National pride

WJC gold likely to increase focus on USA Hockey's junior program

Team USA poses with its gold medals and the trophy after winning the World Junior title in Finland on Monday. AP

Several readers took exception to me saying that the United States' victory in the 2004 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships is a moment that rivals the Miracle on Ice and one that could have more long-term significance for the future of American hockey.

There is no doubt that the World Juniors win wasn't on the same level as the Miracle on Ice in terms of being a worldwide phenomenon. The 1980 Winter Olympics took place in a very different sociopolitical climate, so to have the U.S. down the Soviet Union in the biggest upset in sports history was a triumph of our way of life over the Russians'. Nothing will ever top the Miracle on Ice in terms of drama, but the 2004 World Junior Championships could be looked back on as a watershed moment that brought the U.S. closer to Canada in terms of development of young talent.

When I said that this victory might have more long-term benefit for hockey in the U.S., I meant in terms of more attention being paid to USA Hockey and its development programs. The gold medal validated what the U.S. has been doing with its National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., since 1996, and more money and focus will be placed on this now that the Americans are competitive with Canada's development of juniors.

"By winning this medal, it's a real big boost for American hockey, and especially for the program there in Ann Arbor," head coach Mike Eaves said Thursday in a conference call. "I think it gives that program validity. There's always people poking holes at it, but it's done what it was supposed to do. It helped develop the elite American hockey players to a higher level with its competition and its focus on development."

An entire generation of young American boys and girls (myself included) took up hockey in the few years following the U.S. winning the gold medal in 1980. The 2004 WJC victory won't have that same affect on participation in the sport. The tournament received such limited coverage from U.S. media outlets (outside of SI.com, ESPN.com and other Web sites) that many American hockey fans probably had no idea that it was even going on.

The World Juniors will never hold the same level of importance in the U.S. as it does in Canada because hockey is a part of the fabric of Canadian's lives, while in the States it is a minor sport with a small, hardcore following. Maybe changing the dates away from a Dec. 26 start would help generate more interest in the U.S., but the International Ice Hockey Federation isn't going to change the longstanding holiday start just because of the wishes of one country.

I think the 2005 tournament will garner substantially more attention in the wake of the Americans' win in Finland, though the tournament certainly still will lag behind the numerous college bowl games, NFL playoff games and many other sporting events that dot the calendar over the holiday season.

Fan reaction poured in following the game, mostly from gracious Canadian fans who were proud of their team's effort and appreciative of what this could mean to a budding junior rivalry.

"As a typical hockey freak from the centre of the hockey world (Toronto obviously), the Leafs could lose Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals and I still wouldn't feel the emptiness that I did watching that #@$^! puck go into the net," Mark Randmaa of Toronto wrote. "Well done, U.S.A. It's good for hockey south of the boarder, but wow, that hurt!"

"Congrats to the U.S. team," Kurtis Billard of St. John's, Newfoundland said. "While I am devastated that we lost this amazing tournament again, I am proud of the way Canada played considering their young age, and how well the Americans were able to come back. While two of the U.S. goals were unfortunate -- the first due to the puck not being cleared from the Canadian zone due to the official and that horrible last goal -- the United States has showed that it will be a force to reckon with. I agree with you that Canada would have blown everyone away if we had our NHL players, but we can wait until the World Cup this fall to do that. See you in North Dakota!"

Canada is likely to be the favorites heading into the 2005 tournament because it will have so many returning players. Canada is still the dominant hockey nation in the world, and it is the only one that goes into every international tournament with the expectation of winning.

"Canada did not blow it," TSN.ca columnist Alex J. Walling wrote. "Somehow, somewhere we have to start realizing in many sports, especially hockey and curling, that we don't have a god-given right to expect gold. Shoot for the top, sure, but we should not to be disappointed or have a heart attack when we don't attain it. There are just simply too many other teams that are good."

Shortly after the game I heard from Team Canada historian Kevin Gibson, author of The World Junior Championships -- Team Canada From Eh To Zed. Armed with a quick wit (likely to protect against the real emotions of depression and angst he was feeling), Gibson offered his unique take on the game-winning goal that was credited to Patrick O'Sullivan.

"In all fairness to Marc-Andre Fleury, Braydon Coburn is 6-foot-5, so he's hard not to miss," Gibson said. "Does that gaffe put Fleury on the same page as Steve Smith, Scott Norwood and Ray Finkel? Here's my conspiracy theory. Craig Patrick and Ed Olczyk, both Americans, allowed Fleury to play in the WJC on one condition, he tanks it against the U.S."

Before you launch an e-mail assault on Gibson, please note that he was kidding. At least I think he was kidding.

If you ran the Penguins organization, what would you do to help Marc-Andre Fleury return to the NHL in the wake of his disastrous third period in the World Junior Championships? -- Amanda Chambers, Denver, Colo.

