilled player on the potential roster, Kane could be groomed to be a captain in 2014 if his game continues to progress. 

Kane was successful in international play at the 2007 World Juniors and in the 2008 World Championships.  If there is plenty of grit and toughness around him, which there should be, Kane could be the player to make the highlight plays for Team USA.  It’s hard to imagine a lot of success for the United States without a solid contribution from Kane.

3.  Zach Parise – NJ

Parise is already halfway to another 30-goal season, which would be his fourth straight.  An impressive feat anywhere, it is even more impressive in a system like New Jersey’s that emphasizes defense and puck control versus taking a lot of shots.  Last season, Parise was third in the NHL in goal scoring.  Expect him on the powerplay unit for Team USA.

4.  Ryan Malone – TB

If the Red, White, and Blue are truly seeking toughness, just watch the puck Ryan Malone took to the face in game five of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals in Detroit.  Then remember that he came back, still without a visor.  If Team USA wants to win ugly, he could be the most attractive candidate at forward. 

While not the most skilled on the team, there’s no one better available to plant in front of the opposing goaltender on the powerplay.  His 18 goals thus far aren’t always highlight material, but they have all gone in the scoresheet.  Malone should be a perfect fit for the type of team being assembled.

5.  Jamie Langenbrunner – NJ

 

The New Jersey captain is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a former Olympian (1998).  He also played international hockey as recently as 2004 on the World Cup team.  He’s saved his best for the biggest moments through the course of his career, emphasized by his 12 career game winning goals in the playoffs. 

Langenbrunner is a candidate to be a captain on this year’s squad, although probably a dark horse candidate behind Dustin Brown.

 

6.  David Booth – FLA

If Booth doesn’t make the roster, it would only be due to the Mike Richards induced concussion that has had him on the shelf since October.  If he returns as expected in January, it shouldn’t be an issue.  However, since the selection will be made before his return, it might way into the minds of the power brokers.  I would suspect his talent makes him worth the gamble, particularly since he should be 100 percent by February.

Booth had a 31 goal season last year, and was a member of the 2008 World Championship roster. 

7.  Bill Guerin – PIT

While some have suggested that Guerin wear a “C” for the Olympics, I can’t really see him taking the honor over Brown, Langenbrunner, or Rafalski.  Guerin does add a bit of professionalism, and can mentor the young leaders in the same way he has assisted Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh.  He’s lifted cups and played internationally at the highest level.  That combination is tough to find and puts Guerin on the roster.

8.  Ryan Kesler - VAN

We need at least one Vancouver player on our side, right?  Kesler makes this team for many reasons, but none more important than his ability to take face-offs.  No American born player has won more this year, and his percentage is impressive from either side of the goalie. 

Kesler also brings a physical presence and will be placed against the opposition’s scoring lines as often as possible.  He will be another fixture when the Americans are shorthanded.

9.  Phil Kessel – TOR

 

Kessel simply has too much offensive skill to be left off the squad.  He’s been in a bit of a slump the past two weeks, but he netted 36 goals last season and should come close to that number again this season in Toronto.  He is no stranger to international competition, having scored six goals in seven games in the 2008 World Championships,

Additionally, if needed, Kessel, Kane, Langenbrunner, and Parise would be my shootout selections in that order.

 

10.  Paul Stastny – COL

Like teammate Anderson, another very pleasant surprise on the most surprising team in the NHL.  Arguments can be made that other forwards are better hockey players and are left off, but the US team is deeper at wing than at center.  Finding a center who can distribute is a necessity, and that makes Stastny a logical selection.

11.  David Backes – STL

Another prototype of what this team needs to look like to win in Vancouver, Backes scores goals and is not afraid to stick his face into dangerous places.  He won’t back down going against the best defensemen in the world, and will bring energy and grit to the roster.  Naturally a wing, he can also take a key face-off if needed.

I expect Backes and Malone to log major shorthanded minutes as well.  If Backes can stay out of the penalty box himself, he’ll be an asset to the quest for a medal.

