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US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Does anyone know if there will be a U22 team this year?
Since there is no mid-age (U20 or U22) championship for women, USA Hockey only puts together a U22 team for the sake of playing Hockey Canada's U22 team on an occasional basis (no more than annually), and even then neither team is truly a U22 team (scroll back through this thread for all the discussion about that). I would guess that it's skipped during the run-up to the Olympics.
 
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Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Brandt not a great skater?? You're kidding me right! If this is why she wasn't picked then I have a problem with whomever made that call. 2 pts a game in the best conference in women's hockey(sorry easterners my opinion). Brandt and Kessel played so well together and knew where each other was going to be. Crazy!

I think they didn't want too many Minnesota players :)

It was mentioned before when she was left off the Worlds roster and I think Brandt even commented on the fact that she was told to work on her skating. I only point this out to underscore what seems to be the thinking coming from the decision makers. I do NOT agree with their decision but chose not to voice my displeasure and instead went with the "it's their choice so be it" type of response and will enjoy seeing her in a Gopher jersey this fall.

No harm in saying it now that it won't come to fruition but I would have liked to have seen a line combination of Decker, Kessel, and Brandt or maybe even Brandt with the Lamoureux twins. Heck, I would even go with another curious omission in Haley Skarupa, and match her with Carpenter and Brandt.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Huh? "If she wins she will be on par with Herb Brooks" -- really? Are you really comparing a USA Womens gold medal possibility in the 2014 Olympics to the greatest sporting event of the 20th century? That 1980 team wasn't even on the radar to compete for ANY medal in those Olympics, and they defeated the greatest hockey dynasty in the world! The Soviet Team had just beaten the NHL All-Stars 6-0 a few months prior to the 1980 games and beat Team USA 10-3 two weeks before opening ceremonies! Our college guys were given NO CHANCE by anyone who knew anything about hockey.

Both USA and Canadas womens teams come from Division One College programs as well as the CWHL. Both teams draw from the same player pool essentially. On top of that is the fact that team USA just beat Canada a few months ago in the World Championships! I have to believe that no matter what the make up of the final team is, team USA has to be the fovorite going into the 2014 Olympics --- nothing at all like the Mens team of 1980!!
 
Huh? "If she wins she will be on par with Herb Brooks" -- really? Are you really comparing a USA Womens gold medal possibility in the 2014 Olympics to the greatest sporting event of the 20th century? That 1980 team wasn't even on the radar to compete for ANY medal in those Olympics, and they defeated the greatest hockey dynasty in the world! The Soviet Team had just beaten the NHL All-Stars 6-0 a few months prior to the 1980 games and beat Team USA 10-3 two weeks before opening ceremonies! Our college guys were given NO CHANCE by anyone who knew anything about hockey.

Both USA and Canadas womens teams come from Division One College programs as well as the CWHL. Both teams draw from the same player pool essentially. On top of that is the fact that team USA just beat Canada a few months ago in the World Championships! I have to believe that no matter what the make up of the final team is, team USA has to be the fovorite going into the 2014 Olympics --- nothing at all like the Mens team of 1980!!

Yeah, the comparisons are a little comical.

And I agree, the Americans should be the favorite. All the more reason to criticize these questionable roster decisions if they don't win Gold.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

If any comprisons can be made at all between this team and another I would point out the 2006 USA Womens National Team. That team under Ben Smiths guidance had just defeated the Canadiens in April of 2005 for the very first time in the World Championships. A couple of months later he made the bone-head decision to cut Cammi Granato -- the greatest female player in the history of our game -- and the team captain. That team barely won the bronze. During the loss to Sweden in the semis the team was completely lost without their real leader when the game became tied as she was sitting in the NBC broadcasting booth! -- remember? My point being that even though change is sometimes good, the wrong changes for the wrong reasons can be devestating!
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Heck, I would even go with another curious omission in Haley Skarupa, and match her with Carpenter and Brandt.

I think Skarupa being left off is because she's primarily an offensive talent and the team is very focused on D. Even a D-heavy US team will put five past everyone except the Canadians, and the theory seems to be that blocking the Canadians will get us further than trying to get a lot through their D.

I would love to see that line though.
 
If any comprisons can be made at all between this team and another I would point out the 2006 USA Womens National Team. That team under Ben Smiths guidance had just defeated the Canadiens in April of 2005 for the very first time in the World Championships. A couple of months later he made the bone-head decision to cut Cammi Granato -- the greatest female player in the history of our game -- and the team captain. That team barely won the bronze. During the loss to Sweden in the semis the team was completely lost without their real leader when the game became tied as she was sitting in the NBC broadcasting booth! -- remember? My point being that even though change is sometimes good, the wrong changes for the wrong reasons can be devestating!

Excellent comparison!
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

If any comprisons can be made at all between this team and another I would point out the 2006 USA Womens National Team.

Disagree...Back in 2006..USA had perennially been losing the big game to Canada and were still an underdog. Going into 2014, US has been winning the pivotal game most years since 2007, so you have to peg them as the favorites going into 2014. I think 2014 compares more to 2002, with the US squad the favorite going into the season. In 2006 Canada was simply dominant.

The only comparions to 2006 would be can someone do a Martin2006like in 2014 ? Perhaps Raty, as Finland looked to be the only team to possibly have an outside chance to challenge, or Russia on home soil.
 
Disagree...Back in 2006..USA had perennially been losing the big game to Canada and were still an underdog. Going into 2014, US has been winning the pivotal game most years since 2007, so you have to peg them as the favorites going into 2014. I think 2014 compares more to 2002, with the US squad the favorite going into the season. In 2006 Canada was simply dominant.

