by Anne
Team USA released their invitees to this summer's orientation camp.
From the Sabres, only Ryan Miller was invited. I thought Pommer and Goose were a long shot but I thought Stafford would have been tapped. He's played for Team USA at least three times before, including winning the United States only gold medal at the World Juniors in 2004.
Alas.
Other players of note:
Hometown boys Pat Kane and Brooks Orpik were given invitations.
Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick were given invitations. Quickie has no chance of getting either the starting or first back-up job, but its great to see him included. In four years, Tim Tom might not be able to play and he'd have a strong chance of being named the back-up behind Millsy.
Phil Kessel was given an invitation even though he will not be able to participate. He just had surgery that will keep him out of action for at least three more months. (The camp is in mid-August).
All in all, the lists are pretty good. Are they as good as Team Canada... weeell, that' remains to be seen, but especially on defense, things are looking big and mean, which doesn't surprise me considering Brian Burke made this list. I'm surprised JM Liles wasn't given a nod. He'd bring some much needed offensive zip from the blue line, but so can guys like Gilbert and Johnson, both of whom are bigger than JM Liles.
In keeping with the question of size, is that why Team USA staple Jason Blake was not invited? That'll be an awkward conversation in the hallways of the Air Canada Centre.
My new-found beloved David Backes was also invited. Yesss. I mean, I want the team to win, but I'd like them to look good doing it.
Oldie but goodie Mike Modano was invited to camp. Mikey is the last of the era goneby to be invited to camp.
With the exceptions of Modano, Drury, Gomez, Thomas, and Malone the rest of the invitees are in their 20s. The old guard of the '06 Olympics have all but retired and its time to start breeding a new era of American hockey.
I'm a little annoyed at Burkey for some of the ommissions, but, as he said, we'd be surprised by some of the names left off the list, and he's right. Dustin Byfuglien but not Stafford? Makes little sense to me.
You can read the whole annoucementand download the roster here.
Team USA released their invitees to this summer's orientation camp.
From the Sabres, only Ryan Miller was invited. I thought Pommer and Goose were a long shot but I thought Stafford would have been tapped. He's played for Team USA at least three times before, including winning the United States only gold medal at the World Juniors in 2004.
Alas.
Other players of note:
Hometown boys Pat Kane and Brooks Orpik were given invitations.
Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick were given invitations. Quickie has no chance of getting either the starting or first back-up job, but its great to see him included. In four years, Tim Tom might not be able to play and he'd have a strong chance of being named the back-up behind Millsy.
Phil Kessel was given an invitation even though he will not be able to participate. He just had surgery that will keep him out of action for at least three more months. (The camp is in mid-August).
All in all, the lists are pretty good. Are they as good as Team Canada... weeell, that' remains to be seen, but especially on defense, things are looking big and mean, which doesn't surprise me considering Brian Burke made this list. I'm surprised JM Liles wasn't given a nod. He'd bring some much needed offensive zip from the blue line, but so can guys like Gilbert and Johnson, both of whom are bigger than JM Liles.
In keeping with the question of size, is that why Team USA staple Jason Blake was not invited? That'll be an awkward conversation in the hallways of the Air Canada Centre.
My new-found beloved David Backes was also invited. Yesss. I mean, I want the team to win, but I'd like them to look good doing it.
Oldie but goodie Mike Modano was invited to camp. Mikey is the last of the era goneby to be invited to camp.
With the exceptions of Modano, Drury, Gomez, Thomas, and Malone the rest of the invitees are in their 20s. The old guard of the '06 Olympics have all but retired and its time to start breeding a new era of American hockey.
I'm a little annoyed at Burkey for some of the ommissions, but, as he said, we'd be surprised by some of the names left off the list, and he's right. Dustin Byfuglien but not Stafford? Makes little sense to me.
You can read the whole annoucementand download the roster here.
