Team USA’s mens hockey roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics was announced today following the completion of the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Heading to Sochi, Russia are…
Forwards
David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler.
Defense
John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter.
Goalies
Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick.
Cheer on America’s team with these Go USA mittens!
No Nashville Predators Selected
While there had been some hype about rookie defenseman Seth Jones perhaps making the team, he didn’t make the cut this time around. At just 19 years of age, however, he’ll have plenty of opportunity in future Olympics. One would have to think that his remarkable skating ability would play nicely on the larger international ice surface.
Among the forwards, the Predators didn’t have any serious candidates to make the team. Yes, Craig Smith has had success at the World Championships previously, but that’s a lesser stage than the Olympics, both in terms of the player pool he was chosen from and the competition from other countries.
American Underdogs
Team USA has been considered an underdog for gold in Sochi, with defending champion Canada, host Russia & 2006 gold medalists Sweden the favorites. Does this team have what it takes to deliver the gold medal for the first time since the Miracle On Ice in 1980?
