U.S. names ice hockey team for Vancouver Winter Games
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USA Hockey named its 23-man roster for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The squad includes seven players who have won gold in international competition, but only three players with past Olympic experience - New York's Chris Drury, Detroit's Brian Rafalski and New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner.
Also on the roster are the current top three American point-getters in the National Hockey League, Chicago's Patrick Kane, New Jersey's Zach Parise and Paul Stastny of Colorado.
"Our management group has worked hard to put together a group of players that will give us the best chance to win the gold medal in Vancouver and we feel like we've done that," Brian Burke, general manager of Team USA, said in a statement.
Team USA's first game of the Olympics will be against Switzerland on Feb. 16.
Since the Olympic ice hockey competition began including National Hockey League players in 1998, six countries have played in the gold medal game.
Sweden defeated Finland to win gold at Turin in 2006. Canada won gold in 2002 with a triumph over the United States in Salt Lake City. The Czech Republic beat Russia in 1998.
Squad:
Goaltenders: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Defensemen: Erik Johnson (St Louis Blues), Jack Johnson (Los Angeles Kings), Mike Komisarek (Toronto Maple Leafs), Paul Martin (New Jersey Devils), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)
Forwards: David Backes (St. Louis Blues), Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings), Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils), Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning), Zack Parise (New Jersey Devils), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche)
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