 

12.  Tim Connolly - BUF

Another creative playmaker on the team won’t hurt, and Connolly’s nine powerplay assists have captured some attention.  He can play shorthanded and take draws, but he probably won’t be asked to do either on this team.  With more focus allowed to him on the offensive end, he should be able to take the puck cleanly into the zone, and set up his powerful wingers for a few ugly goals.

13.  Dustin Byfuglien – CHI

 

The Blackhawks might as well host their own Olympics.  Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp could all end up representing team Canada, and Patrick Kane is a lock for the US squad.  Cristobal Huet would be a lock for the French team, if only they were participating.  With all of that talent skating around, it can be easy to overlook (or misspell) Byfuglien, despite his ten goals thus far.

He has very quietly had a fantastic season at the offensive end, and would be my pick to slip into the last roster spot.  If Ryan Callahan or Chris Drury slip into this slot instead, which is not impossible, I would read that as a move for shorthanded depth.  However, with Langenbrunner, Backes, Kesler, and Malone already on board with good penalty killing prowess, I’ll take Byfuglien’s offense over either the two struggling veterans.

With this roster, the Americans will hardly be favorites, but they’ll have achieved the goal of being a team that no one wants to play against.  If they can get a few bounces, avoid key mistakes, and get some solid goaltending, this group might return to their NHL clubs with  stories, bragging rights, and a little heavier around the neck.

Among the many attractions the upcoming Winter Classic from Fenway Park will be the announcement of the 2010 Olympic roster for Team USA. 

While fans are split on the idea of an Olympic break from the NHL schedule, and there is some dissent on whether a fan even wants his players to be involved, there is no denying the honor that comes with an Olympic invitation.

With that said, Team USA General Manager Brian Burke isn’t out to select the 23 best players, or even the 23 most deserving.  He needs to find the 23 men who will give the Americans the best chance to be present for the medal ceremony—preferably in the middle of the podium.

To pull off such a mighty task, Burke will need to have a clear game plan.  Although the strategy will not be publicized, it is probably safe to assume the Americans won’t be able to skate with the Russians or pound it out rolling four lines with the Canadians. 

The Americans will need to win ugly, relying on special teams and goaltending if they want to leave Vancouver with more than memories.

In this article we’ll examine the best candidates for defensemen and goaltenders for the squad to play and win in this type of style and environment. 

A hot goalie can beat anyone on a given day, and here are the three most likely candidates to get the opportunity to get hot at the right time.

Goaltenders:

1.  Ryan Miller – BUF

Probably started the season as the second on the list, but with Thomas struggling at times and Miller’s hot start, he’s played himself into the No. 1 slot. If the Americans end up with a medal, the Buffalo goaltender will probably be the one to thank.

2.  Tim Thomas - BOS

Despite his four shutouts, the Flint, Michigan product has had a disappointing season by most accounts. His 8-8-4 record shows how the defending Vezina winner has struggled.  Also, he is only .500 in shootouts for his career with 19 wins and 19 losses. Since gold medals have been decided on shootouts in the past, this has to be a key part of the discussion.

Thomas may have started the season as the favorite, but is likely to see time only as the second goaltender in 2010.

3.  Craig Anderson - COL

Anderson’s start to the 2009-10 season may be the most positive surprise for any goaltender in the league.  Anderson was not present for the orientation camp, but this will probably not be held against him in the selection process as it might a skater. The 18-8-5 start will be hard to overlook for a seven year veteran.

To try to limit the pressure on these three American goaltenders, the U.S. squad will need a set of blueliners to keep players and rubber away from them, and to maintain pressure on the other end.  This group will include some familiar faces, some new faces, and maybe a forgotten face along the way.

Defensemen:

1.  Brian Rafalski – DET

Rafalski has played in the Cup Finals five times and has lifted it three times. He has played professionally in Sweden and Finland, and understands the European game. He has played on the last two U.S. Olympic teams and there is no reason to believe this won’t be the third. Go ahead and write this pick in ink.

2.  Erik Johnson – STL

The first overall pick in 2006 is playing the best hockey of his life.  He already has 21 points on the year, and the Americans will want to get him as much international experience as possible. At 21 years of age, this will not be his last Olymipcs. Another very easy pick.

