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04-30-2004, 02:57 PM
But once again USA Hockey has been left to explain why so many players who are available do not accept their country's invitations to join the national team. Additionally, the international hockey community here wonders aloud why quality players such as Mike Modano, Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, Brian Rolston, Brian Rafalski, Doug Weight, Bryan Smolinski and others whose teams have been eliminated from playoff contention are missing from the lineup. And then there is New Jersey forward Scott Gomez, who was set to join Team USA, but backed out at the last minute for unspecified reasons.
Players like Richard Park have a great attitude about the IIHF World Championships
Russia has Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexei Yashin and Alexander Ovechkin, who is not in the NHL but will be in short order. Sweden has Daniel Alfredsson, fresh from playoff elimination in Ottawa, and Michael Nylander. The Swedes have left a spot open that could be filled, hypothetically, by Peter Forsberg if Colorado is eliminated from the NHL playoffs. Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka are playing for the Czech Republic.
Canada, in pretty much the same situation as the USA, has again been able to come up with a much better selection in terms of the response from their available players.
Meanwhile, the United States has 18 NHLers on its roster, who are capable, talented players in their own right, but everyone around the IIHF World Championships wants to know, "Where's the beef?"
Story (http://live82.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?&artId=1738)
Players like Richard Park have a great attitude about the IIHF World Championships
Russia has Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexei Yashin and Alexander Ovechkin, who is not in the NHL but will be in short order. Sweden has Daniel Alfredsson, fresh from playoff elimination in Ottawa, and Michael Nylander. The Swedes have left a spot open that could be filled, hypothetically, by Peter Forsberg if Colorado is eliminated from the NHL playoffs. Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka are playing for the Czech Republic.
Canada, in pretty much the same situation as the USA, has again been able to come up with a much better selection in terms of the response from their available players.
Meanwhile, the United States has 18 NHLers on its roster, who are capable, talented players in their own right, but everyone around the IIHF World Championships wants to know, "Where's the beef?"
Story (http://live82.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?&artId=1738)