2 replies to this topic

[Erik C.]

December 31, 2012
4:30 AM Eastern
Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia

Television:

Absent a formal gave preview, I’m including with the team rosters the NHL.com preview written for each team.

Coach: Phil Housley

Team Roster

#	Player Name	Pos.	NHL Rights
16	Riley Barber	Forward	Washington Capitals
18	Cole Bardreau	Forward	Free Agent
22	Tyler Biggs	Forward	Toronto Maple Leafs
15	Alex Galchenyuk	Forward	Montreal Canadiens
13	John Gaudreau	Forward	Calgary Flames
35	John Gibson	Goalie	Anaheim Ducks
30	Jon Gillies	Goalie	Calgary Flames
14	Shayne Gostisbehere	Defense	Philadelphia Flyers
23	Rocco Grimaldi	Forward	Florida Panthers
21	Ryan Hartman	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
3	Seth Jones	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
7	Sean Kuraly	Forward	San Jose Sharks
12	Mario Lucia	Forward	Minnesota Wild
19	Jake McCabe	Defense	Buffalo Sabres
10	J.T. Miller	Forward	New York Rangers
5	Connor Murphy	Defense	Phoenix Coyotes
20	Blake Pietila	Forward	New Jersey Devils
6	Mike Reilly	Defense	Columbus Blue Jackets
29	Garrett Sparks	Goalie	Toronto Maple Leafs
25	Vince Trocheck	Forward	Florida Panthers
8	Jacob Trouba	Defense	Winnipeg Jets
26	Jim Vesey	Forward	Nashville Predators

Last year: The U.S. team is coming off a seventh-place finish, its worst showing since finishing eighth in 1999. An 11-3 victory over Denmark in its opening game was followed by losses to Finland (4-1), Czech Republic (5-2) and Canada (3-2). The Americans needed a 12-2 victory over Latvia in their opener of the relegation round in order to secure a position in the top division of this year's tournament.

2013 NHL Draft watch: There are two promising 2013 draft prospects on the roster: defenseman Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL and forward Ryan Hartman of the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL. Jones likely would have been a member of last year's team if not for a shoulder injury he sustained in the last exhibition game. The son of former NBA player Popeye Jones is rated No. 1 among WHL skaters in NHL Central Scouting's preliminary league rankings. Over the summer, Jones (6-foot-3.5, 208 pounds) served as captain for the U.S. team at the World Under-18 Championship, totaling eight points in six games as the United States won the gold medal. Hartman is No. 11 among skaters in the OHL. The versatile 5-11, 187-pound forward made a big impression on the U.S. managerial team at training camp.

Schedule: Dec. 27, Germany, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 28, Russia, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 30, Canada, 4:30 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 31, Slovakia, 5 a.m. ET (NHLN-US).

Outlook: The only time last year's finish was even discussed during training camp was when the media inquired about it. The biggest difference in this year's group is the enthusiasm and energy each player is willing to exert every practice and each shift. The three returnees -- defenseman Jacob Trouba, forward J.T. Miller and goaltender John Gibson -- are ready to lead by example. Expect the Americans to rebound in a big way and earn a second-place finish in Group B.

Coach: Ernest Bokros

Team Roster

#	Player Name	Pos.	NHL Rights
12	Emil Bagin	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
5	David Bajanik	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
18	Andrej Bires	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
24	Richard Buri	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
11	Peter Ceresnak	Defense	New York Rangers
19	Marko Dano	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
27	Dominik Fujerik	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
10	Denis Hudec	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
9	Milan Kolena	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
28	Karol Korim	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
16	Patrik Luza	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
29	Matus Matis	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
13	Tomas Mikus	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
25	Bruno Mraz	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
14	Richard Mraz	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
2	Adam Nagy	Goalie	2013 Draft Eligible
21	Tomas Nechala	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
26	Branislav Rapac	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
20	Martin Reway	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible
30	Patrik Romancik	Goalie	2013 Draft Eligible
6	Tomas Rusina	Defense	2013 Draft Eligible
1	Richard Sabol	Goalie	2013 Draft Eligible
17	Michael Uhrik	Forward	2013 Draft Eligible

Last year: The Slovaks finished sixth after placing third in Group A behind Sweden and Russia. The country dropped an 8-5 decision to Finland in the quarterfinals.

2013 NHL Draft watch: The top draft-eligible skater, according to Central Scouting's preliminary league rankings, is forward Marko Dano, who plays in the KHL for Slovan Bratislava and is rated seventh among skaters playing in Russia. According to Stubb, Dano is tops among the Slovaks and is a player who will surprise at this tournament.

"He has a good combination of speed, stick work and smarts," Stubb said. "He plays a steady, two-way game and gives a consistent effort on every shift."

Schedule: Dec. 26, Russia, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 28, Canada, 4:30 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 30, Germany, 9 a.m. ET (NHLN-US); Dec. 31, United States, 5 a.m. ET (NHLN-US).

Outlook: The Slovaks offer a roster dominated by players from the Bratislava club team that plays several games in the elite league. The exception is defenseman Peter Ceresnák of the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes. He is the only player on the roster to be drafted by an NHL team. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound blueliner was selected by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (No. 172) in 2011. Look for Slovakia to finish fourth in Group B.

[Erik C.]

Team USA clinched a playoff berth by soundly thumping the Slovaks today by an 9-3 score. With the win the Americans finish third in Group B and will play in the quarter-finals on January 2.

The Slovaks now head to the Relegation Round with Germany.

"As soon as we lost yesterday [2-1 to Canada], the guys really lit a fire under our butts," said forward Vince Trochek. "We knew we had to come in today and there was no chance in anyone's mind that we would lose. We had no doubt we would win the game. We were ready, and we played our hardest."

Trocheck and John Gaudreau had two goals and an assist while Jim Vesey had three assists for the winners. Matus Matis scored two goals for the Slovaks and earned a late misconduct for a shapr word to the referees after incurring a minor penalty.

On paper, today’s game could have been a nightmare for the Americans. A loss would have sent them to the Relegation Round for the second straight year. But, in reality, the game was never close as the U.S. was superior in every department. They also benefitted from weak goaltending from Adam Nagy, who was replaced at the 9:00 mark after surrendering three goals. His replacement, Patrik Romancik, didn’t fare any better.

"Before the game we knew how important it was, obviously," started Alex Galchenyuk. "But after we scored a couple of goals, we didn't feel any pressure. We couldn't get any bounces in our last two games against Russia and Canada, but tonight we did."

From the IIHF site

[Bubba83]

Decimation! Now if they can only play with that level of confidence the rest of the way we have a solid shot at the Gold.