3.  Rob Scuderi – LA

While not mentioned on many projected rosters, the roster would be incomplete without Rob Scuderi. A stay-at-home defensemen, Scuderi is at his best when you don’t notice him. If fans didn’t notice him anchoring the Penguin defense en route to a Stanley Cup last spring, they surely have lost track of him since his move to the West Coast.

You can bet that the Team USA brain trust didn’t overlook his contributions, and he will play a well defined role on the team. Expect to see Scuderi matched up (as well as international rules allow) against top forwards, and as a fixture when short-handed.  Scuderi is also as good of a three-on-five defenseman as the NHL has seen in the last decade.

4.  Ryan Suter – NSH

 

OK, we’ll get the obligaorty “Miracle on Ice” reference out of the way right now.  Suter’s father, Bob, was a defenseman in Lake Placid in 1980. It would make a great story to have two generations of gold medal winners, but that’s not why Suter plays in Vancouver.

Suter will make this team based on merit, and the fact he logs the second most minutes among American born skaters in the NHL (behind only Ryan Whitney). He logs shorthanded minutes, he logs powerplay minutes, and he logs even strength minutes—and most of those are highly productive.

He’s not on place to match his 45 point season from last year, but he contributes in enough ways to play for the Red, White, and Blue like his father thirty years ago.

5.  Alex Goligoski  - PIT

Although more Penguins fans probably expect teammate Brooks Orpik to represent the Penguin blueline along with Russian Sergei Gonchar, Goligoski might be working his way to being the Olympian. More of an offensive minded defenseman who isn’t uncomfortable in his own end, Goligoski could potentially quarterback the second powerplay unit, or play the opposite point.

The fact he did not attend the orientation camp might keep him out. Although deserving, it might be a stretch for someone who was considered by many to be the best player in the AHL only a season ago.

6.  Paul Martin – NJD

Martin is recovering from an arm injury which seems to be taking more time to heal than expected. If Martin is healthy, he belongs on the roster. If not, Brooks Orpik might jump into the last position.

Martin is the type of defensemen the U.S. needs. He isn’t flashy, but opposing teams don’t score goals when he is on the ice. He is at least a +20 each of the last two seasons logging impressive minutes at even strength and on the powerplay.

7.  Ryan Whitney – ANH

What a difference a change of scenery can make. Unable to break out in Pittsburgh despite flashing some potential, Whitney has been comfortable in Anaheim and is showing his offensive prowess with 18 assists thus far. His play at his own end has improved enough to give him the last blueline position. No American born NHL player has spent more minutes on the ice thus far in the 2009-10 season, so it’s unlikely he’ll get a rest in February.

Next, we’ll take a look at the forwards for 2010…

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Let’s face it folks. When you outscore your competition by a score of 155 to 40 in the last 31 tournament games and you earn a record of 30 wins and one loss in the process, your nation goes into a hockey tournament as the prohibitive favorites to win the thing. Such is the case for Canada’s junior team.

To be fair, Canada’s junior team has been all but unbeatable at the IIHF World Junior Championships. They have earned five gold medals in a row and, given their depth, are all but a lock to capture their sixth straight Gold.

The tournament will be played in Saskatchewan with the first game being played on Boxing Day. For many, the World Junior Championship allows their families to enjoy some hockey over their Christmas holidays, a tradition for many Canadian families. For others, the WJC supplies a glimpse into the upcoming 2010 NHL amateur draft, especially the European talent, of which many NHL fans never get a chance to watch.

Canada, Sweden, Russia, and the United States are expected to ice the most talented rosters, with Finland, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Latvia looking like the also-rans.

Canada will be led by Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires, a player that currently leads the OHL in scoring and is the odds-on favorite to be the number one draft pick at the NHL’s amateur draft this summer.

Hall will be joined by Windsor Spitfire teammates Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz. The threesome makes up the OHL’s most lethal line combination, and by all accounts, all three should have exceptional tournaments.

Canada will be blessed with some very talented second and third liners. Brayden Schenn (last year's fifth overall pick, Los Angeles Kings) and brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, Luke Schenn) will be asked to bring the secondary scoring and take many of Canada’s key face-offs.

