It’s fair to say that Team USA overachieved four years ago
in winning a silver medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. And remember,
it could very well have been gold, given that the Gold Medal Game went to overtime
and took a moment of Jarome Iginla-Sidney Crosby brilliance to give Canada the
gold medal it wanted most.
Written off as either too experienced or not experienced
enough, Team USA used a round-robin 5-2 beating of Canada as a springboard
towards their eventual runners-up finish, putting the cleaners through Finland
in the semi-finals. Given that, there will be more pressure on Team USA in
Sochi than there has been, arguably, since the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002.
GM David Poile (along with, amongst others, Brian Burke, the architect of the
2010 team, Head Coach Dan Bylsma) spent months putting together the team they
think can emulate the surprise success of the 2010 squad.
In Part One, here are the eight defensemen and three
goaltenders who make up the Team USA men’s hockey roster for the 2014 Sochi
Winter Olympic Games, and my thoughts on each selection:
Goaltenders
Jimmy Howard: The Detroit favourite got to greet the
Michigan Stadium crowd when his name was announced after the NHL Winter Classic
(he had just given up the game-winning goal in a snowy shootout) and is
enjoying another solid season in Detroit, but with so much talent in net on the
2014 roster, will likely be competing for backup.
Ryan Miller: The hero of the 2010 Olympics, invoking
memories of the 1980 Miracle on Ice goalie Jim Craig, Miller put together a
highlight reel of incredible saves, bailing out his teammates dozens of times
each game. Since Vancouver, Miller’s career has stalled, and perhaps even
slipped a little, and likely earned this spot because of what he did four years
ago. To be honest, I can’t see him starting ahead of Quick.
Jonathan Quick: If I had the power, Quick would be my
starter. Gained fame in 2012, backstopping the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley
Cup, and has been amongst the upper echelon of goalies in the National Hockey
League ever since. Returning from a groin injury with just on a month to go
before the Olympics shouldn’t prevent him from starting in Team USA’s opener.
If he’s healthy and on his game, Quick, despite a lack of international
experience, will likely be in net for every game.
Defencemen
John Carlson: The man who scored the game-winning goal at
the 2010 World Junior Championships (and one of three from the 2010 team who
made the Sochi roster) has carved out a good niche for himself on the
Washington Capitals blue line. A proven scoring threat and a solid skater. Nothing
not to like about the way this guy goes about it.
Justin Faulk: The twenty-one year old from the Carolina
Hurricanes is only not a superstar in the NHL because he plays on a team that’s
not very good in a non-traditional hockey market. Otherwise, you’d hear his
name mentioned in the same breath as Chara, Suter and Weber. A smart guy, who
plays regularly against the opposition’s best players, and gets the better of
them with similar regularity. For all the criticism of the eventual roster,
this is one selection Poile and co got very right.
Cam Fowler: Smooth and smart user of the puck, a World
Junior Gold Medallist in 2010 is another
youngster who’s come along in leaps and bounds, turning into a legitimate star
in Anaheim, despite falling far down the draft board to twelfth. He, Faulk and
Carson really spearhead the youth movement for Team USA.
Paul Martin: Likely that Martin will be used in a shutdown
role for the American defensive corps, and will find a measure of consistency
at Sochi, which not many players can lay claim to. He should end up paired with
his Pittsburgh teammate Brooks Orpik (see below) and, of course, his boss at
the Penguins is none other than Team USA’s Bylsma. A solid, if unspectacular
player, and a good selection.
Ryan McDonagh: The New York Rangers defensemen out of the pro
factory also known as the University of Wisconsin. A solid two-way player who is
also a good penalty killer with the Broadway Blueshirts, and can hit with the
best of them. McDonagh figures to be right up there amongst ice time leaders on
the blue line. Pairing him with Suter would be a tough combination for
opposition skaters to get around.
Brooks Orpik: Another holdover from 2010, Orpik (named for
legendary coach/1980 hero Herb Brooks) is a veteran presence, sort of the odd man
out, the old guy amongst so many youngsters on the American blue line. This is
a good choice. You get someone not afraid to throw his weight around when
necessary, and a player who’s likely to be a steadier at crucial moments in the
upcoming big games.
Kevin Shattenkirk: Having a brilliant season with the St
Louis Blues – well on his way to career-best numbers in all the important
categories – Shattenkirk is another veteran presence in amongst the young faces
on the blue line. Yes, he’s small – 5’11” and just on 200 pounds – but he’s
routinely one of the best defensemen on the Blues, which is no mean feat on a
team that boasts Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester. Deserves his place on
this roster.
Ryan Suter: Without doubt, the anchor of the American
defense. Suter is easily one of the best defencemen in the National Hockey
League, making a name for himself with the Nashville Predators before a
highly-publicised move to the Minnesota Wild. Played a pivotal role in Vancouver
four years ago, and Bylsma will be counting on him to do it again in Sochi. A
solid player, whose father, Bob, was a member of the Miracle on Ice team in
1980.
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