Wide Shoulders?

SHOWTIME FOR ROCCO

He is the smallest guy on the team with the coolest name the biggest heart and plays the most exciting brand of hockey. And he finds his fanny directly on a hot griddle here in frozen Ufa, Russia. USA's Rocco Grimaldi has been given a spot on the first line with John Gaudreau and J.T. Miller since the second day of minicamp, and they have contributed 0 points, nada, flat line.  TSN commentators shake their head at Grimaldi's unwillingness to pass.  And he is needed more than ever.  

USA takes on Canada in what is shaping up as a critical game for the Yanks, in a tournament in which their defense is outscoring their forwards.  Should Grimaldi hold his spot on that first line, he must start finding his linemates with the puck, and soon, or he will find himself off the hot seat onto a cold one, chilling on the end of the bench.

As a tiny 17 year old he was a very late cut for the Buffalo WJC, and a nagging knee injury kept him out of Alberta last year.  This is Rocco's coming out party, the little big man that has won gold at every junior World tournament except the U-20.  The time has come to produce, or face the sobering knowledge of one's limitations.  He has been ignoring and skating through limitations his whole life. He must do it tonight, or face the consequences.  Pressure makes diamonds. 

Technical Wizard

What happens when Milwaukee meets Moscow: 

say STRAZ-vooey-tye to Alex Galyenchuk

Team USA has always needed snipers, and this year's WJC entry has found one. A Moscow accent in R, W and B with classic Russian skills; in Eastern Europe they call it being "technical."  For the first time in memory USA has a technical wizard, a "malcheek" named Alex Galchenyuk. Born in Milwaukee, raised in Moscow, loyal to the U.S. of A. His Russian may be better than his English, but he prefers to forget his native tongue. 

How good is Glachenyuk? The Montreal Canadiens drafted Alex third overall last spring, coming off a season that saw him play a mere two games due to injury. Now he's back, leading the vaunted Ontario Hockey League in goals, and on Thursday wowed his former country with a goal that left the scouts, fans and GM's in awe among his 3 points in USA's 8-0 demolition of Germany.

On Friday, Team USA and Russia face off to determine who is a contender and who is the pretender in the B-group, and this ex-pat who could have played for either nation will be the crucial chess piece.  For the first time in history, Russian forwards are suffering from "stick envy." The prodigal son returns to Mother Russia. NHL Network, live pre-dawn with a replay in prime time.

Slapshot KO in a Smoky Room

Travel partner Rob Simmer and I headed out into a night that was a combination of Buffalo and Grand Forks, only more severe.  20 mile an hour gusts driving rapidly accumulating snow, single digit temps. In other words, winter in Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia.  Most cars have metal studs in their tires and electric plug-in starters. Those that don't are often meat.

Our routine has been too much straight line hotel-rink-hotel, or hotel-rink-rink#2-hotel, so we needed to get out.  Our research gave us a spot called Watson's, an alleged British style pub only a mile or two from our hotel.  We exited the cab, survived a 20 foot walk to the entrance, and entered a Russian male sports den.  Cigar smoke in the corner, wood and red felt throughout, with big screens  that allowed every patron to see the Russian national junior team take on Slovakia. The only women in the joint were either servers or apparent ladies of the night who paraded by every few minutes like ring girls at a prizefight. Hockey was the main course here, and it was opening night of the WJC. We arrived midway through the first period of home team Russia's debut, and it was scoreless. Yummy. Mother Russia's national team, Juniors or Seniors, are significantly more popular than the professional league teams, and you could feel the adrenaline spiked sports buzz as soon as you walked through the door. I knew almost enough Russian to order and our waiter knew almost enough English to fill in the gaps, so between the two of us we were golden. For hockey junkies and international sports lovers, we were at the right place at the right time.  Rob and I tucked into our pints, cow and fish, respectively, and took in a wonderful game. 