The only comparions to 2006 would be can someone do a Martin2006like in 2014 ? Perhaps Raty, as Finland looked to be the only team to possibly have an outside chance to challenge, or Russia on home soil.

Last time I checked, we lost to Canada in that pivotal game in the 2010 Olympic Games too. Gotta win when it counts most, and that is in the Olympics. It's Gold or bust in Sochi.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Huh? "If she wins she will be on par with Herb Brooks" -- really? Are you really comparing a USA Womens gold medal possibility in the 2014 Olympics to the greatest sporting event of the 20th century? That 1980 team wasn't even on the radar to compete for ANY medal in those Olympics, and they defeated the greatest hockey dynasty in the world! The Soviet Team had just beaten the NHL All-Stars 6-0 a few months prior to the 1980 games and beat Team USA 10-3 two weeks before opening ceremonies! Our college guys were given NO CHANCE by anyone who knew anything about hockey.

Both USA and Canadas womens teams come from Division One College programs as well as the CWHL. Both teams draw from the same player pool essentially. On top of that is the fact that team USA just beat Canada a few months ago in the World Championships! I have to believe that no matter what the make up of the final team is, team USA has to be the fovorite going into the 2014 Olympics --- nothing at all like the Mens team of 1980!!

My comment wasn't meant to suggest that the events would be on par, only that Stone's insight in making the "right choices" would be on par with "Brooks" making similarly debated selections. frankly the choices Brooks made in most cases were less questionable than many of these in my opinion. That is why I commented that a US win will be a far easier task. That said I do not agree that the US should be favored, especially given this roster. I think the Canadians focus on winning Olympic Gold and are willing to sacrifice success in the other events to develop the best team every 4 years.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

I think the Canadians focus on winning Olympic Gold and are willing to sacrifice success in the other events to develop the best team every 4 years.
Completely agree.

Worlds_____________________Olympics
2004 - Canada
2005 - USA
___________________________2006 - Canada
2007 - Canada
2008 - USA
2009 - USA
___________________________2010 - Canada
2011 - USA
2012 - USA
2013 - USA
 
Completely agree.

Worlds_____________________Olympics
2004 - Canada
2005 - USA
___________________________2006 - Canada
2007 - Canada
2008 - USA
2009 - USA
___________________________2010 - Canada
2011 - USA
2012 - USA
2013 - USA

I agree too. Winning Worlds is nice, but I want Olympic Gold.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Regarding the selections, USA Hockey is particularly focused on their 1st two lines. All picks beyond those two lines are chosen for the sole purpose of making the 1st two lines look better. That way there won't be as many questions when they sit the 3rd and 4th lines. Sad but true with the number of amazing players that there are in the country that they haven't learned how to coach a full team.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Regarding the selections, USA Hockey is particularly focused on their 1st two lines. All picks beyond those two lines are chosen for the sole purpose of making the 1st two lines look better. That way there won't be as many questions when they sit the 3rd and 4th lines. Sad but true with the number of amazing players that there are in the country that they haven't learned how to coach a full team.

LOL.......................................Yes that's it!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Last time I checked, we lost to Canada in that pivotal game in the 2010 Olympic Games too. Gotta win when it counts most, and that is in the Olympics. It's Gold or bust in Sochi.

Yeah but there were several things in the Canucks favor in 2010:
- Home soil, allowed them to secretly play vs Men's teams DURING the Olympics
- Home crowd
- Smaller North American Ice Surface, benefits the slower/bigger team more.

None of those advantages available to the Canuck team in Sochi. Even in the two most recent wins by the Canucks (Final in Burlington, RR in Ottawa), the US looked to be the faster team for good portions of the game. The three most recent wins by the US (Final in 2011, RR rout in Burlington and Final in Ottawa)) were all pretty convincing, with the US being the faster team in general.

So Agree with you on this: For the US it is Gold or bust in Sochi.

Off course I'll be cheering on the Canadians, but the realist in me suggests that the US stands a better chance of winning based on the recent tale of the tape.
 
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Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

Figures! the one year I didn't check :o Thanks

That was a one off. Earlier in the RR Canada suffered what was probably the most humiliating loss ever.
 
Yeah but there were several things in the Canucks favor in 2010:
- Home soil, allowed them to secretly play vs Men's teams DURING the Olympics
- Home crowd
- Smaller North American Ice Surface, benefits the slower/bigger team more.

None of those advantages available to the Canuck team in Sochi. Even in the two most recent wins by the Canucks (Final in Burlington, RR in Ottawa), the US looked to be the faster team for good portions of the game. The three most recent wins by the US (Final in 2011, RR rout in Burlington and Final in Ottawa)) were all pretty convincing, with the US being the faster team in general.

So Agree with you on this: For the US it is Gold or bust in Sochi.

Off course I'll be cheering on the Canadians, but the realist in me suggests that the US stands a better chance of winning based on the recent tale of the tape.

We shall see. If the US wins Gold, all the criticisms will be forgotten. If they don't, the criticism will be hot and heavy.
 
Re: US National Teams: U30s & Mrs. Potter, U22s, U18s Part II

We shall see. If the US wins Gold, all the criticisms will be forgotten. If they don't, the criticism will be hot and heavy.

The criticism will be hot and heavy north of the border if Canada does not win. Both fan bases have an expectation of "anything less than Gold is unacceptable".
 
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