ANTIOCH, Calif – Four years after an underachieving US Olympic team traveled to Italy and was utterly laughed out of the country going 1-4-1 and finishing in 8th place, the 2010 team took the heavily favored Canadians to overtime before falling 3-2 on a Sydney Crosby overtime goal in the gold medal game.
Team USA, led by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, assembled a young roster saying good-bye to lead foots such as long time Olympic stalwarts Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, Bill Guerin, and Keith Tkachuk. Even classy Mike Modano was shown the door as the average age of this year’s team was 26.6 years.
Gone were the memories of Italy and long gone was the disappointment of the 1998 team that traveled to Japan and embarrassed the entire nation by their on and off ice actions. This team was considered to be a team in transition as only former Little League World series star Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rafalski had played on Olympic teams.
This team filled the void of veterans with tough gritty players like Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone,31, and the Blues’ Jack Johnson, 21, and made use of third line players David Backes,25 (St. Louis). But make no mistake about it the star on this year’s team was 29-year old goaltender Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres).
Time after time Miller came up with the big save and when Team USA went down 2-0 in the Gold Medal Game, Miller clamped down and kept the Canadians in check while the USA mounted a come-back, scoring the tying goal with less than thirty seconds left in regulation
The team may have lost the game but the future for USA Hockey looks bright with young stars such as Phil Kessel, 22 (Toronto Maple Leafs), Ryan Kesler, 25, (Vancouver Canucks), Bobby Ryan, 22, (Anaheim Ducks), as well as 25-year old Zach Parise on the horizon. The US Junior National Team won a Gold medal over Team Canada in January as well. Now all that is left is NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to land a TV deal so the rest of America can see what a great game this is on high definition TV. The NHL has done a lousy job of promoting the game in US markets and let’s not forget, NBC did little to highlight Team USA until the Gold medal game. So don’t let this wave of emotion make you think the game isn’t in serious trouble. Team USA may be on an upswing but did the rest of America even notice? Warrior Thoughts : Has there been a faster team spiral than the San Jose Sharks? The signing of Danny Heatley was greeted in San Jose like the second coming of Wayne Gretzky, but San Jose has always underachieved and Warrior doesn’t think anything but a complete revamping of the team will help.
Colorado Eagle forward Kevin Ulanski led the league in scoring with 107 points and is a plus 82 for the past 2 seasons. His weight is listed at 202 but looks like Kyle Reeves from the back. Eagle players might get their stats padded but this guy is the real deal.
Wichita Thunder fans have been suffering, 9 wins in an entire city for this once proud franchise? Joel Lomurno may be a great PR guy but Holy Moley they would be lucky to win in Tier 2 Juniors. Three home wins? This doesn’t happen anywhere else except Texarkana.
Ryan Christian, daughter of Missouri Mavericks’ forward Jeff Christian, has been diagnosed with Pediatric Adrenalcortical Carcinoma, a rare disease that affects one in a million. Contact the Maverick’s office and please keep the entire family in your prayers.
Nice to see Nick Sirota, the greatest player to ever have played for the Central Texas named to the CHL All Rookie Team. Warrior had a chance to see him play in not only Central Texas but Spruce Grove as well. Good honor for a good kid.
Emergency call to the PHPA, now that health care has passed the US House of Representatives can you send a representative down to the US so we Americans can become better educated on workman’s compensation and bilking the system out of millions. Thank you
Amarillo Gorilla’s last in southern division, last in attendance and loving it, being that they finished last in penalty minutes. This team may need a heart transplant because it looks like the fans, the owners and the players don’t care.
Rapid City’s Jason Rent has done a great job with that franchise and Scott Wray at 53, reminds no one of Gordie Howe but he keeps getting it done. Between social security and his weekly pay he has carved out a good living.
Is it just me or has the Central Hockey League’s loss of Brad Lund, Brad Treliving and Steve Cherwonak crippled the CHL’s media efforts. Hockey is still hockey but the league lacks personality. Rod Pasma and his $200 shoes at least added a little style.
Guys like Jason Cohen, The Warrior and Greg Rajan were on every story 24/7 but now it’s as if no one cares.
Hey where are you? Jeremy Thompson Austin Ice Bats, is now a City Councilor in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Jason Clark, Central Texas Stampede, Fort Worth Brahmas playing in Quebec where continues to rack up PIMS. Mike Olynyk is playing for Flint in the IHL. “I was sitting at home watching TV and they called me.” Jacques Mailhot, Central Texas Stampede, Best Buys’ Best salesmen Killeen Texas. Forbes MacPherson, Shreveport Mudbugs, owner, Simply for life, Prince Edward Island Canada.
The Warrior, selling cars in Antioch, California under the name Howard Kinsel and no longer using the moniker the Warrior. He was last seen chasing Laura Vigil with whom he had a crush on in the 8th grade and while he finds her to be the most gorgeous woman in the whole world, she has managed to elude him. Howard is a much happier guy than the Warrior ever was.
Enjoy the playoffs.
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