The Team USA Men’s Olympic Hockey team was announced yesterday upon completion of another outstanding Winter Classic game, this time at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. The announcement wraps up the set of rosters for this years Olympic games. For further coverage you can check out: (part 1) (part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4).
In case you’re too lazy to watch the video, the roster is as follows:
Offense:
David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kessler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, and Paul Stastny.
Defense:
Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, *Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Tim Gleason, Ryan Whitney*, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, and Ryan Suter.
Tenders:
Ryan Miller, Jonathon Quick, and Tim Thomas.
Already labeled the underdog, Team USA GM (and Toronto Maple Leafs GM) Brian Burke said his team “is going for only one reason — to win.” Underdog could likely end up being an understatement, but for now, I’m content with the label. None of the names on the list really came as a surprise once I realized that America doesn’t really have the flashy names and marquee talents that the other countries do. I maintain my prediction of Russia/Sweden in the Gold match with Canada for the bronze.
Paul Stastny’s hard work these last few years has been rewarded with a roster spot, likely on the first or second line. His excellent playmaking and timing will benefit this team greatly. We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of system Burke and his staff come out of the gate with before we truly judge this team.
The absolute shock to me, and overall snub in general, was the fact that Craig Anderson wasn’t selected to battle it out for the starting position. Most analysts argued that the final spot came down to Andy and Jonathon Quick, with Quick winning out due to (apparently) his age and impressive numbers. Now I’m not going to rip Quick, because I think he’s a beast and he’s doing extremely well in L.A.
What I will say is that I think Anderson deserved Tim Thomas’s spot, as Thomas has been hot and cold all season. Further proof of Thomas’s slide was the lone goal he allowed in the Winter Classic, which snuck through his legs as he was busy cross-checking Scott Hartnell for no reason. If he pulls that crap in the Olympics I’ll be pissed. Ryan Miller absolutely deserves his spot, he is almost always in top form.
View our roster coverage here: (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4).
Get the Olympic Men’s Hockey Schedule.
What do you think about Team USA? Would you have picked Thomas over Anderson? Quick? Who do you think will net the Gold? Silver? Bronze?
Related posts:
- Olympic Rosters – Part 1 *Updated*
- Olympic Rosters – Part 2 *Updated*
- Olympic Recap – Day 3
- Olympic Recap – Semifinals
- Olympic Recap – Day 1
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