Philly in Torino
I guess I am lucky. I have four teams I can pull for in Men's Hockey at Torino. USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland. Why, you ask? Because they all have members of the Philadelphia Flyers!
From the Flyers website:
The following Flyers will be competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics:
Robert Esche - USA Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• Played for U.S. team at 1995 Under-18 Air Canada Pacific Cup in Japan.
• Was spare goaltender on U.S. team that won the silver medal at 1997 World Junior Championships. Also played at 1998 WJC.
• Played two games at 2000 World Championship. Made 44 saves in 3–0 win over Russia.
• His 2.17 goals-against average in six games ranked 8th at 2001 World Championship. USA was fourth for its best finish at the time.
• Was top goaltender on U.S. team at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Lists this as his greatest international hockey experience.
Olympic Connections…
• Was invited to summer training camp for U.S. team prior to 2002 Olympics.
• His most memorable hockey game watched was Canada vs. USA in the gold medal final at Salt Lake City.
Peter Forsberg - SWEDEN Playing for Sweden…
• Ranked second in scoring (3-8-11) at the 1992 World Junior Championship.
• Named Best Forward at the 1993 World Junior Championship. Is the all time assists (32) and points (42) leader in World Junior history.
• Tied for the tournament scoring lead (6-5-11) at the 1998 World Championship.
Olympic Connections…
• Is competing at his third Winter Olympic Games (1994, 1998).
• He is one of three players on the 2006 Swedish team that were part of the gold medal-winning 1994 team.
• In addition to scoring the gold medal-winning goal against Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, he was one of six players tied for third in scoring.
• Missed the 2002 Salt Lake City games while sitting out the 2001–02 regular season to recover from surgery.
Simon Gagne - CANADA Wearing the Maple Leaf…
• Won gold medal with Canadian Under-18 team at 1997 Three Nations tournament.
• Won silver medal at 1999 World Junior Championship. Led tournament with 7 goals. Scored 4 goals in one game to tie a Team Canada record set by Mario Lemieux in 1983.
• Played for Canadian team that won 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
• Played at the World Championship for the first time in 2005. Finished third in tournament scoring (3-7-10) behind Joe Thornton and Rick Nash.
• Favorite international hockey rule is the big ice “because there’s more space and more time to make the play.”
Olympic Connections…
• Is at his second straight Olympics.
• Lists Canada’s gold medal at Salt Lake City as his favorite international hockey moment.
Derian Hatcher - USA
Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• Participated in 1990 and 1991 U.S. Olympic Festivals.
• First represented his country at the 1993 World Championship.
• His greatest international experience is winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Led tournament defensemen with 3 goals.
• Was named to original U.S. roster for 2004 World Cup of Hockey but withdrew prior to tournament.
• Lists the big ice surface and the shootout as his favorite rules in international hockey.
Olympic Connections…
• Is competing at his second Olympic Games. (1998).
• Was invited to summer training camp for U.S. team prior to 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Mike Knuble - USA
Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• First represented the United States at the 1995 World Championship.“It was something I had
never done and I was thrilled to finally play for the USA.”
• Playing against the gold medal-winning Czech Republic at the 2005 World Championship is his greatest international hockey experience.
• He tied fellow 2006 U.S. Olympians Doug Weight and Erik Cole and Brett Hauer for the team lead in points (6) at the 2005 World Championship.
Olympic Connections…
• The most memorable hockey game he watched was the 1980 Olympics, USA vs. Russia “because I was a kid and remember exactly where I was to watch it.”
• Other Olympic sports of interest are skiing and gymnastics at the Summer Games.
Antero Niittymaki - FINLAND Playing for Finland…
• His first international tournament was the 1997 World Under-17 Challenge.
• Played at the 1998 European Junior Championship.
• Played at the 2000 World Junior Championship. Other 2006 Olympic netminders to appear at that tournament were Rick DiPietro of the USA and Ilya Bryzgalov of Russia. Teammates included fellow 2006 Finnish Olympians Ossi Vaananen and Antti Miettinen.
