Cullen and Cole invited to Team USA Olympic Camp

[nccanes]

Team USA invites 39 to Olympic camp
Sports Ticker

7/28/2005 2:16:47 PM

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) - Free agent Mike Modano, Bill Guerin of the Dallas Stars and Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight of the St. Louis Blues have a chance to play for the United States Olympic team for the third straight time.

USA Hockey announced on Thursday the list of 39 players that have been invited to its Olympic orientation camp for the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

"The orientation camp will be a terrific opportunity for our staff to come together with the candidates for our Olympic team to assess the potential makeup of our squad," said U.S. Olympic team general manager Don Waddell of the Atlanta Thrashers. "It will not be a tryout camp as the evaluation process will continue through the first part of the NHL season, however it will be an important first step in the process."

The orientation camp will be held from September 5-8 in Colorado Springs.

NHL participation in the Olympics was negotiated as part of the new collective bargaining agreement reached last week.

Modano, Guerin, Tkachuk and Weight played for the U.S. Olympic team in 1998 and 2002.

Four other players invited to the camp - defenseman Brian Rafalski of the New Jersey Devils, Aaron Miller of the Los Angeles Kings and forwards Chris Drury of the Buffalo Sabres and Brian Rolston of the Minnesota Wild - played for the 2002 Olympic team which lost to Canada in the gold medal game.

Other forwards invited are Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and Zach Parise of the Devils, Jason Blake and Mark Parrish of the New York Islanders, Erik Cole and Matt Cullen of the Carolina Hurricanes, Dustin Brown of the Kings, Jeff Halpern of the Washington Capitals, Chris Higgins of the Montreal Canadiens, Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, Mike Knuble of the Philadelphia Flyers, Steve Konawalchuk of the Colorado Avalanche, Ryan Malone of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Richard Park of the Wild.

The 14 defensemen invited are free agent Derian Hatcher, Bryan Berard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Mark Eaton of the Nashville Predators, Hal Gill of the Boston Bruins, Tim Gleason of the Kings, Jordan Leopold of the Calgary Flames, John-Michael Liles of the Avalanche, Paul Martin of the Devils, Brian Pothier of the Ottawa Senators, Andy Roach of the Blues, Ryan Suter of the Predators and David Tanabe of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The list of four goaltenders includes three who played in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey - Rick DiPietro of the Islanders, Ty Conklin of the Edmonton Oilers and Robert Esche of the Flyers. The other goaltender is Ryan Miller of the Sabres.

[nccanes]

Team USA invites 39 to Olympic camp
Sports Ticker

7/28/2005 2:16:47 PM

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) - Free agent Mike Modano, Bill Guerin of the Dallas Stars and Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight of the St. Louis Blues have a chance to play for the United States Olympic team for the third straight time.

USA Hockey announced on Thursday the list of 39 players that have been invited to its Olympic orientation camp for the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

"The orientation camp will be a terrific opportunity for our staff to come together with the candidates for our Olympic team to assess the potential makeup of our squad," said U.S. Olympic team general manager Don Waddell of the Atlanta Thrashers. "It will not be a tryout camp as the evaluation process will continue through the first part of the NHL season, however it will be an important first step in the process."

The orientation camp will be held from September 5-8 in Colorado Springs.

NHL participation in the Olympics was negotiated as part of the new collective bargaining agreement reached last week.

Modano, Guerin, Tkachuk and Weight played for the U.S. Olympic team in 1998 and 2002.

Four other players invited to the camp - defenseman Brian Rafalski of the New Jersey Devils, Aaron Miller of the Los Angeles Kings and forwards Chris Drury of the Buffalo Sabres and Brian Rolston of the Minnesota Wild - played for the 2002 Olympic team which lost to Canada in the gold medal game.

Other forwards invited are Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and Zach Parise of the Devils, Jason Blake and Mark Parrish of the New York Islanders, Erik Cole and Matt Cullen of the Carolina Hurricanes, Dustin Brown of the Kings, Jeff Halpern of the Washington Capitals, Chris Higgins of the Montreal Canadiens, Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, Mike Knuble of the Philadelphia Flyers, Steve Konawalchuk of the Colorado Avalanche, Ryan Malone of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Richard Park of the Wild.

