If the ratings aren’t strong with Team USA out, will ESPN still seek to get back into the World Cup of Hockey business in four years, when the next one is scheduled?
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Tortorella blamed himself for never developing the right line combinations. Lombardi, general manager of the U.S World Cup team, defended the decision not to take more skilled players like Phil Kessel because he believes the USA couldn¿t match Canada¿s depth of talent and skill so it tried to win the tournament another way.
Canada will play its old Cold War rival, Russia, in Saturday’s World Cup semi-final, with the victor advancing to the best-of-three final starting next Tuesday.
In a response to a tweet directed at him, Ryan responded at [at sign] b_ryan9 that he would “kill U.S. hockey with kindness and maybe they’ll let me play over 35 adult worlds if I’m not a defensive liability by then”. “I think the future looks good for the under-23 guys”.
Jonathan Toews scored twice and had an assist for Team Canada, which clinched first place in Group A by going 3-0-0. “They’ll show up and play”, said North America coach Todd McLellan. Lombardi said he wanted “22 guys who care” and insisted he doesn’t believe Kessel belonged more than some of the other forwards on the roster. “I think I’ve matured in a way where you don’t get frustrated, you don’t get down, you’re excited that you’re having those chances because the odds are one of them’s going to find a way”.
Kessel, Tyler Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Justin Faulk, Kevin Shattenkirk and Cam Fowler didn’t play in the World Cup for the USA, which scored two goals in two games before being eliminated from contention.
I liked our team, winger Zach Parise said Wednesday. But he’s exhausted of the second-guessing about roster decisions.
Torotorella and general manager Dean Lombardi, who addressed the media prior to the coach on Thursday, were in lockstep on nearly all talking points with the exception of the loss to Team Europe. Even though they had a slow start to the game, they were able to bounce back in a huge way very quickly.
The United States was surprised by Team Europe and wasnt good enough against Canada, leading to two losses and a cascade of questions.
Players on every team called Canada the favorite, but the USA was alone in constructing a team with the two-time Olympic and world championship winners in mind. “What could we have done better here to raise our emotional levels. Just working hard and normally when you do that, good things can happen”.
It was the second time in two days the Canadians used a friendly bounce to their advantage, as a Matt Duchene netted a goal after a carom off the end boards in Canada’s 4-2 win over Team USA. This was not the best game that Canada could have played.
Line juggling prevented the Americans from developing any real chemistry. Europe will play Group A victor Sweden in the semifinals.
“I understand there’s hard feelings if you weren’t picked for the team or whatever, but the comments are, I think – as a team guy and as a guy that stands by my teammates, win lose or draw – it’s a little distasteful and aggravating”, Backes said. “It was kind of like, it’s not the same as when you’re going up against this is what these tournaments are all about, and that’s the nationalism factor”.
Regarding Kessel and taking the right people, Team general manager Dean Lombardi said: “Part of that will be in my book down the road, but let me say this: If you’re talking about Justin Abdelkader, Blake Wheeler, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Kesler, David Backes, I’ll take those guys any day…” They outscored the Czechs, Americans and Europeans by a combined 14-3, trailing only once and for less than two minutes.
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Although the USA dominated the medal count at the Rio Olympics – winning golds in everything from basketball to boxing to BMX – it still can’t compete with Canada when it comes to hockey.