Olympic Connections…
• Is making his Olympic debut.
From the Flyers website:
The following Flyers will be competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics:
Robert Esche - USA Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• Played for U.S. team at 1995 Under-18 Air Canada Pacific Cup in Japan.
• Was spare goaltender on U.S. team that won the silver medal at 1997 World Junior Championships. Also played at 1998 WJC.
• Played two games at 2000 World Championship. Made 44 saves in 3–0 win over Russia.
• His 2.17 goals-against average in six games ranked 8th at 2001 World Championship. USA was fourth for its best finish at the time.
• Was top goaltender on U.S. team at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Lists this as his greatest international hockey experience.
Olympic Connections…
• Was invited to summer training camp for U.S. team prior to 2002 Olympics.
• His most memorable hockey game watched was Canada vs. USA in the gold medal final at Salt Lake City.
Peter Forsberg - SWEDEN Playing for Sweden…
• Ranked second in scoring (3-8-11) at the 1992 World Junior Championship.
• Named Best Forward at the 1993 World Junior Championship. Is the all time assists (32) and points (42) leader in World Junior history.
• Tied for the tournament scoring lead (6-5-11) at the 1998 World Championship.
Olympic Connections…
• Is competing at his third Winter Olympic Games (1994, 1998).
• He is one of three players on the 2006 Swedish team that were part of the gold medal-winning 1994 team.
• In addition to scoring the gold medal-winning goal against Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, he was one of six players tied for third in scoring.
• Missed the 2002 Salt Lake City games while sitting out the 2001–02 regular season to recover from surgery.
Simon Gagne - CANADA Wearing the Maple Leaf…
• Won gold medal with Canadian Under-18 team at 1997 Three Nations tournament.
• Won silver medal at 1999 World Junior Championship. Led tournament with 7 goals. Scored 4 goals in one game to tie a Team Canada record set by Mario Lemieux in 1983.
• Played for Canadian team that won 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
• Played at the World Championship for the first time in 2005. Finished third in tournament scoring (3-7-10) behind Joe Thornton and Rick Nash.
• Favorite international hockey rule is the big ice “because there’s more space and more time to make the play.”
Olympic Connections…
• Is at his second straight Olympics.
• Lists Canada’s gold medal at Salt Lake City as his favorite international hockey moment.
Derian Hatcher - USA
Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• Participated in 1990 and 1991 U.S. Olympic Festivals.
• First represented his country at the 1993 World Championship.
• His greatest international experience is winning the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Led tournament defensemen with 3 goals.
• Was named to original U.S. roster for 2004 World Cup of Hockey but withdrew prior to tournament.
• Lists the big ice surface and the shootout as his favorite rules in international hockey.
Olympic Connections…
• Is competing at his second Olympic Games. (1998).
• Was invited to summer training camp for U.S. team prior to 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Mike Knuble - USA
Wearing the Stars and Stripes…
• First represented the United States at the 1995 World Championship.“It was something I had
never done and I was thrilled to finally play for the USA.”
• Playing against the gold medal-winning Czech Republic at the 2005 World Championship is his greatest international hockey experience.
• He tied fellow 2006 U.S. Olympians Doug Weight and Erik Cole and Brett Hauer for the team lead in points (6) at the 2005 World Championship.
Olympic Connections…
• The most memorable hockey game he watched was the 1980 Olympics, USA vs. Russia “because I was a kid and remember exactly where I was to watch it.”
• Other Olympic sports of interest are skiing and gymnastics at the Summer Games.
Antero Niittymaki - FINLAND Playing for Finland…
• His first international tournament was the 1997 World Under-17 Challenge.
• Played at the 1998 European Junior Championship.
• Played at the 2000 World Junior Championship. Other 2006 Olympic netminders to appear at that tournament were Rick DiPietro of the USA and Ilya Bryzgalov of Russia. Teammates included fellow 2006 Finnish Olympians Ossi Vaananen and Antti Miettinen.
Olympic Connections…
• Is making his Olympic debut.
posted by Benny at
13:48
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