The 14 defensemen invited are free agent Derian Hatcher, Bryan Berard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Mark Eaton of the Nashville Predators, Hal Gill of the Boston Bruins, Tim Gleason of the Kings, Jordan Leopold of the Calgary Flames, John-Michael Liles of the Avalanche, Paul Martin of the Devils, Brian Pothier of the Ottawa Senators, Andy Roach of the Blues, Ryan Suter of the Predators and David Tanabe of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The list of four goaltenders includes three who played in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey - Rick DiPietro of the Islanders, Ty Conklin of the Edmonton Oilers and Robert Esche of the Flyers. The other goaltender is Ryan Miller of the Sabres.

[Turbulence]

:usa: I'm glad our guys can contribute. Anything to beat them nasty Canadians!

[Turbulence]

:usa: I'm glad our guys can contribute. Anything to beat them nasty Canadians!

[ssangste]

:usa: I'm glad our guys can contribute. Anything to beat them nasty Canadians!

careful now..... :canada:

[ssangste]

:usa: I'm glad our guys can contribute. Anything to beat them nasty Canadians!

careful now..... :canada:

[puck_it]

yay colesy!

[puck_it]

yay colesy!

[Romney3921]

I am happy to see Erik included in this and hope he is able to show his stuff. I'm sure someone out there may remember, but just in case, here's a little Erik Cole trivia.

Erik's high school hockey coach here in Oswego was a member of the 1972 team (goalie) that competed in Sapporo, Japan. I believe they won the bronze that year. His name is Gordon "Pete" Sears. Not only was he a great coach, he was a great teacher. He taught 7th grade social studies. He is a very quiet gentleman who would never toot his own horn. I still remember the day he wore his USA sweater to school.

[Romney3921]

I am happy to see Erik included in this and hope he is able to show his stuff. I'm sure someone out there may remember, but just in case, here's a little Erik Cole trivia.

Erik's high school hockey coach here in Oswego was a member of the 1972 team (goalie) that competed in Sapporo, Japan. I believe they won the bronze that year. His name is Gordon "Pete" Sears. Not only was he a great coach, he was a great teacher. He taught 7th grade social studies. He is a very quiet gentleman who would never toot his own horn. I still remember the day he wore his USA sweater to school.

[puck_it]

did you go to highschool with erik?

[puck_it]

did you go to highschool with erik?

[Romney3921]

No, he's a bit younger than me.

Like many hockey fans from here, if there is a high school or college game (SUNY Oswego) on any given night, you go. We were well aware that Erik was going places. One of my family members is a friend of the Cole family, but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

[Romney3921]

No, he's a bit younger than me.

Like many hockey fans from here, if there is a high school or college game (SUNY Oswego) on any given night, you go. We were well aware that Erik was going places. One of my family members is a friend of the Cole family, but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

[nccanes]

but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

When it comes to Cole, we all know that there's a high probability that could happen! ;) :beatup:

[nccanes]

but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

When it comes to Cole, we all know that there's a high probability that could happen! ;) :beatup:

[Alicia]

but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

When it comes to Cole, we all know that there's a high probability that could happen! ;) :beatup:

*snicker* With little to no effort!

[Alicia]

but Erik wouldn't know me if he fell over me.

When it comes to Cole, we all know that there's a high probability that could happen! ;) :beatup:

*snicker* With little to no effort!

[puck_it]

hey i heard hes been staying up in europe

-signed someone who falls over more than erik cole

[puck_it]

hey i heard hes been staying up in europe

-signed someone who falls over more than erik cole

[Shell]

Olympic hockey camp opens with players of all ages
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Wed Sep 7, 7:38 AM ET

St. Louis Blues center Doug Weight speaks eloquently and enthusiastically about fresh American stars entering the U.S. Olympic pipeline right up to the point where he and other veterans are passing that torch.

"These are good kids," said Weight, grin emerging. "But I'm not ready to give up my spot to some young punk."