Russia took a 2-0 lead, each goal by the Big Red Machine a skilled gem which ignited rousing applause in the saloon. But the plucky Slovaks fought their way back, and as the coffee and cheesecake arrived, Slovakia scored a last minute power play goal to send this compelling game into overtime.  I was delighted to have an extra session to accompany my dessert, but Rob wisely cautioned against any exuberance. We were, after all, behind enemy lines, surrounded by passionate fans who were losing their happy buzz. A quick look around revealed a high testosterone bunch that was decidedly nervous.  Team "Ross-SEE-ya" would start the extra session short handed.  This teenage Red Army had several star players back from their silver medal team of last year, excellent goaltending and were favorites to win the gold.  They were now in danger of losing to a weak sister in their bracket on opening day that could lead to disaster. I followed Rob's advice and restrained myself.

In overtime, a powerplay is a much grander advantage, 4 on 3 instead of 5 on 4, and the Slovaks nearly crashed the party, narrowly missing a tap in that would have had us scrambling for the door.  But Russia survived, their penalty expired, and the master ice craftsmen went back to work. Two defensemen, left handed shooting Nikita Nesterov and righty Albert Yarullin demonstrated some puck magic 10 feet in front of their offensive blue line. Nesterov offered and faked and twitched and finally sold a slapshot. Defenders went for the block, and Slovakia's brilliant young goalie Adam Nagy set himself for the blast.  At the point of sale, however, Nesterov slid a perfect pass back to his partner Yarullin for a one-time rocket that beat Nagy to the glove side.  
BOOM!



Knockout punch. Sudden death resulted in sudden explosion of beer, adrenaline, tobacco and testosterone as the fight crowd got more than they expected. A final standing ovation.  On the screen I saw the International sports TV money shot: a country's flag being raised to the rafters and the anthem playing proudly.  I looked around; no one in the joint gave a hoot about the ceremonu. I happen to love the song and embraced the moment, by myself. No problem, it was sublime.

Nagy got the Slovakia player of the game gift; he will be a formidable obstacle for the Americans in six days.Tonight team Russia had dodged a bullet, and for all you Miracle fans, Yarullin's blast echoed USA D Bill Baker's tying tally against Sweden on opening night in Lake Placid a generation ago.  Although the home team lost a point in the standings, they could now exhale and continue their tournament journey with a mere flesh wound instead of a stunner,  with all of Russia rejoicing instead of loathing.

Rob and I settled up and headed back into the blizzard to find our cab.  Three Russian women entered, carrying plastic noise makers into the saloon. They knew enough English to tell us they were positively lit up from having attended the game.

From Russia, with puck love.

Potty like it's 1999

This is how they do it in a"4-Star" Russian hotel.  A private double-stall special right off the marble floor lobby. Imagine the possibilities. Saved money on the metal walls I guess.

15 below (F) with the sun going down at 3:30 in the afternoon....cheeks get numb I tell you...face glowing super red...TSN had wonderful Christmas Eve party, honored every staff member who had spent 5 or more Christmas/New Year's away from family in some corner of the world covering hockey. Thought they should have acknowledged all the ex-wives across North America as a result...By the way, Ufa won't celebrate Christmas until January 6, 7 due to their Russian Orthodox church...Younger citizens of UFA have been delightful, really trying to speak English to their strange visitors.  They do not get a lot of westerners here... USA Hockey being very cryptic about injury status of unnamed defenseman (?Connor Murphy?), calling it a "medical condition.". So now they have 21 skaters but can only register 20, so someone gets sent home soon from Russia, hockey dreams temporarily shattered, and will have no family Christmas to be consoled by family.  Appears poorly managed, but will know more in the next 48 hours... USA opens against Germany pre-dawn ET Thursday, December 27.  Coach Housley was assistant coach in 2007 when Team USA,--one of the most talented WJC squad ever featuring Jack and Erik Johnson and Patrick Kane--lost to Germany in their WJC opener, nearly crippling their medal hopes.  Housley will mention that more than once to this squad...Merry Christmas hockey fans.

Captain Badger

Say hello to Jack McCabe, a rugged team-first defenseman who prides himself on sacrificing his body.  A true Wisconsin Badger, a product of Eau Claire Memorial High School, has been thrust into the international hockey spotlight when he was named captain of Team USA at the 2013 World Juniors. Bucky the Badger has a great track record in big-time international hockey, with Badger Bob and his son Mark leading the way a generation ago, and more recently, the 2004 WJC Gold medal winners Mike Eaves coaching and his son Patrick sniping.

