WJC: 2023 Team USA Roster Talk

[Goldenhands]

McGroarty injured?

 

[William H Bonney]

McGroarty injured?

Out there now. Maybe an equipment issue

 

[Goldenhands]

Out there now. Maybe an equipment issue

I didnt see him touch the ice after his assist in the 1st.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Oh Starman went all Brian Leetch a minute ago.

Starman is unbearable for me. I find myself muting the TV when he starts talking out his ass, which is often.

 

[William H Bonney]

I didnt see him touch the ice after his assist in the 1st.

He's been out there

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Starman pretending that it's even a debate between mbereko and Augustine lol. Exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[William H Bonney]

Starman is unbearable for me. I find myself muting the TV when he starts talking out his ass, which is often.

He's basically just on air PR for the NCAA and USAH. He's insufferable.

Lol. Starman pretending like there's still a question between Augustine and Mbereko

 

[William H Bonney]

A better performance but they'll need to find another gear against Finland, so hopefully this will give them some confidence they can build on. They started poorly again today, which needs to be a primary focus for the staff, and I would have liked to see more of a killer instinct to bury the Swiss in the 3rd (they smothered the Swiss defensively, though), but it was light years better than their efforts in the first 2 games.

The defense was much improved. Finally going to Behrens - Hughes was a big part of that, but the defense also played a lot smarter today, cutting out the unforced turnovers and ill advised pinches. Playing a marginally talented at best opponent helps of course.

The chemistry on the forward lines is still a major concern. There were positive signs today for individual players but their collective play still need to be a lot better. Individually, guys like Lucius need to show up. Brindley needs to be on the top 2 lines. Gauthier should be at center.

Should be Augustine's net from here on out. Sorry, Starman.

 

[Postulates]

Should have been Augustine's net from the moment the 2022 summer tourney ended

 

[ORRFForever]

Starman is unbearable for me. I find myself muting the TV when he starts talking out his ass, which is often.

Watching the games with the sound off is underrated. I prefer it that way.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Oh Starman went all Brian Leetch a minute ago.

Not sure if he's being prodded by USA Hockey/NHL Network to promote Team USA but it's disappointing. At least doing college hockey and speaking at clinics he seems more balanced and insightful.

I guess as with "journalism" this is the new normal in sportscasting. Not something I'm a fan of.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Starman pretending that it's even a debate between mbereko and Augustine lol. Exactly what I'm talking about.

From the standpoint of age it may be. There is also the elephant in the room where you hope Mbereko hasn't been playing solely for optics. That would be disappointing but in 2022 you never know.

 

[NJDfan86]

From the standpoint of age it may be. There is also the elephant in the room where you hope Mbereko hasn't been playing solely for optics. That would be disappointing but in 2022 you never know.

What exactly are the “optics” for playing Mbereko?

 

[SK94]

What exactly are the “optics” for playing Mbereko?

Like you didn't understand the point...

 

[NJDfan86]

Like you didn't understand the point...

I don’t follow USA Hockey much, perhaps you would be kind enough to explain?

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I don’t follow USA Hockey much, perhaps you would be kind enough to explain?

Kaidan Mbereko - Men's Ice Hockey - Colorado College Athletics

Kaidan Mbereko (30) Goalie - 2023-24: Started all 37 games … 2024 First-Team All-American … NCHC Goaltender of the Year (unanimous selection) … One of three finalists

cctigers.com

 

[NJDfan86]

Kaidan Mbereko - Men's Ice Hockey - Colorado College Athletics

Kaidan Mbereko (30) Goalie - 2023-24: Started all 37 games … 2024 First-Team All-American … NCHC Goaltender of the Year (unanimous selection) … One of three finalists

cctigers.com

Funny enough - I, too, can use Google. Looks like that bio lists some pretty solid accomplishments with team USA thus far - so I will ask again, what are the ”optics” that would go into him being the starter?

I don’t get why you are skating around the question.

 

[MVPete96]

I’ll never understand why the US doesn’t cover this tournament more closely. Send TNT or ESPN out there and get it on a channel people actually have. Ratings could be bigger than people think due to national pride+ people being off of work

 

[William H Bonney]

There are no "optics" to Mbereko playing. Full stop. He plays a niche sport in America at a level that doesn't even register for anyone but a small group of diehard hockey fans. Barely anyone knows who he is and only a slightly larger group cares about the WJC. There is nothing to gain from playing him because of "optics" and it's gross to suggest that's the case without any evidence.

The reality is he got an opportunity in the 2022 WJC because the starter (Drew Commesso) withdrew from the team and the backup (Dylan Silverstein) wasn't available due to a long-standing medical issue that completely derailed his career. He got an opportunity in the 2023 WJC because the likely starter (Silverstein) was still out, the 2003 American goalie class is extremely poor where Mbereko is the best of that age group with a lot of USAH / international experience, he's having his first respectable junior season with Colorado College, and the best goalie on the team is only 17 in a tournament that typically leans heavily on 19 year olds.

He's had an opportunity due to a lack of goalie depth combined with injury and withdrawal, nothing more, nothing less. If he was a white dude named John Smith with the same resume, he still would have had the same opportunity given the same circumstances.

 

[57special]

This "Optics" discussion sure came up from out of nowhere. Sure hopes it goes back to the same place where it came from.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

As if Beezer cares about "optics." LOL.

 

[SK94]

I agree that Mbereko deserved his spot. His season has been decent with Colorado College. That said, USA Hockey belongs to same category with US Soccer so I understand why that point came up.

 

[hullsy47]

Saw the Canada one was started already and seeing as this year's tournament ain't happening I've been noodling on this the past few days, so here we go on to next year.


Sasha Pastujov-Logan Cooley-Chaz Lucius
Isaac Howard-Rutger McGroarty-Frank Nazar
Dylan Duke-Red Savage-Tyler Boucher
Cutter Gauthier-Jack Hughes-Jimmy Snuggerud

Jackson Blake, Jeremy Wilmer

Others: Justin Janicke, Jack Devine, Connor Kurth, Jack Harvey

Jack Peart-Luke Hughes
Sean Behrens-Ryan Chesley
Shai Buium-Seamus Casey

Aidan Hreschuk, Ty Gallagher

Others: Brent Johnson, Jake Martin, Roman Schmidt, Luke Mittelstadt

Dylan Silverstein
Braden Holt
Kaidan Mbereko

Lol no ty voit .chumps

 

[William H Bonney]

Thank you, Switzerland. Team USA controls its own destiny now. Win in regulation and they're the #1 seed and get Germany in the QF. Does there need to be more motivation than that?

If the Swiss win in OT/SO, Team USA just needs a win of any kind.

 

[William H Bonney]

Swiss did the team a huge favor. Win in any fashion against Finland and Team USA takes the #1 seed in the group and will play Germany in the QF. If not, they'll finish 3rd and likely play Canada or Sweden. If they don't come out fired up and ready to play for the first time in the tournament, I don't know what to say.