A review of the roster of the 39 players at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp makes it clear that general manager Don Waddell wants to infuse fresh blood into the Olympic team. He has a handful of players who are 21 or under, including Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, who was 3 when Mike Modano was chosen No. 1 overall in the 1988 draft.

But the truth is that more than likely the 2006 Olympic team in Torino will be a mixture of aging stars and players who are still trying to maximize their potential.

"It's fun to see these good young players and all the first-round picks," Weight said. "The good competition will be healthy, but we aren't ready to step aside. I was talking to Bill Guerin last night. At 34 we take this game pretty seriously. We aren't ready yet to be considered fossils."

In the morning session, it was noteworthy that Modano, the oldest player in camp at 35, seemed to be the flashiest skater on the ice.

"Maybe we are trying to hang on to our golden years," Modano said. "But I think guys like Billy and myself believe we can still skate and move the way we did five or six years ago."

With a league mandate of creating an obstruction-free NHL this season, highly skilled older scorers such as Modano, Weight, Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk could be in a better position to shine.

"I truly believe there is going to be zero tolerance," Guerin said. "Can you imagine (Modano) coming through the neutral zone now? He probably gets hooked more than any player in the league."

Waddell and his assistant, Paul Holmgren, will be picking the team based on how players perform in the first three months. The rule changes should also help Boston Bruins defenseman Brian Leetch, who wasn't invited to camp. With more room to skate, Leetch, even at 37, could possibly be as dominant as he once was. "He's probably the best American ever to play wearing a (U.S.) jersey," Tkachuk said.

Said Guerin: "I think Brian has plenty of gas left in the tank. You can't look at a guy's age but what he does on the ice. Chris Chelios is 43, but he's still a good player."

He paused, then added: "None of the older guys are looking for a handout. It's always been earned, and it will always be earned."

Waddell said some veterans weren't invited because they have been through orientation and he wanted to make more room for younger players.

"There are some great players that have been a very big part of USA Hockey who aren't here," he said. "We are going to keep tabs on these players. Whenever the deadline to name the team comes, there will be tough decisions."

[Shell]

Olympic hockey camp opens with players of all ages
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Wed Sep 7, 7:38 AM ET

St. Louis Blues center Doug Weight speaks eloquently and enthusiastically about fresh American stars entering the U.S. Olympic pipeline right up to the point where he and other veterans are passing that torch.

"These are good kids," said Weight, grin emerging. "But I'm not ready to give up my spot to some young punk."

A review of the roster of the 39 players at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp makes it clear that general manager Don Waddell wants to infuse fresh blood into the Olympic team. He has a handful of players who are 21 or under, including Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, who was 3 when Mike Modano was chosen No. 1 overall in the 1988 draft.

But the truth is that more than likely the 2006 Olympic team in Torino will be a mixture of aging stars and players who are still trying to maximize their potential.

"It's fun to see these good young players and all the first-round picks," Weight said. "The good competition will be healthy, but we aren't ready to step aside. I was talking to Bill Guerin last night. At 34 we take this game pretty seriously. We aren't ready yet to be considered fossils."

In the morning session, it was noteworthy that Modano, the oldest player in camp at 35, seemed to be the flashiest skater on the ice.

"Maybe we are trying to hang on to our golden years," Modano said. "But I think guys like Billy and myself believe we can still skate and move the way we did five or six years ago."

With a league mandate of creating an obstruction-free NHL this season, highly skilled older scorers such as Modano, Weight, Bill Guerin and Keith Tkachuk could be in a better position to shine.

"I truly believe there is going to be zero tolerance," Guerin said. "Can you imagine (Modano) coming through the neutral zone now? He probably gets hooked more than any player in the league."

Waddell and his assistant, Paul Holmgren, will be picking the team based on how players perform in the first three months. The rule changes should also help Boston Bruins defenseman Brian Leetch, who wasn't invited to camp. With more room to skate, Leetch, even at 37, could possibly be as dominant as he once was. "He's probably the best American ever to play wearing a (U.S.) jersey," Tkachuk said.

