US Junior Team cuts

[jnacc]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Team USA Faster? Sure, they put a scare into Canada, but the bottom line is they lost. Moral victories won't get you medals, only frustration. Just like last year, they had a big lead in a Canadian barn and blew it.
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Well at least its something to build on. Not much was really expected from the U.S. this year (I believe they are setting themselves up for next year where they return key players) and just by given Canada a game was a sort of victory in itself. You are right though, Canada finds a way to win even when they don't play their best game and the U.S. seems to find a way to lose even when things are going their way.

You're a fan of the NCAA? really? fooled me all along eh?

Guess your real easy to fool jack***.

In Minnesota the highschool tourney dwarfs the WJC's. Not even close. Before the recession FSN televised high school regular season hockey games

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Good for Minesooota, but in the larger hockey world H.S. hockey means jack****. The point here is that the W.J.C. is at a whole other level in terms of importance to the players, scouts, NHL GM's and so forth.

[defkit]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

USA showed they belong on the same ice as Canada, which is a lot more than people expected going in. Having not followed these guys much, I was very impressed with their tenacious forecheck and they pinch in play at the offensive blue line. Their speed was remarkable. They deserved a better fate, but as Swami says, the last 10 minutes and shootout were a complete reversal of how they played the first 50 minutes. Hopefully, they can remember how they felt at the end of the game and use it as motivation against Finland.

[TCHB]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

They just didn't have the depth to match Canada. That Kristo line was beastly, and Cam Fowler was the best defenseman on the ice.

I have to say though that while Carlson played well for the most part, he had a couple of brain farts and didn't impress me as much as I thought he would.

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Is the roster size the regular 20 man roster?

Just curious because Jeremy Morin didn't touch the ice for the USA the entire night and then he shot in the shootout.

Anyone know if you're allowed 21 or something?

Either that or Blais didn't play the fourth line at all and shortended the bench.

Overall, I wasn't quite as skeptical as most were about the USA's chances. I thought the USA actually was going to compete with Canada quite well.

Speed is immensely important and sometimes underrated aspect in hockey and the USA certainly has it. The USA had the better goaltender as well.

Campbell is a stud, sure he gave up all three in the SO but he made some OUTSTANDING saves in a great hockey game.

I'm not sure why Schroeder tried to beat Allen the exact same way he beat him on the breakaway. I thought that was a very poor choice on his part. Kristo and Morin made Allen look stupid.

Taylor Hall is **** impressive. Whoever ends up with him next year is getting a heck of a hockey player. I see him developing into a Parise type player.

I hope the US can rebound and play well against Finland on Friday but they've gotta be a bit disappointed when they had Canada on the ropes and let them back in.

I didnt realize that Stephan was a Rangers draft pick. The Rangers have three of the US centers on their squad this season with Kreider and Bourque. That bodes well for the Rangers' prospect future. (If we only still had Cherepanov RIP Alexei)

I hope Blais keeps Campbell in net the rest of the way. He gives the US the best chance to win.

Overall, the game was about what I expected. It was a fantastic hockey game that unfortunately 1% of our country...if that watched or cared about.

I watched it a sports bar and people groaned when the TV was turned to a hockey game. However, I did notice towards the end there were about 10 other people intensely watching the game with me. So that's kind of a cool story that maybe some new hockey fans were made last night.

[Gurtholfin]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Team USA Faster? Sure, they put a scare into Canada, but the bottom line is they lost. Moral victories won't get you medals, only frustration. Just like last year, they had a big lead in a Canadian barn and blew it.

Canada knows how to close out a game and get a good result, even when they get outplayed. Team USA gave up two goals in the last 13 minutes, as well as a goal that was waived off in the final minutes, and three straight goals in the shootout. Not acceptable finishing for the Red White and Blue.

Not sure that I said anything about moral victories if you're directing that at me. I was just expressing my amazement that we were outskating the vaunted Canadian team. We were faster than them last night AND we outplayed them for the vast majority of the game. We could have easily won that game 6-2 if we get a little more puck luck and they get a little less. This wasn't a game where we're getting shelled and get a few lucky breaks to get a lead and then try to hold on. We were matching them and even taking it to them.

But, if if's and but's were candies and nuts... well you know... We'd all have a Happy New Year.

