USA Names Hockey Camp Invitees
POSTED: 12:24 pm PDT June 30,
2009
Colorado Springs, CO -- (Sports Network) - Team USA announced its invitees to camp on Tuesday for the upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.A total of 34 players from across the nation were invited to participate in tryouts which will take place from August 17-19 in Woodbridge, IL. Three goaltenders were asked to participate and they include this past seasons' Vezina Trophy winner, Boston's Tim Thomas. Thomas finished the season with the lowest goals-against average at 2.10. A veteran of five NHL seasons, he posted a mark of a 36-11-7 with five shutouts in only 54 games. The 35-year-old teamed up with partner Manny Fernandez to win the Jennings Trophy as the Bruins allowed the fewest goals in the league. Ryan Miller was also named a potential goaltender for the team. Miller just finished his sixth season in the league and posted a record of 34-18-6 with five shutouts and a 2.53 GAA in 59 games with Buffalo. Jonathan Quick was the other goaltender who was asked to attend camp. There were 12 blueliners that were asked to tryout for the team and among the big names there are Tim Gleason, Paul Martin, Brian Rafalski and Ryan Whitney. Gleason spent last season with Carolina, his third with the team and fifth overall season in the NHL, and played in 70 games, totaling 12 assists and a plus-three. Martin is a five-year veteran in the NHL and last season with New Jersey he had five goals and 28 assists along with a plus-21 in 73 games. Rafalski has spent nine seasons in the NHL, seven with New Jersey and the past two with Detroit. Last season he appeared in 78 games and had 10 goals and 49 assists and finished plus-17. Whitney split last season between Pittsburgh and Anaheim. He finished his season with the Ducks and over 48 games he had two goals and 21 assists. Other blueliners who were issued invites include Tom Gilbert, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi and Ryan Suter. Of the 19 forwards who were invited to camp, Mike Modano, Patrick Kane and Bobby Ryan highlight the list. Modano, the all-time goal-scoring and point leader among American-born players in the NHL, has spent 19 seasons in the NHL, all with the Minnesota/Dallas franchise. Last season, he appeared in 80 games and had 15 goals and 31 assists. Kane, the 2008 Calder trophy winner, had 25 goals and 45 assists in the 2008-09 season and helped the Blackhawks advance to the Western Conference Finals, which the team lost to Detroit. Ryan, who was a Calder trophy finalist this past season, had 31 goals and 26 assists over 64 games with Anaheim. Other forwards invited include David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski and Paul Stastny.
Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.









