At the beginning of the month, the US Olympic Hockey Team finalized their player picks for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Many were puzzled at General Manager Brian Burke’s new strategy for choosing his Olympic athletes. Small, young, but full of spirit, Burke may not have chosen a team of vets, but he did chose a team of youthfulness. With the average age on the team being 26.5 years old; unlike Team Canada, Team Russia, or Team Sweden, Burke hopes that the determination of the young willed athletes will win them the gold.
The US Olympic Hockey Team has gained much media attention lately, especially with Brian Burke’s player choices for Team USA. Only 3 of the 23 players chosen for the US Olympic Hockey Team have had previous Olympic experience including: New York Ranger’s Captain Chris Drury, Detroit Defenseman Brian Rafalski, and New Jersey Devil’s Jamie Langenbrunner. The big American names in hockey like Mike Modano, Bill Guerin, and Scott Gomez were left on the bench this year which surprised many US hockey fans. However, this was not as big of a surprise to the big names themselves. In summer camps this year, Burke expressed his enthusiasm for a fresh new team for the Olympics – which also meant he was looking for new players.
The team roster was announced at Boston’s Fenway Park, after the winter classic battle between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Although the list may not be completely finalized; roster changes can be made up until the week before the Olympics commence. It will be an interesting battle for all hockey teams, but Brian Burke claims his choices were based on the sole premise that they wanted to “pick a team based on the body of work, rather than how a team is playing now.”
The youngest player on the list includes 21 year old Patrick Kane from the Chicago Black Hawks, and the oldest being 36 year old Brian Rafalski from the Detroit Red Wings. And, the US Olympic Team shouldn’t be too worried with goaltender Ryan Miller from Buffalo. He is claimed to be the number 1 net minder, and if he should falter Tim Thomas (goalie from the Boston Bruins) will be there to graciously take his place.
All in all it will be a great battle to the end, and an interesting turn of events for the US Winter Olympic Hockey Team. Burke says that his fresh new team is definitely “excited about their chances.”
Olympics 2010 US Hockey Team: Young Minds, Bodies, and Souls
