Pity The Latvians (Backes & Oshie News)

by Rich of GASL on Apr 23, 2009 9:40 AM CDT

Not all the Blues are stopping with the whole hockey thing just yet: Backes, Oshie Added to 2009 U.S. Men's National Team Roster

Forwards David Backes (Minneapolis, Minn./St. Louis Blues/Minnesota State University Mankato) and T.J. Oshie (Warroad, Minn./St. Louis Blues/University of North Dakota) have been added to the 2009 U.S. Men’s National Team roster it was announced today by USA Hockey.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will compete at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Berne and Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland, April 24-May 10.

In his third National Hockey League season, Backes skated in all 82 regular-season games for the St. Louis Blues in 2008-09. He compiled career bests in points (54), goals (31), assists (23), power-play goals (6), shorthanded goals (2) and shots (208). Backes also added one goal and two assists in four playoff games.

Backes is making his third consecutive IIHF Men's World Championship appearance, having played in the tournament in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, he tallied one assist in six games, while he notched three points (1-2) in in seven games in 2007.

Oshie skated in 57 regular-season games with the Blues during his rookie NHL season in 2008-09. His 39 points (14-25) ranked ninth among all NHL rookies and he finished third among rookies in points per game. Additionally, Oshie skated in all four Blues playoff games.

Oshie will be making his first IIHF Men's World Championship appearance. Oshie previously represented the U.S. at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring one goal in seven games.

Team USA will begin play in the 2009 IIHF Men's World Championship Saturday (April 25) at 10:15 a.m. EDT against Latvia. The United States will play two additional preliminary-round games against Austria (April 27) and Sweden (April 29) before the qualification round begins.

Good for the guys. Now we all have even more reason to follow events in Switzerland (as if following the exploits of Dutchie wasn't enough.)

GO USA!!!!!!!!!

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Oshie's point total

If he’d played all 82 games, Oshie would’ve gotten around 55 points, and 20 of those would’ve been goals. (assuming he didn’t wear down as the season continued.)

by thistypeofthinking on Apr 23, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

AS far as consolation prizes go, this is OK

It was watching this tourney after Dutchie’s rookie year that I decided he was a keeper.
There was a site where you could watch the games live for about 5 bucks a month.
It’s run by NBC and is free now.

This is their hockey channel and where I’ll start looking for a stream/video:
http://www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&SPID=11661&SPSID=95605&KEY=

by briandunne on Apr 23, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

I used this stream alot during the summer olympics

It seemed to work pretty well.

by luvhockey on Apr 23, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

It’s also nice to watch the Dustin Browns and Ryan Suters of the world and not hate their guts…

by briandunne on Apr 23, 2009 10:20 AM CDT reply actions

heh

Dutchie is still selected to Team USA…

http://www.stlouisgametime.com/

by cold on Apr 23, 2009 10:58 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah...

….I’m not expecting him to get first unit powerplay action there either.

by Rich of GASL on Apr 23, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Team USA should be fun to watch.

I’m hoping for a rematch of this – not because I like watching Thrashers rookies die, but because it’s a character building experience:

Team USA should be pretty good this year, but I’m still kinda leaning to Russia taking it – they’re one game away from Ovie.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Apr 23, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions

Caps will win game 5

…Game 6????? God only knows.

by Rich of GASL on Apr 23, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope they manage to win 5, 6, and 7.

I farging hate the Rangers with a passion.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Apr 23, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess Oshie wasn't hurt then

After hearing Jackman was playing hurt I was wondering the same thing about Oshie. After his highlight reel hits going into the playoffs and his rep as a big game player it was my biggest disappoint of the series to not see Oshie show up. I had Teej down for at least 2 monsta hits that never happened and at least one purty goal that also never materialized.

For TJ t ojsut drop off the radar like that had me guessing he was nursing some injury.

Guess I guessed wrong.

Dum spiramus tuebimur

by spectr17 on Apr 23, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions