Holik Team USA

[William H Bonney]

They were introduced to the sport in Canada and learned how to play the game up here.

Much like Holik learned to play the game in the Czech-Republic.

They were developed in Canada... there's no point in arguing that.

Yes there is. When the majority of players are developed in Canada, due to the location of the premier junior leagues in North America, it's a sense of jingoism for you to make those claims. If those players were developed in Canada, where's the need in going to US college hockey programs?

 

[leafaholix*]

Yes there is. When the majority of players are developed in Canada, due to the location of the premier junior leagues in North America, it's a sense of jingoism for you to make those claims. If those players were developed in Canada, where's the need in going to US college hockey programs?

They played the first 15 or so years of their lives in Canada... this is assuming they started at a young age (2, 3, 3 years old). Each of those players developed their skills playing junior hockey in Canada and were then good enough to be recruited to NCAA schools where they had another 3 or 4 years of development.

Mike Modano developed his abilities in Michigan before making the move to the WHL. Same goes with Jeremy Roenick and all the other American/International CHL alumns.

Holik has spent a good portion of his life in the US... but USA Hockey has contributed nothing to his development as he was already good enough to play in the NHL at a young age.

If Kariya, Heatley, Turco, or St. Louis choose to take on American citizenship and play for the US, it makes more sense than Holik wanting to play in the red, white, and blue.