MCabe is deep voiced, broad shouldered 6'+ 200 lb. + defenseman looking to make a big hit. block a shot and lead a rush, on his first shift.  He embraces challenges, and will get one soon on December 28 as USA takes on highly favored Russia behind enemy lines.  This game will be the best barometer as to the fortunes of Team USA here in Ufa.

Touching Down in Bashkortostan

The homey little Ufa airport is lit up with World Junior posters. In terms of popularity, the KHL is a distant second to Russian national teams. The Russians U-20 squad has brought home a gold and silver the last 2 years on the narrow North American ice, so dreams of gold abound in Mother Russia, feeding a hockey fever that should spill over in the Sochi Winter Games in 13 months.

A quick geography note: Ural Mountains are the unofficial boundary of Europe and Asia, Ufa is on the western edge of the Urals, so technically we are still in Europe, probably the most Eastern city in Europe, and a lot of the locals all look a bit Asian. Spectacular people watching.

There are about a half dozen cities all lined up on the same latitude at the western edge of the Urals, but Ufa is probably the biggest in population at 1.2 M (about the size of Boston).  Oil and coal extraction makes this place tick, and the local hockey team won the KHL championship in 2010, so it's a good hockey town.  According to our translator there is one frozen lake for pond hockey, which I hope to locate tomorrow.

So Aeroflot lost one of two bags belonging to my travel partner Rob Simpson, and they sequestered him and the TSN translator I brought in for half an hour. He was filling out paperwork and pleading with the bureaucrats like it was 1979...I had nothing to do, so I stepped outside to sample the 25 below clear air.  Did the appropriate cough, and then tried to get back in, Cop told me NYET NYET NYET, so I had to scoot around and clear security again, luckily my bags were where I left em.

We flew along a latitude line about even with Newfoundland on the shortest day of the year, traveled 4900 miles.  Saw a sunset, a sunrise and another sunset as we and that shrunken orb were heading fast in different directions. Sprinted past each other near Moscow about halfway up to the arctic circle.  TSN guys we saw in the lobby said at 10 AM it is still pitch dark.  Gotta find another source of vitamin D I guess.

Little Johnny Hockey

He looks like a younger sibling of one of the Team USA players, and if size mattered, he would be considered one of the last guys you would expect to have an impact on Team USA's World Junior hopes. You couldn't be further from the truth. Little Johnny Gaudreau, all 5'9" and 150 pounds (that is NOT a type-o) has gotten onto a vintage scoring roll that in his case, leads to a championship hoist.  USA has faced elimination in that last three games, and he's scored 7 times and the US is in the Gold Medal game. He is now the leading goal-scorer of the 2013 World Junior Championship, a showcase for the best players on the cusp of the NHL. A fourth round draft pick of the Calgary, Johnny Hockey has no qualms in the land of the giants.

"With my speed, I like to shy away from the checks in the corners," he said between practices at the Team USA mini camp, taking a mid-season break from the top-ranked Boston College Eagles. "I'm pretty shifty down low, I kinda use that shifty and quickness to my advantage against bigger guys who might be a little bit slower and not so quick." As they say on the street, "True Dat." The guy is slippery as an eel, bringing back memories of classic little big men like Stan Mikita, Robbie Ftorek, and Danny Briere.

If you do a Google Image search for John, you'll see him hoisting hardware as big as he is for Dubuque of the USHL, or celebrating wildly after winning a national championship for BC last spring. All he does is score, and win, and he does a whole lot of both.

After a mere four practices for this hastily assembled USA World Junior Team, practices in which line play consisted entirely of small games compressed into fractions of the ice, a normally cautious head coach Phil Housley gushed about his newly created scoring line that included alternate captain J.T. Miller and Gaudreau, a classic combination of grit and inane hockey sense. "The way they moved the puck, the offense they created..." Housley, a member of The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as a player, just smiled and shook his head.  Housley is the top scoring U.S. born defenseman in NHL history and knows a little something about undersized offensive players, and he is thrilled with little Johnny.