Jordan Eberle (last year's tournament hero for Canada) will join Schenn, with Leafs prospect Nazem Kadri (who may also see fourth line duty) and Gabriel Bourque, expected to flank the other wing. One or more of these players will also see some playing time on the Penalty Kill, an area where, given Canada’s propensity for taking penalties, will be quite busy.

Patrice Cormier, who has been selected as Canada’s team captain, will be relied upon to shut down the opposition's best lines. Stefan Della Rovere and Brandan McMillan will join him. Look for Cormier to mix it up often. If he gets out of control and takes too many penalties, Canada’s head coach Willie Dejardins will be forced to shorten his leash, leaving Kadri or Schenn to do the dirty work.

Defensively, Team Canada should be excellent. Travis Hamonic and Marco Scandella are expected to be Canada’s go-to pairing with Jared Cowen and Alex Pietrangelo making up the second unit and the offensively gifted Ryan Ellis and hard-hitting Colten Teubert making up the third pair. Calvin de Hann will be Canada’s seventh defenseman, a player that can be relied upon to play in just about any scenario Canada puts him in.

Canada’s goaltending is always solid and this year looks to be no exception. Jake Allen is expected to get the call as Canada’s number one goalie, with Martin Jones, who stands 6’4” and 193 pounds, filling the number two role. Allen is an exceptional goalie, but rest assured, if he falters, Jones can fill the role, as witnessed by his solid shutout effort against team Finland on Tuesday evening.

Look for Canada to get lots of offense from its defensemen. Ryan Ellis, Alex Pietrangelo, and Jared Cowan can all “bring it” offensively and will be a key factor in Canada’s success.

No question, Canada is loaded for bear and, by all accounts, will win gold. Let’s have a quick look at the competition...

Sweden is blessed with a deep defensive lineup and a very solid goaltender in Jacob Markstrom. Front and center for the Swedes defense will be Adam Larsson, whom many NHL scouts have described as the second coming of last years second overall pick at the NHL amateur draft, Victor Hedman, who is now playing in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Larsson, who stands 6’2” and weighs in at 210 pounds, will be joined by Oliver Ekman Larsson, Tim Erixon, Erik Karlsson (a tournament All-Star in 2008), and David Runblad on the back end, giving the Swedes a very formidable defense to play against.

That said, given Canada’s dominating 6-2 performance against the Swedes in their exhibition game earlier this week, it’s safe to say that, as deep as Sweden’s defense looks on paper, it may be overmatched against the very talented Canadian squad.

The fact is, Canada made quick work of Sweden in last years Gold Medal match, disposing of the Swedes by a final score of 5-1. Sweden was picked by many to have the best chance of beating Canada for the Gold Medal last year and, when it was all said and done, came up four goals short.

Russia is an interesting squad with some decent offensive talent, led by Columbus Blue Jackets top prospect and WJC tournament All-Star in 2008, Nikita Filatov. Like many other teams in this tournament, Russia will have a tough time matching Canada’s compete level and overall depth.

When you look at the two rosters side by side, you’ll note that Canada has no weaknesses while Russia’s defense and goaltending, while decent, does not offer up the same excitement for NHL scouts as Canada.

Evgeni Grachev is not expected to be released by the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack (this could change), which is a big hit to Russia’s offense. That said, Russia’s forwards will be dangerous and this team has the ability to light the lamp often, which should serve them well in this tournament.

Russia looks to be fairly solid on defense with Dmitri Orlov and perhaps Dmitri Kulikov of the Florida Panthers expected to be the leaders. Orlov was impressive at last year's tournament and should receive a bigger role here in 2009-10.

Russia has not brought home a gold medal since 2003, a medal which was won on Canadian soil in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Formerly known as the Soviet Union, Russia has won a total of 14 gold medals at the WJC, Canada owns the record with 15, so there is always a question of pride involved here.

Jordan Schroeder is expected to lead the Americans with Tyler Johnson, Ryan Bourque, Jerry D’amigo, Jeremy Morin, Kris Kreider (who can fly), and Jason Zucker to fill out
Team USA’s offensive threats.