I've seen leads lost like that at every level of hockey, from the Blackhawks a couple of weeks ago to my son's Peewee team to the Badgers two years ago in the regional final against NoDak. That's just hockey, as you all know.

Point is, we didn't win but it wasn't due to not having enough talent or not wanting it enough or anything else like that. We belonged on that ice and it's only a matter of time before we a trading titles with our buddies to the north.

Oh I know, we can't match their youth program, but we don't have to. We don't need to field 60 junior teams, just one. One team with 22(or however many) great players just like the one this year.

I give Canada credit for coming back and getting it done, but I'd sure love to get another crack at them. Like I said, bring this effort again and I like our chances to have a chance. A good chance at that.

As a post script: Yes, they had a goal disallowed and missed on a couple of good opportunities. But we missed on a bunch of opportunities also and I would argue that we outchanced them. Do their missed opportunities somehow carry more weight than our own? I don't think that they do. Misses are misses.

Go USA!

[Ralph Baer]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Is the roster size the regular 20 man roster?

22 including 2 goalies.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Yeah, I'm a fan of the CHL as well as the NCAA......and I think this tourney is showing the skill level found in the CHL.

You're really not fat?? Could have fooled me.

Misogyny at its finest.

[jnacc]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Misogyny at its finest.

You mean you're a female.......**** could have fooled me again!

Ohhhhh I get it ....running with dogs.....you naughty girl.

[HarleyMC]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

The problem with losing a game like this is that the USA will now likely lose to the Finns in the crossover game and get bounced to fifth again. That's often the pattern with US teams, who don't have enough in the tank for the dreaded crossover game.

The USA proved last night they are strong enough to beat Finland or anyone other team in this tournament. USA played breakneck hockey, lockdown D, forechecked, backchecked, had lots of grade A chances to score and Campbell was huge throughout the game and especially in the third. Overall, I give USA credit for outhustling and outplaying Canada, but they looked a bit gassed down the stretch.

Losing in a shootout stinks either way. I hope the WCHA NEVER allows it. I've always been a fan of sudden death/play 'til you drop. I felt bad for Jordan Schroeder. It's always easier in retrospect to think of another move that may have beat Allen. But he chose his shot and Allen was there. So be it.

After a loss like last night the biggest obstacle they now face as a team is primarily psychological. But all of these guys have lost in big games before. I'm sure Blais and the coaching staff will get the team mentally, emotionally and physically ready for a run. If they keep up the blinding speed and pounding teams with the forecheck and backcheck like last night, they've got a reasonable chance for a run.

GO USA!!!!

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

You mean you're a female.......**** could have fooled me again!

Ohhhhh I get it ....running with dogs.....you naughty girl.

Yeah, when you called me a b.i.t.c.h. in your rep, apropos of nothing, I thought you'd already figured that out. And also the fact that in the other thread you used a feminine pronoun in reference to me.

Because any woman who likes sports must be a fat, slutty b.it.ch. Right.

[jnacc]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Yeah, when you called me a b.i.t.c.h. in your rep, apropos of nothing, I thought you'd already figured that out. And also the fact that in the other thread you used a feminine pronoun in reference to me.

Because any woman who likes sports must be a fat, slutty b.it.ch. Right.

Oh pooooor little puppppy girl.....listen hon, either play or shut the **** up. You want to trash talk with me in your rep but can't take it back...then just go away. If not, expect more of the same.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Oh pooooor little puppppy girl.....listen hon, either play or shut the **** up. You want to trash talk with me in your rep but can't take it back...then just go away. If not, expect more of the same.

What? I never repped you.

[jnacc]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

What? I never repped you.

Yeah ok right (no ICBM joke huh)....gee I guess there's some other runninwiththedogs out there, what ever. Time to move on.

[Runninwiththedogs]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

Yeah ok right (no ICBM joke huh)....gee I guess there's some other runninwiththedogs out there, what ever. Time to move on.

Ever thought that maybe someone else did it? I don't even know what you're talking about. I sign all my rep as "RWD," not "runninwiththedogs." And if I have something to say, I'll say it to your internet face.

[Arpod]

Re: US Junior Team cuts

we woulda won if we had john moore on the team...