I know that some of the older players are well...older. But this is suicide. Modano should have a spot because hes usually pretty steady as far as performance goes. Dead Weight should have a spot as a backup in case we get someone hurt pretty bad. And I know it is a naive question. But who the HELL is that goalie? Im sure hes good, probably great but why dont they get someone who we have heard of? Why not get Marty T from the Stars or someone who has proved they wont choke in high pressure situations?
It may just be me, but I truly miss the days when the Olympics were for amateur athletes. Nothing was a bigger thrill than sitting in the classroom in a west Minneapolis suburb, listening to the broadcast of the hockey games on the 80 Olympics. Now, its pros who look on it more as a chore to be there than anything else, wishing they were back at home enjoying the time off during the season (yes, more a dig at the ballers than the pucksters, but it is still there). Just my two cents, but I would rather see a bunch of hungry kids from the CCHA, the WCHA and Hockey East going at it against other amateurs. I know the arguments, some countries paid their Olympians, they weren't truly amateurs, so level the playing field, but now that the Communist Sports Machine is mostly dead (excepting the PRC) isn't it time to go back to the good old days?
hockeyislife22 USA can't play Turco in net because he is canadian. yerfatma He's not from out of town (Hells Kitchen), and I can't speel good and his first name is spelt the french way.
elovrich: I think the idea of amateurism is dead. It's more important to bring together the best athletes/competitors in each sport. Besides, we already have the "best non-pro" tournament: the junior championships. Because, after that age, pretty much any player of any quality would lose their amateur status playing at the next level (NHL, AHL, European leagues). As for it being a "chore", the Canadian hockey players in 2002 would have stepped on each others throats to get a chance to play for Gretzky and Co. Players who had no reason even being on the ice due to injuries were doing everything they could to win. I think you can attribute a few amazing performances this season to players who have kicked it up a notch for a chance to represent Canada.
the Canadian hockey players in 2002 would have stepped on each others throats to get a chance to play for Gretzky and Co. I suspect this will be the same this year, regardless of who makes the cut. The American team doesn't look like it's been picked with an eye toward winning this year. They will, however, be learning at the feet of some past greats, and next Olympiad, this could be a monstrous lineup. (And hey, Dipietro could get hot, as long as he's not playing any Leafs on the other teams. I kid because it hurts.)
I just gotta say how happy I am that Erik Cole got selected for the team. Something happened to him over the lock-out and his legs have morphed into rocket engines. He has been turning d-men into pylons as of late and it will be exciting to see him play on the larger Olympic rinks. Bernreuther...paging SpoFi's very own Bernreuther*. Where are you? * - He was friends with Erik Cole in college.
This team would get easily beaten by quipe Qubec ;-)
