In case anyone was wondering, men’s ice hockey takes center stage today in Turin. If you can overcome the pesky tape delay, be sure to tune in and check out Team USA, which, despite not being expected to come up with a top-three finish, is sure to find its way onto the podium in two weeks.
How do I know?
Simple. The Americans have a history of playing as an underdog. I promised myself I wouldn’t allude to 1980, but who could resist?
The U.S. opens with a cakewalk against two former Soviet nations starting today at noon PST against Latvia. The team follows on Thursday against Kazakhstan, my favorite bloc, before ending the Preliminary Round with the Slovaks, Swedes and Russians.
The biggest thing lacking from this year’s squad is individualism. Team USA is not blessed with standout performers as opposed to the Czech Republic, Sweden and Canada, but the U.S. is fortunate to have a unit that can play as a whole. The team concept of echoing past glory with a group of blue-collared Joe-six-packs (again, 1980) will be the Americans’ best asset.
Although lacking a net-minder experienced in international play, U.S. coach Peter Laviolette has 10 NHL All-stars at his disposal who will have to be more concerned with scoring goals than stopping them to take home a medal.
Like Team USA, Laviolette’s Carolina squad is playing with an offense that ranks second in the league in goals scored, a bend-but-don’t-break defense and a rookie goaltender. The Hurricanes have the NHL’s third-best record and sit atop the Southeast Division.
With this in mind, Laviolette should bode well with Team USA, which will start either New York Islanders’ Rick DiPietro, the Philadelphia Flyers’ Robert Esche or the Tampa Bay Lightning’s John Grahame. Combined, they’ve played in zero Olympic games.
Team USA’s roster is filled with players – including the eight veterans of the Salt Lake City team that took silver – who are in the midst of forgettable seasons in the NHL. Mike Modano and Keith Tkachuk highlight the American’s cadre of forwards. Together, they have 29 years of NHL experience under their belts.
Aside from having to play superb hockey, the one thing standing between a medal and Team USA is attitude. Laviolette has to instill into his players that they’re Olympians rather than
All-Stars. If he has to tear the names off the backs of their jerseys, so be it; make them play as a team. This will give them an upper-hand over most of their competitors, who are also on “dream-teams.”
Assuming they don’t pull an Apolo Ohno against Latvia or Kazakhstan, the Americans’ biggest chance to prove themselves is in game three against Sweden. Sports Illustrated picked the Swedes to take the bronze medal this year.
If Team USA falls short of the podium, don’t feel too bad. At least the U.S. has snowboarding.

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