On defense, Cam Fowler of the Windosr Spitfires, John Ramage, and John Carlson, who should log huge minutes, will be relied upon to keep their opponents at bay while Mike Lee and Jack Campbell will be given the challenge of keeping the pucks out of USA’s net.

The Americans are a young, fairly inexperienced squad, who look to be undersized. They will be in tough to win a medal, let alone the Gold, something Team USA has failed to do since 2004 in Helsinki, Finland.

To all the teams, have a great tournament and a Merry Christmas! Outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs this is the best hockey we see all year, so don’t forget to tune in...quick prediction: Canada goes undefeated and wins their sixth straight Gold Medal!

Until next time,

Peace!

With U.S. Olympic Hockey GM Brian Burke rumored to be finalizing the Olympic roster next week, I thought we’d take a look at just how well represented the Buffalo area might be. I spent a lot of time recently looking deep into the issue, and was very impressed with the Western New York connections. It just may be enough to anoint Buffalo as the Hockey Capital of the United States (in my humble opinion).

Without further ado (and in no particular order):

The Locks

Ryan Miller

Everyone knows this connection. The Buffalo Sabres starting goalie is putting up a Hart Trophy-caliber season and is almost a sure thing to start for Team USA. If you shudder to think of where the Sabres might be without him this year, just think of the possibilities of Team USA…

Lindy Ruff

A Coach of the Year, led Buffalo to its most recent appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals (in 1999), a long-time player and Captain for the Sabres. He was picked as an Associate Coach for Team Canada.

John Tortorella

John was an assistant coach for both the Rochester Americans and the Buffalo Sabres before finally landing a head job with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers. U.S. Olympic coach Ron Wilson tapped Tortorella as an assistant coach for Team USA. Tortorella won the Calder Cup with Rochester in 1986 and the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004.

Patrick Kane

The most famous product of Buffalo’s Youth Hockey program, South Buffalo’s Patrick Kane is an NHL Rookie of the Year and will be the butt of taxi cab jokes for years to come. He is also on the verge of becoming one of the premier goal scorers in the league and a building block of a possible dynasty in Chicago. A top six player for Team USA for sure.

Jochen Hecht

Hecht is a native of Germany, and probably its best player. He has struggled as a third line player in Buffalo the past couple of seasons, but has represented Germany in the past three Olympics (although I believe he may have been injured for the Turin Games) as part of an illustrious international career dating back to 1994.

The Possibilities

Chris Drury

Drury, a former Captain and All-Star game starter for the Sabres, starts off this portion of the list as his play for the New York Rangers thus far might eliminate him from the roster. Two goals and nine points do not a World Class player make. He is, however, an Olympic veteran, having played for Team USA in the past two tournaments and is widely respected for his leadership. Will that translate into a roster spot?

Ryan Callahan

A forward for the New York Rangers, Callahan was born just outside of Rochester, NY and was invited to the USA’s Olympic Camp. Callahan finally stayed on with the big club for the whole season last year, but as with Drury, his spot might be lost due to a struggling Rangers team. Five goals and nine points so far just doesn’t cut it.

Tim Connolly

The Buffalo Sabres' leading scorer and a native of Syracuse, NY, Connolly’s name has been brought up more and more in recent weeks as the stocks of the two above-mentioned players have dropped. He was not invited to the Olympic Camp, but that certainly does not eliminate him from contention. It’s his versatility that is earning him a look.

Brian Gionta

Gionta is another Rochester native. He is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens and was invited to Camp this past year. A former 48-goal scorer with the Devils, Gionta scored four goals in six games at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

Jason Pominville

I almost passed over Pommer, forgetting his dual citizenship (his mother is American, a-la Brett Hull’s situation). Has spent the past five seasons with the Sabres, topping out at 34 goals in ’06-’07 and 80 points in ’07-’08. He has largely struggled since, and a roster spot may hinge on where Team USA needs a right-handed shot. He did put up five points in seven games at the 2008 World Championships, so that may work in his favor.

