Ten Former WCHA Players Named to 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
Former Sioux Star Zach Parise is One of 10 WCHA Alums on Team USA |
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Jan. 2, 2010
(release courtesy of USA Hockey, Inc.)
BOSTON - Three players with past Olympic experience – Chris Drury (Trumbull, Conn./New York Rangers/2002, 2006), Brian Rafalski (Dearborn, Mich./Detroit Red Wings/2002, 2006) and Jamie Langenbrunner (Cloquet, Minn./New Jersey Devils/1998) – highlight the 23-man roster announced today by USA Hockey that will represent the United States at the XXI Olympic Winter Games Feb. 16-28 in Vancouver, B.C.
Included on the roster are 10 former Western Collegiate Hockey Association standouts in defensemen Erik Johnson (Univ. of Minnesota), Paul Martin (Univ. of Minnesota), Rafalski (Univ. of Wisconsin) and Ryan Suter (Univ. of Wisconsin), and forwards David Backes (Minnesota State Univ.), Phil Kessel (Univ. of Minnesota), Ryan Malone (St. Cloud State Univ.), Zach Parise (Univ. of North Dakota), Joe Pavelski (Univ. of Wisconsin) and Paul Stastny (Univ. of Denver).
Named to Canada's 2010 Olympic men's hockey team roster earlier this week were forwards Dany Heatley (Univ. of Wisconsin) and Jonathan Toews (Univ. of North Dakota).
"Our management group has worked hard to put together a group of players that will give us the best chance to win the gold medal in Vancouver and we feel like we've done that," said Brian Burke, general manager of Team USA. "We had some difficult decisions to make, but that's a credit to USA Hockey and depth of the player pool in our country."
2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team:
Forwards (13): David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny.
Defensemen (7): Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter.
Goaltenders (3): Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas.
Note: Roster subject to approval of U.S. Olympic Committee's Game Preparation Division
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"The Olympic hockey tournament in Vancouver will be like no other," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "We appreciate the hard work that has gone into putting this team together and know we have a terrific group of players to represent our country."
Also included on the roster are forwards Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./Chicago Blackhawks/17-28=45), Zach Parise (Prior Lake, Minn./New Jersey Devils/17-25=42), and Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/9-30=39), currently the top three American point-getters in the National Hockey League.
In addition, five players that played for Team USA at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship – forwards David Backes (Blaine, Minn./St. Louis Blues), Dustin Brown (Ithaca, N.Y./Los Angeles Kings) and Joe Pavelski (Plover, Wis./San Jose Sharks), and defensemen Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Los Angeles Kings) and Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./Nashville Predators) – will also skate for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team.
Team USA's roster boasts three of the NHL's leading goaltenders, including Tim Thomas (Flint, Mich./Boston Bruins), Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich./Buffalo Sabres) and Jonathan Quick (Hamden, Conn./Los Angeles Kings). Thomas is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, while Miller is among the top five in the NHL in wins (T5th/21), goals-against average (3rd/2.05) and save percentage (.933/2nd) in 2009-10. Quick has played the most minutes (2224:03) of any goaltender in the NHL this season and is tied for fifth in the league in wins (21).
The selection of the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team is subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee's Game Preparation Division.
Notes: Team USA's roster, with an average age of 26.5, includes 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders. Brian Rafalski is the oldest player on Team USA at age 36, while Patrick Kane, at 21, is the youngest ... Team USA's management group that was charged with selecting the team included Brian Burke (Toronto Maple Leafs), general manager, and David Poile (Nashville Predators), associate general manager, as well as Jim Johannson (USA Hockey), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers), Dean Lombardi (L.A. Kings), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Don Waddell (Atlanta Thrashers) ... All 23 Team USA members, representing 16 NHL teams, participated in USA Hockey's Olympic Orientation Camp held in August ... Twenty-two players have worn the U.S. sweater in international competition, with Jonathan Quick the lone exception. Cumulatively, U.S. players have competed in 557 international games and captured 22 medals ... Zach Parise is tied for the NHL lead in plus/minus rating at +21 ... Eighteen players have U.S. college hockey experience, with the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin leading the way with three players each ... A total of seven players have played for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (E. Johnson, J. Johnson, Kane, Kesler, Kessel, Komisarek, Suter) ... Ryan Suter's father Bob played on the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team, while his uncle Gary played on the 2002 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team ... Ron Wilson, head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is the head coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, with Scott Gordon, head coach of the New York Islanders, and John Tortorella, head coach of the New York Rangers, serving as assistant coaches.
Team USA 2010 Olympic Winter Games Schedule
Feb. 16-28 • Vancouver, B.C.
Date Opponent Time (Local/EST)
Tues., Feb. 16: Switzerland, 12 pm/3 pm
Thurs., Feb. 18: Norway, 12 pm/3 pm
Sun., Feb. 21: Canada 4:40 pm/7:40 pm
Wed., Feb. 24: Quarterfinals, TBD
Fri., Feb. 26: Semifinals, TBD
Sun., Feb. 27: Bronze-Medal Game, 7 pm/10 pm
Mon., Feb. 28: Gold-Medal Game, 12:15 pm/3:15 pm
For complete information on the 2010 U.S. men's Olympic Team, visit http://www.usahockey.com.
