Potomac, Md.’s, Jeff Halpern has been named captain of the American hockey team competing this week at the IIHF World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City. The former Washington Capital follows current Caps’ captain Chris Clark, who wore the ‘C’ for the Americans in Moscow last May.
In all, nine members of the Washington Capitals’ organization will compete in this year’s World Championships: Nicklas Backstrom (Sweden); Sergei Fedorov (Russia); Alexander Semin (Russia); Alexander Ovechkin (Russia); Simeon Varlamov (Russia); Tomas Fleischmann (Czech Republic); Mike Green (Canada); Cristobal Huet (France); and Sami Lepsito (Finland).
There is speculation that Russia’s top line could be comprised entirely of Caps: Ovechkin, Fedorov, and Semin. The Russians, though, will be far from a one-line team. They’ll have the services of Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov, and Alexander Radulov up front. None of the three Caps’ Russian forwards skated in Russia’s 4-1 win over Canada in a recent tournament tuneup.
Varlamov should see some action in preliminary round play, our man about Russian hockey Dmitry Chesnokov tells us. Beyond that, his performance will dictate additional playing time.
Team USA opens play in the Worlds this Friday against Latvia, and will follow with games against Slovenia and Canada before Qualification-round play commences May 8. Halpern is the only American forward or defender not born in the 1980s.
The Americans had one lone tuneup before their opening game, and this past Sunday night in Portland, Maine, the Americans smashed Sweden 5-1. Craig Anderson and Robert Esche split time in net for the Americans. Boston’s Tim Thomas is the third goalie on the American roster.
Defending champion Canada, in addition to enjoying home-ice advantage at this year’s World’s, will again have a formidable roster. They boast the tournament’s best goalie tandem in Cam Ward and Pascal Leclaire. Up front, they’re loaded with the likes of Spezza, Heatly, Nash, Doan, Staal, Getzlaf, St. Louis, and Toews. Jay Bouwmeester and Mike Green could make for a potent power play tandem on the blueline.
This is the first time since 1962, when the Worlds that year were held in Colorado Springs, that the championships will be contested on 200 x 85 sheets of ice. TSN will broadcast both the bronze and gold medal games.
The Chicago Blackhawks’ Adam Brurish, incidentally, is blogging during the tournament. His first file noted the American team’s distinctive youth:
“This is a young, energetic group of guys we have on this U.S. team, which makes it a lot of fun to be around. Everybody seems to be in the same position as far as being young in our NHL careers, and experiencing the world championships for the first time. Some of the “older” guys have made jokes about not fitting in because they are older than 25, which on this team seems like grandpa status.”
8 Comments
So where can we watch it in the States?
I was wondering the same thing. I would think that the NHL Network will have some games…
Here’s hoping. Short of that, one might have to call in a favor at the Canadian Embassy. I do know that TSN is broadcasting all of Canada’s games. Lot of good that does us. The IIHF may set up some costly scheme by which one can view tourney games on the PC, but that’s never held huge appeal to me.
Maybe the http://www.nhlnetwork.com will carry some games?
All: Look for a post tomorrow with more information regarding Worlds-watching suggestions.
Would this perhaps be Halpern’s greatest achievement in his hockey career to date? Who would have thought he would captain the national team?
Would be a terrific question to pose to him, pepper. Recall his being snubbed from the team a couple of years back when the Caps were out of the playoff running by February. This has really been a renaissance season for him.
Jakub Klepis is playing for the Czech team as well. Missed on a penalty shot against Denmark today.
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