Said Guerin: "I think Brian has plenty of gas left in the tank. You can't look at a guy's age but what he does on the ice. Chris Chelios is 43, but he's still a good player."

He paused, then added: "None of the older guys are looking for a handout. It's always been earned, and it will always be earned."

Waddell said some veterans weren't invited because they have been through orientation and he wanted to make more room for younger players.

"There are some great players that have been a very big part of USA Hockey who aren't here," he said. "We are going to keep tabs on these players. Whenever the deadline to name the team comes, there will be tough decisions."

[Esbee]

Good story, well-written...something we don't get much of down here! :laugh:

September 9, 2005

Upstarts Preparing for Line Shift as U.S. Looks to Winter Games
By LEE JENKINS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Sept. 8 - Two generations of U.S.A. hockey overlapped Wednesday afternoon between the 13th tee and the 14th green on the east course at Broadmoor Golf Club.

On the 14th green were Mike Modano, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Doug Weight, who have played a combined 54 years in the National Hockey League and been to a combined nine Olympics. On the 13th tee were Ryan Suter, Ryan Kesler and Zach Parise, who have played a combined 28 games in the N.H.L. and were participating in their first Olympic orientation camp.

"We're playing 40 bucks a hole," Parise shouted to the rich and famous foursome across the cart path.

"Nah, 200 bucks a hole," Kesler corrected.

"How about 10 grand a hole?" Suter said, his hyperbole giving them away for sure.

The rookies were too embarrassed to admit that they were playing for $1 a hole - signing bonuses be damned - and sweating every shot. When Kesler ran out of balls, Tkachuk threw him an extra from an adjacent hole. "It's a Pro-V," Kesler announced. When Parise lined up for a drive, one veteran playfully yelled at him, "Watch out for the trees." And when Suter babied a chip, he said, "Those guys make me a little nervous."

He was hardly alone. The three-day Olympic camp here, which ended Thursday, included 11 players born in the 1980's, signifying a substantial shift in U.S.A. hockey. No longer will the Olympic team be composed only of America's best-known superstars. It will now feature many players still regarded as prospects.

After Tkachuk scanned the potential roster at the start of practices Tuesday, he shook his head of graying hair and said, "You look at those birthdates, and it's pretty weird."

Three of the youngest candidates - Suter, Kesler and Parise - were born after the 1984 Stanley Cup finals and are still worried about making the N.H.L. this season, much less the Olympics. Chris Higgins, who is 22, summed up their sentiment when he looked around the locker room after one workout and said, "I've only seen these guys on TV."

That is exactly why the emphasis in Colorado Springs was mostly away from the ice. To get new players to meet old players, and new players to meet new players, they all went golfing, fly-fishing, barbecuing and beer-drinking. They sat together for passport photos, uniform fittings and strategy sessions. Several players arrived on the same flight and left on the same flight. Almost everyone had a roommate in the hotel.

"Because we're in this transition period, when you make eye contact with someone you don't know, you have to just go up and introduce yourself," defenseman Andy Roach said. "All of a sudden, you realize that you know someone in common, and the stories get going."

Introductions have rarely been so important for the United States team, given how little the principals changed in the past decade. But this year, with the squad facing an obvious generational gap, it was a victory just to learn one another's nicknames and golf handicaps.

Forward Richard Park said of his roommate, defenseman Aaron Miller, "Now there's a guy I'll probably talk to for the rest of my life."

Miller said: "Having two grown men sharing the same room is a little strange. You can either sit there and say nothing or you can say hello and start talking. I think it's really important on a team like this that you start talking."

During a four-hour round of golf, Suter, Kesler and Parise touched upon all the subjects that are likely to consume them this season. Parise, a 21-year-old forward for the Devils, worried about traffic in the metropolitan area. Kesler, a 21-year-old forward for the Vancouver Canucks, bemoaned the high rents in the Pacific Northwest. And Suter, a 20-year-old defenseman for the Nashville Predators, wondered if country music stars went to games.

