Veterans Dominate Selections For U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

The United States named its Olympic hockey team on Monday. The 23-member team is made up largely of veteran players with 24-year-old goalie Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders being the youngest member of the squad. Eleven of the team's 23 members have prior experience in the Olympics.

General manager Don Waddell announced the team on a show televised by the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) just prior to the broadcast of last night's game between the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars.

The biggest concern for the U.S. may be in goal where none of the three players selected have Olympic experience. Former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter, now retired, was the most experienced netminder for the U.S. in international competition.

This year, Waddell selected DiPietro, Robert Esche of the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay's John Grahame.

Waddell said he was not worried about the goalies' lack of Olympic experience. 'All three of them are starting goaltenders in the NHL right now,' he explained.

Some notable names were left off the squad as Waddell said he was basing the selections not on the reputation of players but based on their recent performances. Among those who will not be representing the United States in Turin this February were Jeremy Roenick, Jim LeClair and Brian Leetch.

The United States won the silver medal in Salt Lake City in 2002. Canada defeated the U.S. to capture the gold.

The final 23 man Olympic Team is as follows:

Goalies:

Goaltenders

Rick DiPietro, N.Y. Islanders, Winthrop, Mass.

Robert Esche, Philadelphia, Utica, N.Y.

John Grahame, Tampa Bay, Denver, Colo.



Defensemen:

Chris Chelios, Detroit, Chicago, Ill.

Derian Hatcher, Philadelphia, Sterling, Heights, Mich.

Jordan Leopold, Calgary, Golden Valley, Minn.

John-Michael Liles, Colorado, Zionsville, Ind.

Aaron Miller, Los Angeles, Buffalo, N.Y.

Brian Rafalski, New Jersey, Dearborn, Mich.

Mathieu Schneider, Detroit, New York, N.Y.


Forwards:

Jason Blake, N.Y. Islanders, Moorhead, Minn.

Erik Cole, Carolina, Oswego, N.Y.

Craig Conroy, Los Angeles, Potsdam, N.Y.

Chris Drury, Buffalo, Trumbull, Conn.

Brian Gionta, New Jersey, Rochester, N.Y.

Scott Gomez, New Jersey, Anchorage, Ala.

Bill Guerin, Dallas, Wilbraham, Mass.

Mike Knuble, Philadelphia, Toronto, Ontario

Mike Modano, Dallas, Livonia, Mich.

Mark Parrish, N.Y. Islanders, Minneapolis, Minn.

Brian Rolston, Minnesota, Flint, Mich.

Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis, Melrose, Mass.

Doug Weight, St. Louis, Warren, Mich.



Coaching staff: Don Waddell, GM; Paul Holmgren, asst. GM; Peter Laviolette, head coach; Keith Allain, asst. coach; Mike Sullivan, asst.