I would send him back to Cape Breton to finish the season in the QMJHL. The Penguins were treading on shaky ground with Fleury's confidence while he was with the big club by subjecting him to 35 shots per game as an 18-year-old. Bringing him back to that after going through a tough loss would be doubly hard. Pittsburgh would benefit in the long run by having Fleury return to Cape Breton to rebuild his confidence on a very good team that could compete for the Memorial Cup.

I was surprised by only one of your midseason award lists. I feel that Red Wings coach Dave Lewis deserves at least some consideration. The Wings may be superbly talented, but have had as many as 10 regulars out. Yet, through all of that, Lewis has the Wings leading the point standings once again. I am curious why he does not get more credit for this. -- Chauncey Husted, East Lansing, Mich.

I was just wondering why Pat Quinn wasn't one of your Top 10 choices for the Jack Adams Award? Surely, he deserves to be in the Top 10 for guiding the Leafs to 1st place in the Eastern Conference standings. -- I Huang, Toronto

The next three coaches on my list were Lewis, Quinn and Claude Julien. Does that mean that I think they aren't good coaches? God no, don't be silly. They are all excellent coaches and the Leafs wouldn't be atop the Eastern Conference without Quinn's perseverance after he was on thin ice in mid-November.

Bryan McCabe and Ken Klee are definitely worthy of Norris consideration, while Kevin Weekes is having an excellent statistical season on a bad team and could get Vezina votes.

I also failed to mention Andrew Raycroft among my Calder Trophy top 10, mistakenly believing that he had played in too many games to remain eligible. But Raycroft had played in 24 games prior to this season, one fewer than the limit of 25 to retain Calder eligibility. If I had the chance to do my list over again and rectify my mistake, I would put Raycroft in fifth, one spot ahead of Fleury. I apologize for the error, and I thank the numerous eagle-eyed Bruins fans for pointing out my error of excluding Raycroft.

There are more than 10 good coaches, 10 good defensemen and 10 good goaltenders in the NHL at any given time, but you have to draw the line somewhere when making a list, and I chose to list 10 of each. The reason that 60 media members are polled is so that biases are eliminated and a consensus emerges.

As I mentioned, an official PHWA ballot asks for just five, and I gave you 10 on my list. That's just how much I care about you, my beloved readers! I went above and beyond the call of duty by going 10-deep on each of the seven major awards, thereby subjecting myself to much more criticism and ridicule than writers who might just list their one choice and leave it at that. It's always fun to get insightful e-mails that disagree with my choices or stance on an issue if they are well written. But if you just call me a stupid idiot, you make it clear very quickly that you are a stupid idiot who can't back up your arguments with facts.

Do you think it's possible to see penguins at Winnipeg? -- David, Quebec City

Should Winnipeg get a new hockey team after the Jets? Do you think the Penguins are the right team to move to Winnipeg? Also if that did happen the Penguins would move out West, making 16 Western teams and only 14 Eastern teams. So who do you think would move to the East? My first guess would be Detroit. -- Alex Esposito, Aurora, Ontario

No, I don't think penguins live in Winnipeg. It's too mild of a climate in the summer. Oh, wait, did you mean do I think it's possible that the Pittsburgh Penguins will move to Winnipeg? No, I don't think the Pittsburgh Penguins will live in Winnipeg, either.

If the Penguins do relocate, I believe Portland, Ore., and Houston would be the top two choices. And either of these cities would require the shifting of a team. The Blue Jackets and Predators would be much more likely to move to the East than the Wings, mostly because of Detroit's longstanding rivalries with the Blackhawks, Blues and Avalanche.

Have you ever considered the idea that the NHL changes the rules way too often? I mean, come on! NHL officials change the rules more often than I change my underwear. Let us finally leave well enough alone. Hockey is a great sport and the NHL is a great league. Change the crease size, change the distance from the net to the backboards change the rule about how a skater can or can not be in the crease, four-on-four OT, one point for an OT loss and even making home colors the dark sweaters -- the list is endless. -- James Scoggins, Seal Beach, Calif.

Considering that the NHL only changes rules once a year in the offseason, I really suggest that you change your underwear more often. That's not so sanitary and is actually quite offensive to your family members and co-workers.

With so many man-hours lost to the flu each year, why don't players get the flu shot to prevent player shortages? -- Kathleen Houston, Middlebury, Vt.

I wasn't aware of any massive flu outbreaks wiping out entire NHL teams. Sure, players get sick, but not out of proportion with the general population. And because NHL rosters have 23 players on them and only 20 play on a given night, there are always a few spare players ready to jump into the lineup if illness strikes. And, of course, they can recall minor leaguers to fill in, too. I'm sure some players do get the flu shot, but I don't know of any teams that require their players to do so. It would probably be a good idea (as it is in the general population), but the flu doesn't strike NHL players at an abnormally high rate.