The only interruption in their round came when a fox scampered out of the Front Range and ran across their tee box. At another point, a fellow golfer approached, but when it was suggested that he might be looking for autographs, Suter said: "No way. Nobody knows us. We're just a bunch of bums."

As it turned out, the golfer only wanted to complete a foursome. The rookies determined that his skills were too sophisticated for them.

They played with rented clubs, at times in the rain, wearing sandals or sneakers. They marveled at the mountain views and the fast greens. They picked up each other's putts, ignored each other's mulligans and hid behind the cart in mock terror whenever someone wound up for a big slap shot. It is impossible to build a history in three days, but they may have at least constructed a rough foundation, stroke by stroke.

For all their innocent charm, the youngest Olympic hopefuls are serious about their responsibility to their sport. A successful run at the Turin Games this winter could do more to spike interest in American hockey than any regular-season N.H.L. game. And an influx of new stars could do more to energize fans than any Brett Hull hat trick.

The names associated with last year's lockout may soon be replaced by names associated with the future of the game.

"Still, they won't send us to the Olympics if we're in the minor leagues," Parise said.

The next generation is not exactly eager to shove its idols out of the crease. At the World Arena, where the camp was held, young players listened intently to all the old tales, laughed politely at all the old jokes and treasured even the most innocuous pieces of advice.

"It's good for us to have an opportunity here," the 24-year-old defenseman Paul Martin said. "But guys are really pretty quiet about it."

Although training camps often become competitive because they are viewed as tryouts, all 39 players invited were reminded that this orientation was more of a social call. The true tryout for the Olympic team is the first half of the N.H.L. season, when these same players will be hip-checking one another into the boards. How they perform from October to January will determine whether they are among the 23 members selected to go to Italy in February.

"The idea behind spending so much time together is that when you see each other again, you're excited about it," said forward Erik Cole. "It's great when you get off the plane and you're already giving everybody high-fives."

The team may not convene again until they travel to Turin on Feb. 13, followed by a practice Feb. 14 and the Olympic opener Feb. 15. Coach Peter Laviolette spent part of his time in Colorado Springs installing systems and part instilling motivation.

In talking about the gold medal, Laviolette said, "We need to dream about it every night."

The United States has not won gold since 1980, when Suter's father, Bob, was on the team. For everything that Modano, Tkachuk, Guerin and Weight have accomplished in hockey, they own no more Olympic gold medals than Suter, Kesler and Parise.

The first foursome, savoring its final shots, has arrived at the green. The second group, just warming up, is at the tee. But in this year of the Olympic crossover, they are on the same course.

[Esbee]

Good story, well-written...something we don't get much of down here! :laugh:

September 9, 2005

Upstarts Preparing for Line Shift as U.S. Looks to Winter Games
By LEE JENKINS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Sept. 8 - Two generations of U.S.A. hockey overlapped Wednesday afternoon between the 13th tee and the 14th green on the east course at Broadmoor Golf Club.

On the 14th green were Mike Modano, Keith Tkachuk, Bill Guerin and Doug Weight, who have played a combined 54 years in the National Hockey League and been to a combined nine Olympics. On the 13th tee were Ryan Suter, Ryan Kesler and Zach Parise, who have played a combined 28 games in the N.H.L. and were participating in their first Olympic orientation camp.

"We're playing 40 bucks a hole," Parise shouted to the rich and famous foursome across the cart path.

"Nah, 200 bucks a hole," Kesler corrected.

"How about 10 grand a hole?" Suter said, his hyperbole giving them away for sure.

The rookies were too embarrassed to admit that they were playing for $1 a hole - signing bonuses be damned - and sweating every shot. When Kesler ran out of balls, Tkachuk threw him an extra from an adjacent hole. "It's a Pro-V," Kesler announced. When Parise lined up for a drive, one veteran playfully yelled at him, "Watch out for the trees." And when Suter babied a chip, he said, "Those guys make me a little nervous."

He was hardly alone. The three-day Olympic camp here, which ended Thursday, included 11 players born in the 1980's, signifying a substantial shift in U.S.A. hockey. No longer will the Olympic team be composed only of America's best-known superstars. It will now feature many players still regarded as prospects.

