Ice Hockey: US names team bidding to regain hockey glory
Boston (AFP) – The United States, shut out of the ice hockey medals at the 2006 Olympics, Friday named the team that will try to get America back on the podium at the Vancouver Games in February.
A strong goaltending presence includes Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, who is second among NHL starting goalies in goals-against average (2.05) and first in save percentage (.933).
He will be joined by reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings.
Team USA general manager Brian Burke stuck to his plans to bring in new blood, meaning there was no room for Olympic veterans such as Mike Modano and Bill Guerin.
The squad includes seven players who have won gold in international competition, but only three players with past Olympic experience – New York’s Chris Drury, Detroit’s Brian Rafalski and New Jersey’s Jamie Langenbrunner.
Our management group has worked hard to put together a group of players that will give us the best chance to win the gold medal in Vancouver and we feel like we’ve done that,” Burke said.
”We had some difficult decisions to make, but that’s a credit to USA Hockey and depth of the player pool in our country.”
Forwards on the team include Chicago’s Patrick Kane, New Jersey’s Zach Parise and Colorado’s Paul Stastny, who are currently the top three US point-getters in the National Hockey League.
At 21, Kane is the youngest player on the team.
Since the Olympic ice hockey competition began including National Hockey League players in 1998, six countries have played in the gold medal game.
Sweden defeated Finland to win gold at Turin in 2006. Canada won gold in 2002 with a triumph over the United States in Salt Lake City. The Czech Republic beat Russia in 1998.
USA Hockey named their 23-man squad of NHL talent for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on Friday:
Goaltenders: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Defensemen: Erik Johnson (St Louis Blues), Jack Johnson (Los Angeles Kings), Mike Komisarek (Toronto Maple Leafs), Paul Martin (New Jersey Devils), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)
Forwards: David Backes (St. Louis Blues), Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings), Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils), Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning), Zack Parise (New Jersey Devils), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche)
