SLOVENIAN 8
05-01-2005, 06:39 AM
Today SLOVENIA vs. USA
http://www.ihwc.net/img/teams/flag.usa.gif USA - Slovenia http://www.ihwc.net/img/teams/flag.slo.gif
Preview: USA vs. Slovenia:
http://www.ihwc.net/english/article/recaps/index.ihwc?&artId=1982
By John Sanful
Matchup: USA vs. Slovenia, 16.15, Olympiahalle
USA: Team USA came together on April 15, and it's finally time for them to play some meaningful hockey. There is depth here, and the Americans should be considered the second-best team in their group behind Canada. But injuries have already taken a toll. They have lost Matt Cullen, who has been a reliable performer at past World Championships. Still, there should be more than enough offensive support up front to make up for it. Richard Park leads all scorers on this team in terms of World Championship goals. His eight goals and 14 points, spread across two tournaments, make him a sniper to watch. Really, over the past five years, Park's international performance has been greatly underappreciated. Ty Conklin will likely get the start. Conklin was a hero for the Americans last spring and can stand the heat of international competition. Team USA must avoid coming out tight and control the pace of the game. Defensively, Team USA has smooth puck-moving defensemen like John Michael-Liles and Jordan Leopold who should both do well this afternoon. Aaron Miller and Hall Gill will make it tough for Slovenian forwards to create chances with any regularity down low. Doug Weight, one of the best passers in the game, can greatly impact the opportunities his fellow forwards will have to score. They will have to bring a good transition game and force the Slovenians into making turnovers deep in their zone. If they can do that, the United States will start off the tournament in the right frame of mind to compete with Canada and other top teams.
Slovenia: Slovenia is back in the elite division for the first time since 2003. After lessons learned from their previous experience, they return with a few experienced players and many other new faces. Head Coach Kari Savolainen is looking to build toward the future. Bojan Zajc is the old veteran on the team and this will be his last World Championship at age 39. Dejan Kontrec, dubbed the Slovenian Gretzky by the Austrian media when he played for Lustenau last season, will be counted on to create opportunities and score timely goals. Marcel Rodman is the big gun on the team. At Finland 2003, he scored six goals and ranked among the top scorers in the tournament. There is definitely a youth movement in effect. Slovenia is carrying ten players born after 1979, and this group is led by its youngest member, Anze Skopitar. Only 17, this prodigy is making his World Championship debut. Today, Slovenia must capitalize on their chances, even if they are few and far between. They must play with poise and discipline and try to neutralize the American attack. But the odds are slim that they will emerge for anything to show for their efforts.
http://www.ihwc.net/img/teams/flag.usa.gif USA - Slovenia http://www.ihwc.net/img/teams/flag.slo.gif
Preview: USA vs. Slovenia:
http://www.ihwc.net/english/article/recaps/index.ihwc?&artId=1982
By John Sanful
Matchup: USA vs. Slovenia, 16.15, Olympiahalle
USA: Team USA came together on April 15, and it's finally time for them to play some meaningful hockey. There is depth here, and the Americans should be considered the second-best team in their group behind Canada. But injuries have already taken a toll. They have lost Matt Cullen, who has been a reliable performer at past World Championships. Still, there should be more than enough offensive support up front to make up for it. Richard Park leads all scorers on this team in terms of World Championship goals. His eight goals and 14 points, spread across two tournaments, make him a sniper to watch. Really, over the past five years, Park's international performance has been greatly underappreciated. Ty Conklin will likely get the start. Conklin was a hero for the Americans last spring and can stand the heat of international competition. Team USA must avoid coming out tight and control the pace of the game. Defensively, Team USA has smooth puck-moving defensemen like John Michael-Liles and Jordan Leopold who should both do well this afternoon. Aaron Miller and Hall Gill will make it tough for Slovenian forwards to create chances with any regularity down low. Doug Weight, one of the best passers in the game, can greatly impact the opportunities his fellow forwards will have to score. They will have to bring a good transition game and force the Slovenians into making turnovers deep in their zone. If they can do that, the United States will start off the tournament in the right frame of mind to compete with Canada and other top teams.
Slovenia: Slovenia is back in the elite division for the first time since 2003. After lessons learned from their previous experience, they return with a few experienced players and many other new faces. Head Coach Kari Savolainen is looking to build toward the future. Bojan Zajc is the old veteran on the team and this will be his last World Championship at age 39. Dejan Kontrec, dubbed the Slovenian Gretzky by the Austrian media when he played for Lustenau last season, will be counted on to create opportunities and score timely goals. Marcel Rodman is the big gun on the team. At Finland 2003, he scored six goals and ranked among the top scorers in the tournament. There is definitely a youth movement in effect. Slovenia is carrying ten players born after 1979, and this group is led by its youngest member, Anze Skopitar. Only 17, this prodigy is making his World Championship debut. Today, Slovenia must capitalize on their chances, even if they are few and far between. They must play with poise and discipline and try to neutralize the American attack. But the odds are slim that they will emerge for anything to show for their efforts.