brianvf

The USA final roster was announced. No surprise with Kristo on it. http://usahockey.com/world_junior_champion...etailedNews=yes

Play the 09 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year as a forward? I agree with AZSioux, we need Genoway on the blueline. He's harder to defend against back there, plus he's our best dman at starting the rush up ice. IMO if you put him as a forward he loses a lot of his effectiveness. I don't like sitting Fienhage, but I don't think the answer is to move Chay up.

If you look at the below pic from the Canada exhibition win, you'll get your answer:

It will be fun watching the Canadian fans boo the USA whenever they play again. It's great to see that the NHL Network is airing a lot of games and all of the USA games.

I just watched the video highlights from the TSN webpage from the CAN/SWE exhibition game. A Canada player (the Canada team captain, BTW) elbowed a Sweden player in the face on his way to the bench...no penalty was called though. Sweden was so upset about it that they refused to shake hands after the game.

Why is Canada wearing green jerseys? Team Canada beat Sweden 6-2 in an exhibition game (a rematch of last years Gold medal game). That's quite the quote right there, coming from possibly the dirtiest player in last year's WJC.

Team USA would have had crisper passing and better special teams than any college program. It's not like Blais was running any crazy systems that the players had to get used to...I don't think you can do that with how short this tourney is. The fact of the matter is that team USA just had better overall talent. IMO I thought that UND put in a good effort considering that: 1. They were playing against the best U20 players in the nation. 2. They were without three top players. 3. They had all new lines for both the PP and PK. 4. They were playing people that don't normally see ice time. Hopefully they can get some more PP/PK practice time in the next two weeks and then come out strong for the Notre Dame tourney against Niagara.

I don't think UND looked too bad against the nations best U20 team considering that three of their best players were out. PP still looked disorganized at times aside from a U20 defensive breakdown on the Trupp PP goal (both Trupp and Malone were essentially 2 on 0 in front of the goalie). It was great to see Trupper have a great game, his backhand goal with 50sec left with a snipe to the glove side. Fienhage had a good game, laying some big hits. Aside from his misplay on the 3rd USA goal, I think he played well. It'll be a tough decision for Hakstol once Genoway comes back. I think both Eidsness and Dell played well and made some good saves. The goal that BE let in was just a great tip right in front that he had no chance on.

Fowler on the USA team really impressed me. Heck of a shot from the point on the PP, and played very well defensively. Notre Dame missed out on a great player there. Stepan seemed to play well too, I noticed him a lot more tonight than I did during the UW series.

Three of our better players.

Sweeney says Zajac had hernia surgery. Dr. Sweeney says Darcy will be back in a month.

Kristo scores on the EN to close it out. 4-2 USA

Trupp with another beauty of a goal. Backhand. 3-2 USA

When they're the best 17-19 year old players in the nation...yes.

Fienhage with a couple of good hits so far this game...

3-1 after a goal from Zucker. Deflected off of Hill's stick.

I'm not.

Kreider with his 2nd goal of the game on the PP. Sweeney says that he has 2 goals all year for BC. 2-1 USA

It's not like they were just informed prior to the game. They've known for awhile now.

I won't really care if UND wins or loses this game, just no injuries. UND lost 3-0 the last time they played the WJC team in 04/05 (the year the WJC was at the REA). http://www.uscho.com/box/?date=20041219&am...nd&gender=m This is a group of the best U20 players in the nation, I wouldn't be surprised if they won. The main thing going in the Sioux's favor IMO is that the WJC team has had limited practice time together. The talent level is high enough to overcome that though.

I would be surprised if Davidson doesn't play. Sounds like Hakstol wants to give everyone a chance to play. No Sioux recruits aside from current player Kristo on the team. All of the players are already playing college, are committed to a different school, or are from MJ and ineligible. Here's the preliminary roster...sounds like the final roster will be set on the 22nd. GOALTENDERS (2) Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown 2009-10 Team (League) Jack Campbell 6-2 (188) 185 (85) 1/9/92 L Port Huron, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP) Mike Lee 6-1 (185) 195 (88) 10/5/90 L Roseau, Minn. St. Cloud State University (WCHA) DEFENSEMEN (11) John Carlson 6-3 (190) 210 (95) 1/10/90 R Colonia, N.J. Hershey Bears (AHL) Matt Donovan 6-0 (183) 190 (86) 5/9/90 L Edmond, Okla. University of Denver (WCHA) Justin Faulk 5-11 (180) 195 (88) 3/20/92 R South St. Paul, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP) Cam Fowler 6-2 (188) 198 (90) 12/5/91 L Farmington Hills, Mich. Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Jake Gardiner 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 7/4/90 L Minnetonka, Minn. University of Wisconsin (WCHA) Brian Lashoff 6-3 (190) 204 (93) 7/16/90 L Albany, N.Y. Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) Jon Merrill 6-3 (190) 200 (91) 2/3/92 L Brighton, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team (USNTDP) John Moore 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 11/19/90 L Winnetka, Ill. Kitchener Rangers (OHL) Max Nicastro 6-2 (188) 189 (86) 3/2/90 R Thousand Oaks, Calif. Boston University (HEA) John Ramage 6-0 (183) 195 (88) 2/7/91 R St. Louis, Mo. University of Wisconsin (WCHA) David Warsofsky 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 5/30/90 L Marshfield, Mass. Boston University (HEA) FORWARDS (16) Ryan Bourque 5-8 (173) 170 (77) 1/3/91 L Boxford, Mass. Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) Chris Brown 6-2 (188) 191 (86) 2/3/91 R Houston, Texas University of Michigan (CCHA) Jerry D

For people that are picking Kristo for the Chicago Tourney weekend, you might want to rethink your choice. He'll be with the WJC team for those games.

That remains to be seen.

I was surprised the Kaip was so high...more than double the price of the Watkins & Miller. Thanks, I'll break in this jersey by wearing it to the Notre Dame tourney in a couple weeks. That is, if I get it by then.

Sorry about that. I wondered if you were the HAMMER bidder that was also going for it. I was debating going for either the Miller or Watkins jersey...