This week Team USA was announced. I’m excited about all the different players going to represent the US in Italy next year yet I can’t hide my disappoinment over Jeremy Roenick being left out. Not as in snubbed, just not picked. I would be the first to admit he is not having a good season with the LA Kings but he is our version of Mario Lemieux. Sure JR doesn’t have SuperMario’s numbers yet he is the highest-scoring US-born player still playing in the NHL (in goals he is number two, can’t remember on points). It’s the Olympics so you’re going to send a couple “token” players because they’re celebrities. JR wasn’t as gracious as me in the media. Then again, he wouldn’t be Jeremy Roenick if he didn’t shoot off his mouth. Won’t matter, Team Canada looks to be a cinch again and the USA will need to worry more about manageable foes for the Silver or Bronze medal; Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.
The Flyers finally are out of the cellar on their PK, they’re now #28 as of today with their victory over the Senators (probably the future champ of the Eastern Conference if the playoffs were held now). I wasn’t thrilled over the SO loss to Buffalo but I’ll take the point. Otherwise, the Flyers are cruising along at a decent pace, keeping the Rangers close as they try to take the Atlantic Division. The other great bit of news was the return of Simon Gagne and Mike Richards because they were sorely missed on offense and penalty killing.