The United States of Hockey

A roster made up of candidates for the U.S. National Junior Team skated away with a 3-2 overtime victory over Team Sweden today in its first pre-World Junior Championship tune-up. The game was expected to be an important evaluation point for Team USA as it still has three cuts to make by Dec. 22.

After today’s contest, in which all of the players on the bubble for the final roster played, it’s going to be an even tougher decision than previously thought.

The U.S. scratched its two top defensemen coming into the tournament in Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba, its projected top line of Johnny Gaudreau, J.T. Miller and Rocco Grimaldi, and its starting goalie John Gibson. Sweden played most of their big guns like Hampus Lindholm, Elias Lindholm, Filip Forsberg and Sebastian Collberg. To come away with a 3-2 win in a penalty-filled game is a good result for the United States.

More than anything, it gives Team USA’s staff a really strong evaluation point to see who fits where. The only problem now is, who can they cut? Your guess is probably as good as mine. It’s only three guys, but I do not envy that staff right now.

Coming up after the jump, stats from the game, a look at the lineup, who stood out, who didn’t and where to go from here…

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The U.S. will meet Sweden in its first of two pre-tournament games today at 12:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on NHL Network (no NHL.com stream though). This game will be the crucial evaluation point for the guys on the bubble for Team USA. What happens today could have a big impact on who the final 23 guys going to Ufa will be.

For some help on what to watch for, you can click here for yesterday’s preview post.

Team USA’s lineup for today’s game came out just a bit ago.

Team USA will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen today, which is two less than normal. The six scratches are all guys that are locked into spots on Team USA. Going with two less players will ensure that all of the guys the U.S. needs to see more of will get plenty of ice time.

Coming up after the jump, the lines, the scratches and some analysis.

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USA Hockey will take a significant step in narrowing down its U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster when the squad meets Sweden for its first pre-tournament game Thurday. The U.S. will dress the requisite 22 players for the game, which will air live on NHL Network at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Team USA GM Jim Johannson has said Thursday’s game will be a big part of the decision process for the three cuts USA Hockey will have to make to get down to 23 players for the tournament. Two defensemen and a forward will have to be let go by Dec. 22, which is when the roster is planned to be announced.

The series of practices Team USA has held, with small area games and informal scrimmages will have weighed heavily into consideration on top of the players’ complete bodies of work. For those on the bubble, Thursday could be make or break. For the guys that are safe from the clippers, it will be a chance to build chemistry and familiarity with linemates.

Coming up after the jump, what to watch for during Team USA’s exhibition.

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The U.S. has about as good a problem as you could hope to have when it comes to its defense. No matter which two of the nine defensemen in camp get cut, the reaction is probably going to be like this: “How could they possibly have cut him?”

Seth Jones (Photo: Dave Arnold)

The depth among the nine blueliners in camp is notable. There’s a good mix of skill sets, but the key similarity is mobility. All of the guys in camp can move well. Not all of them are speedsters, but every single guy is strong on his feet. Knowing that, it’s the other tools that each guy brings to the table that will ultimately decide his fate.

What is going to be extremely tough for the U.S. to decide now that the camp is headed to Finland, is which seven guys give them the right mix. Based on reports coming out of camp, it’s going to take a little longer to figure out who that might be.

Coming up after the jump, a look at Team USA’s options….

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If you don’t mind waking up early, NHL Network and USA Hockey today announced that the Network will be airing all Team USA games live throughout the U.S. Additionally, NHL.com will stream the U.S. games live, so you’re covered if you do’t have the Network and live in the United States.

In addition to all USA games, NHL Network will air 12 other games including each of Canada’s preliminary-round games, both quarterfinals, both semifinals and both the bronze and gold-medal games, regardless of U.S. participation. Also, for those hard-core individuals out there, NHL Network is airing each of Team USA’s two pre-tournament games.

Steve Mears, Penguins radio play-by-play man, will be calling the action, while NHL.com/NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek will provide color. Rob Simpson returns for the second straight year to provide rink-side coverage.

NHL.com/NHL Network will also be utilizing Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale from NHL.com, as well as Dave Starman (who has done color for this tournament for the last several years) for in-depth analysis.

The good news for fans is that you can follow the coverage. The bad news is, you have to get up at some seriously ungodly hours to do so live. Each tournament game will be replayed at a more reasonable hour, but if you love this tournament, you’re getting up, right?

I’ll be getting up with you, providing game previews, recaps and in-game analysis on Twitter. So please keep me company.

Full schedule after the jump. Continue reading →

USA Hockey will open camp later this evening with the 27 players selected to the preliminary roster for the U.S. National Junior Team. The camp will span three days in New York before moving to Helsinki, Finland for another four before the Team USA’s final roster is named on Dec. 23.

It is not yet known how cuts will be handled or when they will be made. Knowing that each player’s entire body of work will be taken into consideration, United States of Hockey has you covered.

For a look at what to watch for at the U.S. camp, click here. Coming up after the jump, every invited player’s stat line from the first half of the season as well as a few quick pertinent notes. And as an added bonus, some video highlights. Continue reading →