Paul Gausted

“Goose” has also benefited from the Rangers’ struggles as well as a new approach from Brian Burke, who is trying to distance himself from the Fantasy League-type of roster that has been assembled in the past. A possible role player, Gausted would be brought in for his grit, his all-out effort, and his face-off skills (skills learned, ironically, from Chris Drury during his tenure in Buffalo). He has spent the last five years in Buffalo and improved every year.

Derek Roy

Tied with Tim Connolly for the team’s leading scorer, Roy gets a mention here as he was invited to Team Canada’s Olympic Camp. World-class talent at the center position like Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Joe Thorton, and Vincent Lecavalier will most likely prevent Roy from making the team. Roy also put together a strong performance for Team Canada in the ’08 Worlds, so a rash of sudden injuries might get him a look (hey, it could happen…).

Dustin Brown

I saved Brown for last. Even though he is a lock to make the roster, we'll consider him a fringe player on this list. He was born in Ithaca, NY. Not quite Western New York, but as an Upstate New York native, we'll take 'im. A "banger" of a winger in the Luc Robataille mold, he plays for the LA Kings.

The Flint Generals (3-9-0-2) hosted the Dayton Gems (5-5-0-3) at Perani Arena Friday night, as the Generals hoped to end their four game slide and win one at home for their beloved fans.

The Generals have had considerable trouble on their power play, and have been lacking any type of offensive muscle/passion in this young IHL season.

The G-Men have found themselves in a hole, they've only earned eight out of a possible 30 points, and must make drastic strides if they hope to be in playoff contention come spring.

There is a reason for fans to question the adherence and effort of their team lately. The Generals' roster boasts some of the best talent in the leauge, but that's on paper of course. Within the line up lies a Stanley Cup Winner, two grizzled NHL veterans, NCAA Frozen Four Champions, and Team USA talent. What seems to be the problem? Why can't the Generals string together wins, and more importantly, why can't they regain the competitive spirit that team had in years past.

Jamie Schaafsma scored the lone Generals goal in the first period, cutting their deficit to just one goal. Schaafsma leads the team in goals with four on the season, and is a talented player offensively. The Generals will need more production from number 26 in the future to add any type of potency to the line-up.

The Dayton Gem offense managed to give Flint goaltender J.F. Labbe fits in the early goings, and Coach Jason Muzzatti was forced to pull him, opting for the highly touted rookie net-minder Rob Nolan (Michigan Tech). Labbe gave up three goals in the first period on just 15 shots faced.

John Snowden and Joe VanCulin got the Gems started in the first frame, both lighting the lamp for Dayton in the first 20 minutes. VanCulin's goal came on the power play and Sam Bloom was awarded a penalty shot on which he successfully used J.F. Labbe to his advantage, giving the Gems a two goal cushion going into the second set.

The Generals managed to keep pace when it came to shots on goal, they were just about equal with Dayton, 37-36, advantage Gems, they just couldn't find the back of the net.

Flint's dismal power play has been their weakness, going 0 for 5 on the night, finding it hard to manufacture any type of scoring chances when they have the man advantage. Dayton was able to capitalize on one of their power plays, ending the night 1 for 4.

There are some poignant questions being raised by fans, and why shouldn't there be? Fans are questioning the coaching and direction that the franchise is taking, and need answers promptly. 

The Generals have lost five straight games and are falling further behind the pack with every loss. There needs to be some major changes soon if the Generals have designs on the playoffs.

I took the time to ask IHL scorer Doug Bailey his thoughts on the turmoil within the organization, he simply stated "That's something that I can't answer", later adding "that's your guys' (the media) job".

Flint ended up on the wrong of the ledger as Dayton skated past the Generals 4-1.

The Generals will travel to Dayton on Sunday in an attempt to gain ground on the rest of the league and vindicate the four losses that the Gems have handed them in the last few weeks. Muskegon will visit the Perani Arena on Wednesday, which brings up the question, "Can they win one for the fans?"

Former Spartan hockey great, Bryan Smolinski, is now a member of The Flint Generals of the IHL.

Smolinski was the 21st overall pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, and is a seasoned NHL vet, just what the Generals need. Bryan has had a lengthy professional career spanning two decades, and has played for eight different teams during his  tenure as an NHL journeyman.