After Tkachuk scanned the potential roster at the start of practices Tuesday, he shook his head of graying hair and said, "You look at those birthdates, and it's pretty weird."

Three of the youngest candidates - Suter, Kesler and Parise - were born after the 1984 Stanley Cup finals and are still worried about making the N.H.L. this season, much less the Olympics. Chris Higgins, who is 22, summed up their sentiment when he looked around the locker room after one workout and said, "I've only seen these guys on TV."

That is exactly why the emphasis in Colorado Springs was mostly away from the ice. To get new players to meet old players, and new players to meet new players, they all went golfing, fly-fishing, barbecuing and beer-drinking. They sat together for passport photos, uniform fittings and strategy sessions. Several players arrived on the same flight and left on the same flight. Almost everyone had a roommate in the hotel.

"Because we're in this transition period, when you make eye contact with someone you don't know, you have to just go up and introduce yourself," defenseman Andy Roach said. "All of a sudden, you realize that you know someone in common, and the stories get going."

Introductions have rarely been so important for the United States team, given how little the principals changed in the past decade. But this year, with the squad facing an obvious generational gap, it was a victory just to learn one another's nicknames and golf handicaps.

Forward Richard Park said of his roommate, defenseman Aaron Miller, "Now there's a guy I'll probably talk to for the rest of my life."

Miller said: "Having two grown men sharing the same room is a little strange. You can either sit there and say nothing or you can say hello and start talking. I think it's really important on a team like this that you start talking."

During a four-hour round of golf, Suter, Kesler and Parise touched upon all the subjects that are likely to consume them this season. Parise, a 21-year-old forward for the Devils, worried about traffic in the metropolitan area. Kesler, a 21-year-old forward for the Vancouver Canucks, bemoaned the high rents in the Pacific Northwest. And Suter, a 20-year-old defenseman for the Nashville Predators, wondered if country music stars went to games.

The only interruption in their round came when a fox scampered out of the Front Range and ran across their tee box. At another point, a fellow golfer approached, but when it was suggested that he might be looking for autographs, Suter said: "No way. Nobody knows us. We're just a bunch of bums."

As it turned out, the golfer only wanted to complete a foursome. The rookies determined that his skills were too sophisticated for them.

They played with rented clubs, at times in the rain, wearing sandals or sneakers. They marveled at the mountain views and the fast greens. They picked up each other's putts, ignored each other's mulligans and hid behind the cart in mock terror whenever someone wound up for a big slap shot. It is impossible to build a history in three days, but they may have at least constructed a rough foundation, stroke by stroke.

For all their innocent charm, the youngest Olympic hopefuls are serious about their responsibility to their sport. A successful run at the Turin Games this winter could do more to spike interest in American hockey than any regular-season N.H.L. game. And an influx of new stars could do more to energize fans than any Brett Hull hat trick.

The names associated with last year's lockout may soon be replaced by names associated with the future of the game.

"Still, they won't send us to the Olympics if we're in the minor leagues," Parise said.

The next generation is not exactly eager to shove its idols out of the crease. At the World Arena, where the camp was held, young players listened intently to all the old tales, laughed politely at all the old jokes and treasured even the most innocuous pieces of advice.

"It's good for us to have an opportunity here," the 24-year-old defenseman Paul Martin said. "But guys are really pretty quiet about it."

Although training camps often become competitive because they are viewed as tryouts, all 39 players invited were reminded that this orientation was more of a social call. The true tryout for the Olympic team is the first half of the N.H.L. season, when these same players will be hip-checking one another into the boards. How they perform from October to January will determine whether they are among the 23 members selected to go to Italy in February.

"The idea behind spending so much time together is that when you see each other again, you're excited about it," said forward Erik Cole. "It's great when you get off the plane and you're already giving everybody high-fives."

The team may not convene again until they travel to Turin on Feb. 13, followed by a practice Feb. 14 and the Olympic opener Feb. 15. Coach Peter Laviolette spent part of his time in Colorado Springs installing systems and part instilling motivation.

