Americans Set to Explode in Canada
Saturday, December 24, 2005

Posted by allin44

Ahhhh yes, it’s a typical winter here in Canada, frigid temperatures, the snow is falling, the outdoor rinks are getting to be in their prime, and the Americans are the favorites going into the World Juniors. Wait. Americans? Hockey? Favourites? Seriously? Yep

To all the Canadians that were running their mouths last year when Canada steamrolled every team en route to a gold medal. Watch out. The Americans are good this year, very, very good.

If last year Canada was the best team that’s ever competed in the World Junior event, the Americans may be running a close second this year. While they don’t have Adam Banks, Fulton Reed or Charlie Conway, listen to these names, Jack Johnson, Brian Lee, Kris Chucko, Robbie Schremp, Chris Bourque, Bobby Ryan, oh, and they’ve got this kid named Kessel too.

Goaltending
The Americans appear to have a pretty solid duo in Jeff Frazee(38th Overall, 2005 draft) out of Minnesota, and Cory Schneider(26th overall, 2004 draft) who plays at Boston College. Both of these tendies are more than capable of being the #1.

Defense
With the likes of Jack Johnson and Brian Lee anchoring the blueline, the Americans are going to be a tough team to score goals against. With the average blueliner for the Americans being about 6’2 and over 200 pounds, forwards are going to take a lot of punishment in the corners. None of the d-men here are afraid to take the body, or get dirty down low.

Offense

Crosby – Bergeron – Perry. Remember the hype surrounding this trio? Try a Kessel – Schremp – Ryan on for size. This team will be one of the most run and gun offenses you will ever witness. Kessel has world class speed and can do some sick dangles while going full tilt. He’s also projected to be a #1 pick, with Canadian
Jonathon Toews also in the running to be the first name called in June.

Schremp, well, hes Robbie Schremp. In case you haven’t heard, he’s kind of a big deal. With 78 points in just 27 games this season, Schremp has shown he will be one of the best young players to play in the NHL next year(and make no doubt about it, he WILL be in the show next season).

And, Bobby Ryan, he’s only a #2 draft pick. He’s a big, solid, dependable two way player. He has some sick moves, and has posted 73 points in 33 games with Owen Sound of the OHL this year. Whether or not they give him a letter or not is to be seen, but he will be a leader both on and off the ice for this team.

Lets face it, this is the Americans tournament to lose(IF Russia can get their shit together, get some decent goaltending and Malkin catches fire, they may be able to stop them). The only real question surrounding these guys is how cohesive of a team they can be. It’s a well known fact that a number of players on the US don’t like each other, but in the past few years, they have been able to put their differences aside and be successful in the U-18 tournament.


But in true Canadian style, we WILL rock the house in Vancouver at GM Place, get drunk doing it. This tournament is sick to watch every year, and nothing is better then getting together with the lads and tossing a few sodas back and watching some world class hockey.

Anyways, Merry Christmas to everybody out in Gongshow land, and I’m waiting for one of you to beak Kessel for having to wear the proverbial “bird cage”. Because we all know he is a skirt.

Allan