The Flint Generals recently signed Bryan in hopes that his experience and veteran leadership will up lift the club. The Generals have two Colonial Cups/Turner Cups to their credit, hoisting the cup in 1996 and 2000. The Generals were once perennial contenders come playoff time, but have suffered dissappointing seasons of late. The Generals look to return to their previous glory of the 1990's by acquiring NHL Veteran Bryan Smolinkski. Bryan knows a thing or two about winning, and he'll inject some vigor into the line-up in '09-10 season.

Smolinksi was a goal scoring dynamo during his Junior and Senior years at Michigan State (91-92,92-93) lighting the lamp 30 and 31 times respectively.

Bryan is one of the true "Iron Men" of hockey, playing in over 1,000 grueling NHL games during his 20 year career. Smolinski has tallied five 20+ goal seasons in the NHL, netting 30 or more twice.

Bryan has dawned the sweater of the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators. Bryan's also laced 'em up for the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins (21st overall pick), the Habs (Montreal Canadiens), Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Vancouver Canucks.

In two decades, Smolinski's experienced a great deal, played for a laundry list of teams (NHL, AHL, IHL), but has remained reliable and consistent. The Generals are lucky to land a talent the likes of Bryan Smolinksi, who should usher in a new attitude in the grittiest city in America, Flint, Michigan.

Let's Go Generals !

Next game Friday, November 6th, as the two time defending Turner Cup Champions, Fort Wayne Komets come to town. See ya at the Perani Arena!

When Team USA takes to the ice in February 2010, it will be exactly three decades since their predecessors embarked on a journey that culminated with Olympic gold.  While the current entry for men’s ice hockey is obviously seeking the same results, the similarities do not end there.

One of the reasons the 1980 American victory over the Soviet Union was considered nothing short of a miracle is that captain Mike Eruzione and his teammates showed some promise, yet were ultimately pegged as an amateur group lacking in experience.  The rag-tag team stood little to no chance of keeping up with elite organizations like the USSR squad, let alone defeating them. 

Today, similar things are being said of the 2010 installment of the team, one featuring only six players over the age of thirty.

Brian Burke wouldn’t have it any other way.

The outspoken GM acknowledged the general lack of faith in his team by most pundits and actually embraced it.  While he admits his club is a “dramatic underdog” and that the players “do lack a lot of experience,” Burke remains optimistic that his group has that special something that has been absent since Olympic teams have been permitted to ice NHL players.

Perhaps the secret behind Burke’s confidence is the approach he took when assembling the preliminary squad, one not unlike the methodology coach Herb Brooks used thirty years ago in selecting who would don the red, white and blue.  Both men resisted the temptation to simply construct an all-star team by focusing more on character than pure skill.

As he did to much success in Anaheim and appears to be doing now in Toronto, the American GM is following a plan that involves each player being assigned specific responsibilities and hinges on each one of them embracing these roles. 

While it is too early to predict actual lines and pairings with factors such as injuries and rising or declining performances between now and February, we can still determine what these roles will be and speculate who the top candidates are to fulfill each one.

Goaltenders

In recent years, Burke has employed an almost 1A-1B goalie tandem, where there is a consensus starter who must keep his game up to par or risk losing time in the blue paint to a capable backup.

We saw this in Anaheim with Ilya Bryzgalov’s footsteps creeping closer and closer to Jean-Sebastien Giguere until the time of his waiver release to Phoenix and we may even be witnessing Jonas Hiller relegating the latter to 1B status. 

Many expect the same scenario to play out in Toronto, where incumbent starter Vesa Toskala will face strong competition from the much-heralded Swedish monster, Jonas Gustavsson.

With both the late-blooming Vezina winner Tim Thomas and fellow Michigan native Ryan Miller invited to camp, it is less clear who the 1A is and who must settle for 1B, and probably won’t be until round-robin play has concluded. 

Kings rookie Jonathan Quick cannot be forgotten, but with a youthful team seeking leadership from the net out, he will most likely be on standby once elimination is at stake. 

Fortunately, it seems that the team can’t go wrong with handing the reigns to either netminder, as whoever is chosen will be pushed to play his best by his partner.