In talking about the gold medal, Laviolette said, "We need to dream about it every night."

The United States has not won gold since 1980, when Suter's father, Bob, was on the team. For everything that Modano, Tkachuk, Guerin and Weight have accomplished in hockey, they own no more Olympic gold medals than Suter, Kesler and Parise.

The first foursome, savoring its final shots, has arrived at the green. The second group, just warming up, is at the tee. But in this year of the Olympic crossover, they are on the same course.

[nccanes]

GREAT article Esbee. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Olympic Hockey Camp Ends With Scrimmage

Last Updated:
09-09-05 at 8:02AM

Now that 39 Olympic hockey hopefuls have filled out forms, run some drills and had a few days to bond with fellow players and coaches, the time has come to earn their spots on the team that will head to Turin.

The three-day U.S. Olympic orientation camp wrapped up Thursday with a spirited scrimmage, a 4-3 victory for the blue team over the white.

The players then headed out of town to get ready for NHL training camps that will begin next week. It won't be long until opening night on Oct. 5.

That's when Olympic tryouts begin in earnest.

"We're going to do depth charts by team," Team USA general manager Don Waddell said. "Every team is going to have guys we're going to watch, some teams are going to have more guys."

Goaltenders seemed to be ahead of skaters Thursday after the season-long layoff caused by the NHL lockout. Philadelphia's Robert Esche made a few tough saves, fending off scoring chances set up by odd-man rushes.

"It was pretty upbeat," U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "The tempo this morning, the first half was good. The other seemed to fall off a little bit."

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro tried to get into the scoring act, skating the length of the ice for a penalty shot against Buffalo's Ryan Miller, who made a pad stop.

"That was a brutal move, I should've just stayed in the net. That was embarrassing," DiPietro said. :lol: :lol:

Waddell, along with assistant GM Paul Holmgren and director of hockey operations, Jim Johannson will split up player lists and do extensive scouting over the first three months of the NHL season. They will keep in touch with Laviolette, who said his top priority now is getting his Carolina Hurricanes off to a good start.

Some players who were invited to Colorado Springs this week would really have to play their way off the team. Some probably never had much of a chance to make the squad.

"I've never really done anything like this. It was definitely a good experience on and off the ice," 20-year-old Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter said. "It gets the top U.S. guys out there. I was trying to keep up with them and trying to establish myself among those guys."

Then there are those who weren't asked to attend, older players who might perform so well before the team selection in January that there is no way they can be left home when the NHL takes a break in its season.

Waddell and his staff felt it was beneficial to bring a new crop of players into the fold and give them a taste of the international game as opposed to inviting veterans who have been through all this several times before.

"We thought this was an opportunity to bring some of the younger guys to be on the same ice as Mike Modano, Billy Guerin, Keith Tkachuk," said Waddell, the Atlanta Thrashers' GM. "Are they ready to play in the Olympics? Probably not. You don't get this opportunity very often to bring this kind of a group together."

Laviolette stressed that everyone invited to the camp has a real chance to make the team _ young and old alike.

"We're not ready to hand over the baton," said 34-year-old forward Doug Weight, a two-time Olympian. "We've got a lot left to offer. We're all about being good teammates, but we're here for a job as well. We want to be a part of that team in four months."

On the administrative side, USA Hockey wanted to bring the group in to take care of some technical issues before the Olympics. Players needed to fill out forms, get passport documentation intact, have photos taken, get briefed on Olympic drug testing, and be fitted for uniforms.

This was never meant to be a tryout or training camp.

"We're not having one meeting about who has been the best player here or anything like that," Waddell said. "That's not the purpose of it."

Laviolette wanted to begin instilling a playing system. But he won't see his players again until Feb. 13 when everyone heads over to Italy. By then, the team will have been picked and there will be time for only one practice before the Olympics opener against Latvia on Feb. 15.

"You have a bunch of guys from a bunch of different places, playing a bunch of different ways. You have to somehow corral them and try to bring them in as one," Laviolette said. "We didn't accomplish that here this week, but we did give them the information how we're going to try to do that."