Being a season-ticket holder for the N.Y. Rangers, I was just wondering if you thought the Rangers could actually turn their season around for the better? Or should I start giving away my tickets for this season? I'm thinking about not even renewing my subscription for next year, and I am the biggest Rangers fan there is. I'm only 23 and I think I have an ulcer already. -- Angela Ciccone, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.

It sounds like Kathleen from Middlebury is only about a five-hour drive away and she is apparently rather concerned with illnesses surrounding hockey. So I imagine that she'll be rather distressed to hear that you have an ulcer at your young age.

The Blueshirts probably aren't the right team to root for unless you have a cast-iron stomach, Angela. You either need to pick a new team or upgrade your antacid intake. How on Earth do you afford Rangers season tickets at age 23? I don't mean to get all up in your bidness and stuff, but even 400-level seats at the Garden are like $1,100. You sure you are earning all of your money on the up and up? And if so, is it all being reported to the IRS?

The Rangers always have a big move in their back pocket, so don't give up on them at least until after the trade deadline. They are just a stone's throw out of the eighth spot, so there is still hope that they could put together a decent run and get into the playoffs.

The main complaint people have with the NHL is the trap. Therefore, why can't teams playing the trap receive a two-minute penalty for an illegal defense? NBA teams were called for illegal defenses when the zone wasn't permitted. Why couldn't the NHL do the same? -- David McGregor, Stratford, Ontario

The idea of calling illegal defense in hockey is an interesting one, and many people think this could be a solution to eliminate the trap. But it would be so difficult for the refs to enforce and recognize that I fear such an experiment would prove disastrous. Hockey and basketball are two very different games played at very different speeds. The fastest moments of an NBA game take place at about the same speed that a coasting hockey player travels at. If you get eight bodies all moving at a pretty good clip through the neutral zone, it would be hard for a referee to be able to accurately notice if one team slipped into an illegal defense because of the speed.

It seems to me that Shane Doan has slipped under the radar screen of most hockey fans. The man has 15 goals and 24 assists! Is it time we start thinking of Captain Coyote as a future star? -- Jesse, Toronto

Doan isn't a future star, he's a current star. While the focus regarding the Coyotes is on Brian Boucher and his remarkable shutout run, Doan and Ladislav Nagy are combining to carry the scoring load. I put Doan on my Western All-Star team and have him as an honorable mention for the Hart Trophy at the season's midway point. Wayne Gretzky has said that it's almost a lock that he'll have Doan on Team Canada for the 2004 World Cup, but it may not even be that long until Doan is a household name. If he continues to produce at his current pace and carries the Coyotes into the playoffs, Doan will gain deserved recognition around the league.

Can you tell me what the "Toon Army" refers to? -- John, Detroit

The Toon Army is a nickname for the loyal supporters of the Magpies, which itself is a nickname for the Newcastle United Football Club.

The Magpies trade Alan Shearer? Are you nuts? There isn't enough Sterling in all of England to lure him out of the Geordies beloved jersey. He is loved by the ownership in a similar fashion to Stevie Y in Detroit. They have him pegged to be manager once Sir Bobby calls it a day. Trade Shearer, please. Next you'll be telling me that Beckham could leave United, oops, bad example. Seriously, never happen. -- Stuart Lyon, Nelson, British Columbia

John, in reference to Mike's question on Newcastle I'd like to comment: ARE YOU CRAZY?! Alan Shearer is the heart and sole of the team. He is the MVP of The Premier League. This would be the same as trading Brodeur from the Devs. -- Kristian Kiim, Greve, Denmark

OK, OK, you people hammered me on my comments last week about Newcastle possibly getting rid of Shearer. Please note that I said they "would have to consider moving Shearer if it could generate a large infusion of cash for the club." I didn't say that they should, I just said that if an insane offer comes down the pike for Shearer, they'd be silly not to consider it. I love Shearer as much as any other Newcastle fan, and I hope that he ends his career in black and white. But if a transfer of Shearer can generate a substantial pile of cash that could help bring the Magpies back to the top of the table, NUFC would be foolish not to at least consider it.

Sell Alan Shearer? No way, you may as well sell The Tyne Bridge at the same time. Don't you think it would be much better to get rid of over paid, under achieving 'stars' like Titus Bramble and Kieron Dyer first? They have inflated egos and walk around the toon like they're some kind of superstars when they aren't even fit to lace Shearer's boots! -- Andy Ball, Newcastle

I can't sum it up any better than Andy, our man on the scene in Newcastle who got me started on this fun tangent a few weeks back. Keep the Magpies questions and comments coming, people.

Jon A. Dolezar covers the NHL for SI.com.