Ryan Suter named Olympic alternate captain for Team USA

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 11, 2010 3:05 PM EST

General Manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team Brian Burke announced today that Predators defenseman Ryan Suter will serve as an alternate captain for the nation at the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver. New Jersey forward Jamie Langenbrunner will serve as captain, while Devils forward Zach Parise, Los Angeles forward Dustin Brown and Detroit defenseman Brian Rafalski will also be a part of the team's leadership group. This is the second time Suter has worn a letter for Team USA - he was captain of the 2005 World Junior Championships squad.

This is the Madison, Wis., native's first Olympics, but eighth time representing the U.S. in international play - he's played in three World Junior Championships and four World Championships. In 2004, he helped the Red, White and Blue to their first-ever gold medal at the world junior tournament. Ryan's father, Bob Suter, was a member of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Team that won the gold medal at Lake Placid. For the Predators in 2009-10, the seventh overall pick in the 2003 Entry Draft held at the Sommet Center has 21 points, including 19 assists, which ranks among the defensive league leaders. He has appeared in all 45 of the club's games, and leads Nashville in average ice time (24:01).

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

This is obviously a tremendous honor for Suter, and reflects the steady development he's enjoyed throughout his young career.

ATTENTION NASHVILLE MEDIA: Get on board with this story, it's a good one to follow at the Winter Olympics.

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Comments

WAY TO GO

Sutes!! hope the local media picks up on this.

by bluegrassbaby on Jan 11, 2010 3:31 PM EST reply actions

I was mulling writing another tirade at the local TV stations this morning, but held off. Saturday night they had a sellout game downtown, and WSMV couldn’t even bother to show the highlights on their nightly news that evening (despite having extra time to prepare as football ran late). Then NewsChannel5 ignored hockey entirely on their Sunday night sports show, spending about 1/3rd of the broadcast talking about the Titans instead.

Pathetic.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 11, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

They’ll care once football is over. Heck, in Boston we have had a hockey team for WAY longer than you and get the same crap.

So I just don’t watch sports on TV or listen on the radio. That’s what I’ve got the internet for.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 11, 2010 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

it will take years

for the Nashville media to adequately report on the Preds. once the old guard leaves and the new guard, who will know at least a little about hockey, takes over, then we can see confident reporting. i dont think the old guys are confident enough to a story. but they know every Titans player personally.

by HartnellsMop on Jan 11, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

Get the preds to the conference finals or further. That could help a lot, too.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jan 11, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

Welcome

Cornelius, how’s everything in Boston? glad to have you with us.

by bluegrassbaby on Jan 11, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

I'm almost pissed...

…that the Vols basketball squad beat Kansas. It just gives the Tennessean more reason to ignore the Preds and/or anything Preds related.

If it weren’t for my wife’s unnatural addiction to the Sunday ads, I would have dropped my weekend subscription long ago.

by rusherman on Jan 11, 2010 4:09 PM EST reply actions

My wife had the same concern, for which I can offer two solutions (since we just canceled a few weeks ago):

#1: Bookmark the stores you’re interested in (Target, Best Buy, etc.). They all have their weekly ads on their website, and you can take advantage of all the coupons that way.

#2: Newspapers like to prop up their circulation numbers the same way that sports teams pump up Announced Attendance with giveaways. Despite canceling my TN subscription last month, Sunday morning a fresh paper was sitting in my driveway.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 11, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

But the risks, man!

Hell hath no fury like my wife without easy and colorful sale knowledge.

Trust me on this. It’s a scary thing. It would be like denying me beer during hockey. Sure, I could bookmark the beer makers’ website, but it’s just not the same.

by rusherman on Jan 11, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t care two bits about Tennessee basketball, but that was one hell of a win they pulled off over Kansas, so I have no problem with every media outlet giving that top billing.

There’s still plenty of room for coverage, however, and Nashville’s TV stations continue to drop the ball there.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 11, 2010 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

I have a problem with people hoping other teams falter in hope for more attention to the Preds. Why can’t all teams get attention? No need for other teams to get less attention to get more attention to the Preds

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Jan 11, 2010 5:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I disagree.

When a professional level team is relegated to the 7th page because high school football is given preferential treatment, then I think something is definitely wrong. This coming from the same news outlet that consistently berates the very sport in which they help to diminish.

Bear in mind that I’m only speaking of the Tennessean, as I don’t regularly watch the local news.

I don’t know…I understand that Nashville is traditionally a football/basketball market and I have no problem with that, but UT’s main campus is in Knoxville, not Nashville. Even Vanderbilt has gotten snuffed in years past because of UT’s success. I’ve never understood that.

by rusherman on Jan 11, 2010 5:34 PM EST up reply actions