[nccanes]

GREAT article Esbee. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Olympic Hockey Camp Ends With Scrimmage

Last Updated:
09-09-05 at 8:02AM

Now that 39 Olympic hockey hopefuls have filled out forms, run some drills and had a few days to bond with fellow players and coaches, the time has come to earn their spots on the team that will head to Turin.

The three-day U.S. Olympic orientation camp wrapped up Thursday with a spirited scrimmage, a 4-3 victory for the blue team over the white.

The players then headed out of town to get ready for NHL training camps that will begin next week. It won't be long until opening night on Oct. 5.

That's when Olympic tryouts begin in earnest.

"We're going to do depth charts by team," Team USA general manager Don Waddell said. "Every team is going to have guys we're going to watch, some teams are going to have more guys."

Goaltenders seemed to be ahead of skaters Thursday after the season-long layoff caused by the NHL lockout. Philadelphia's Robert Esche made a few tough saves, fending off scoring chances set up by odd-man rushes.

"It was pretty upbeat," U.S. coach Peter Laviolette said. "The tempo this morning, the first half was good. The other seemed to fall off a little bit."

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro tried to get into the scoring act, skating the length of the ice for a penalty shot against Buffalo's Ryan Miller, who made a pad stop.

"That was a brutal move, I should've just stayed in the net. That was embarrassing," DiPietro said. :lol: :lol:

Waddell, along with assistant GM Paul Holmgren and director of hockey operations, Jim Johannson will split up player lists and do extensive scouting over the first three months of the NHL season. They will keep in touch with Laviolette, who said his top priority now is getting his Carolina Hurricanes off to a good start.

Some players who were invited to Colorado Springs this week would really have to play their way off the team. Some probably never had much of a chance to make the squad.

"I've never really done anything like this. It was definitely a good experience on and off the ice," 20-year-old Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter said. "It gets the top U.S. guys out there. I was trying to keep up with them and trying to establish myself among those guys."

Then there are those who weren't asked to attend, older players who might perform so well before the team selection in January that there is no way they can be left home when the NHL takes a break in its season.

Waddell and his staff felt it was beneficial to bring a new crop of players into the fold and give them a taste of the international game as opposed to inviting veterans who have been through all this several times before.

"We thought this was an opportunity to bring some of the younger guys to be on the same ice as Mike Modano, Billy Guerin, Keith Tkachuk," said Waddell, the Atlanta Thrashers' GM. "Are they ready to play in the Olympics? Probably not. You don't get this opportunity very often to bring this kind of a group together."

Laviolette stressed that everyone invited to the camp has a real chance to make the team _ young and old alike.

"We're not ready to hand over the baton," said 34-year-old forward Doug Weight, a two-time Olympian. "We've got a lot left to offer. We're all about being good teammates, but we're here for a job as well. We want to be a part of that team in four months."

On the administrative side, USA Hockey wanted to bring the group in to take care of some technical issues before the Olympics. Players needed to fill out forms, get passport documentation intact, have photos taken, get briefed on Olympic drug testing, and be fitted for uniforms.

This was never meant to be a tryout or training camp.

"We're not having one meeting about who has been the best player here or anything like that," Waddell said. "That's not the purpose of it."

Laviolette wanted to begin instilling a playing system. But he won't see his players again until Feb. 13 when everyone heads over to Italy. By then, the team will have been picked and there will be time for only one practice before the Olympics opener against Latvia on Feb. 15.

"You have a bunch of guys from a bunch of different places, playing a bunch of different ways. You have to somehow corral them and try to bring them in as one," Laviolette said. "We didn't accomplish that here this week, but we did give them the information how we're going to try to do that."

[SoCalcaniac]

Great articles Esbee & E! Thanks for sharing- Team USA looks pretty good and nobody's been picked yet........!

[SoCalcaniac]

Great articles Esbee & E! Thanks for sharing- Team USA looks pretty good and nobody's been picked yet........!

[puck_it]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2156741

really long, but good

[puck_it]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2156741

really long, but good

[Guyute]

moved to new forum