By downplaying that tribal aspect of hockey with the inclusion of amorphous, non-tribal Team North America and Team Euro squads, the NHL and NHLPA are presenting this World Cup tournament as more of an all-star contest, one where the skill of the players is paramount.
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“The mindset is, they give you an opportunity to play, [so] you try and help the team win, whether it’s preseason or tournament games”, said Quick, who won Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014 and was the No. 1 for Team USA at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games.
Linda Cohn of ESPN reported on Tuesday afternoon that US head coach John Tortorella made it clear how he would react to any of his players opting to sit during the playing of the national anthem.
The one glaring exception from the US team is Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel, who was 10th among USA scorers with 26 goals last season.
Eller acknowledged that he’s excited to get going with the Capitals. Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also sat out the anthem last week, and said he would continue to support the rival quarterback during the National Football League regular season.
The U.S. team plays its first game in Washington on September 13 against Finland in a “friendly” match to help prepare for the upcoming tournament. “It’s his right to do, but everyone here is just concentrating on representing their country and their flag”. There has already been criticism about a roster that does not include the likes of P.K. Subban (Nashville) and Kris Letang (Pittsburgh), two of the most exciting defencemen in the game, but players likely to rely on instinct before instruction. Team North America will consist of players from the United States and Canada under the age of 23, a “young stars” team, so to speak.
For guys who have already established themselves as elite starting netminders in their own markets, the dynamic here at the US training camp is both challenging and more than a little nerve-wracking.
Dates were previously announced, but they are as follows: Sidney Crosby and Team Canada at Consol Energy Center at 11:30 a.m.; Evgeni Malkin and Team Russia at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry at 10:30; and Matt Murray and Team North America, also in Cranberry, at 11:15 a.m. “I’m enjoying it, and I think these guys are too”. “I don’t have time”, Matthews said.
It remains to be seen whether the movement will infiltrate the typically conservative sport of hockey, but the reincarnation of the World Cup represents a sizable stage for anyone hoping to be seen or heard.
That means even the workouts that will lead up to Friday’s first pre-tournament game take on even more importance in terms of staking a claim to the starter’s role.
Forward Jack Eichel is a member of Team North America, while defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (Finald) and Dmitry Kulikov (Russia) will be participating as well. When you’re doing that, you’re going to learn a lot of things. Instead he was drafted with the 16th overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes. Like any other player who is not here, you could get down to splitting hairs. “It’s one I’ve thought about for months coming into this year”.
“We don’t practise it often”, alternate captain Jonathan Toews said. We’re going to let him do his thing.
“Maybe that’s the reason some teams go to different places (for camp), have their teams bond”. “There’s really so many good players who can be on the power play”. They also made a move and stuck Anaheim teammates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry together.
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The question is even more pertinent for teams taking part in worldwide competitions, where they are literally representing their countries but also have a chance to mimic Kaepernick’s method of expressing their beliefs.