Defensemen

With the luxury of deploying either one or both of arguably the NHL’s best defensive duo for almost the entirety of every game, Burke set up his defensive pairings in Anaheim much like his goaltending, with two almost equal units and a third pairing simply providing a reliable stopgap while the top four rested. 

The Maple Leafs may not have a Scott Niedermayer or Chris Pronger-caliber defenseman, but they do have more overall depth, meaning the bottom duo should receive more ice time. 

Similarly, while the US may not have a truly elite defenseman on their side, they do have good overall depth.

Anchoring the American blueline is veteran Brian Rafalski, who has shown the past two seasons that he can hold his own while playing over twenty-three minutes a night with a top tier partner in Nicklas Lidstrom. 

Other prime sources of offense from the backend include Nashville’s Ryan Suter, New Jersey’s Paul Martin, Atlanta’s Ron Hainsey and Edmonton’s Tom Gilbert, who are all capable of manning the point with the man-advantage. 

They’ll face competition for those four power play positions from Anaheim’s Ryan Whitney and St. Louis’ Erik Johnson, two players who had off years statistically due to injuries (with Johnson missing the entire season), but posses something the previous group is generally lacking – imposing size.

The general lack of mass is more than made up for by a stay-at-home squad led by recent Stanley Cup Champions Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi.  The now former NHL teammates provide a steadying influence by keeping their games simple.  Like Orpik, Mike Komisarek has a hard shot but an even harder hit ready for any opposing player who crosses his path. 

Burke is a notorious fan of this physical brand of hockey, though the bruising duo may have to be reigned in every now and then with their penchant for taking themselves out of position by chasing a check. 

Rounding out the defensive corps are Jack Johnson and Tim Gleason, who can not only play shutdown roles, but are also capable of the occasional offensive contribution.

Forwards

The most intriguing group going into orientation camp is the mixed bag of forwards that’ll likely follow Burke’s structure of two scoring lines, a checking line and a utility line, though he did allude to the possibility of having three offensive trios.

Vying for the six to nine scoring positions are a wide variety of skaters, including a lineup of centers with great hockey sense. 

The most offensively-gifted of these pivots are Scott Gomez of the Habs, Joe Pavelski of the Sharks, Paul Stastny of the Avs and the Canucks’ Ryan Kesler, who has already boldly predicted an American victory over its rival to the north.  The latter two are equally adept on the defensive side of the puck and will likely join veterans Chris Drury and Mike Modano as candidates for centering the bottom two lines.

Perhaps the fiercest competition for roster spots will be amongst the deep well of wingers. 

Leading the goal-scoring department is a trio of fleet-footed forwards from the East in Zach Parise, Phil Kessel and David Booth.  Coming out of the West and using more of a gritty style to put the puck past the goalie are Bobby Ryan and David Backes. 

One of them will have a great setup man on the opposite side in the form of Patrick Kane, who is as good as it gets as a playmaker on the wing. 

Jamie Langenbrunner and Ryan Malone have both shown glimpses of offensive talent, but their production tends to be inconsistent and their versatility may better suit them for the bottom half of the forward lines, anyway.

While the remaining flankers are also capable of putting up points, they’ll likely have to gear their games towards taking advantage of their other talents. 

Ryan Callahan and T.J. Oshie are tireless workers who use their constant hustle to make them two-way threats despite their general lack of size. 

Kyle Okposo is just as tenacious yet less proven, though that may change if he is paired with John Tavares for the first half of the season in Long Island. 

Finally, Dustin Brown and Dustin Byfuglien share more than just first names, as both love to lay on the big hits.

A quick glance at the 34-man squad that partook in Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp this past week in Illinois may lead one to believe that the only similarity it has to the legendary group that earned both a literal and symbolic victory almost thirty years ago is the simplistic yet classic-looking uniforms. 

Looking closer reveals another story, however, as this team has the same mix of heart, hunger and promising skill to overcome both its own general lack of experience and the better-on-paper clubs that they will face in Vancouver.

While the 2010 games may not have the same level of political intrigue as 1980s Miracle on Ice, the torch has clearly been passed on to a group who could have as much influence on the next generation of stars that will one day wear the stars and stripes.