Hockey is about time and space, and Gaudreau creates plenty for himself and others. Coaches just need to give him the proper ice time (tons), and they end up hoisting trophies. Maybe that's why Housley couldn't contain his mirth.

When you look at Johnny Hockey, you can't help but see the quintessential American boy next door.  When Russians see him, they see one of their own.  Creative, elusive, shifty and offensively gifted small forwards is a familiar genre in Mother Russia. They have been producing such players since before they were known globally as "The Big Red Machine."  One in particular bore a striking on-ice resemblance to Johnny Hockey. His name is Slava Bykov, a clever little sniper from the 1980's and 90's raised in Chelyabinsk, the next major city east of Ufa, 4 hours down the road on Highway M5.

                                        Bykov and Gaudreau... Separated at Birth??

You may remember Bykov as the guy who dashed USA's medal hopes in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, filling the USA net with two killer goals in the third period of the semifinal.  As an adult Bykov reached a playing weight of 160 pounds, essentially the same build as Gaudreau. He's been seen around rinks recently as the head coach of Russia's national team.  Russia is a nation of hockey lovers, and they recognize technical ice wizards who have no fear of of larger players.  Johnny Hockey is dazzling today's quintessential defensive "giraffes" in those deep corners of the 100 foot wide rinks of Russia. Show some pity for those bigger, slower defensemen; it's men against boys.

He hails from Southern Jersey, will never be forgotten by Iowa hockey fans, and is engraved in gold up at the Heights of Boston College, but Johnny Hockey may have found his true hockey home here in Russia, 11 time zones away. Mother Russia has embraced this reincarnation of one of their most adored hockey masters, the small forward. And like the Russian masters, Johnny Hockey has gotten used to hoisting gold.

Russian Beauty Brightens Minicamp

Standing out in the lineup of media pressed against the glass at the MSG training facility in Elmhurst was a woman dressed in jeans and a wool cap, gathering media with her smart phone. On closer examination, she was clearly more supermodel more than a hockey scribe. A few inquiries revealed that she was Anna Galchenyuk, the adoring older sister (7 years) of USA's supreme Russian sniper Alex who had just driven up from Manhattan to catch up.  Anna currently works at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, helping entertain the elite Russian clients in Mikhail Prokhorov's luxury suites. She describes her relationship with Alex as "extremely close."  Last year she drove up to Sarnia, Ontario several times and hung with her bro while he endured grueling rehab for his knee. "He was working 8 hours a day...two four- hour sessions." This final day of the mini camp she took several photos of Alex while he was being interviewed. Her next task is to convince her family to enjoy a hockey reunion back in Russia.  The Galchenyuk grandparents live in Minsk, Belarus, approximately the same 2 hour flight to Ufa as from Moscow.  Based on the response of the assembled press corps in Westchester, her presence would be highly welcomed in Ufa.



Notes and Quotes
SETH JONES:  "I'm actually hungry to see what it's all about (the WJC)...I got a sniff last year, half of a first period (vs Russia in Alberta pre-tourney exhibition before injuring his shoulder). So I'm excited to play, the team is going to be great."
from Yes Network interview, describing his Mom: "She was very strict with my brothers and me, never let things slide...she was the one who took us to 6 am practices."

GM Jim Johansson: (on short selection process) "It's tough to make the World Junior Team, the guys know it.  It's a good thing, but it's also the hard part about hockey." The team final cuts, 1 forward and 2 defensemen, will be notified after their last exhibition game Saturday December 22 vs Finland, played in Helsinki.  The unlucky blokes will jet home on the 23rd as the media get notified. There are three undersized and uniquely skilled defenseman that fill the same role, almost like a point guard in basketball: Mike Reilly 167 pounds from U. of Minnesota; Shayne Gostisbehere 167 pounds from Union College; and Matt Grzelcyk 168 pounds from Boston University.
"My understanding is that only 2 of those three will make it," said Hall of Famer Craig Patrick, representing the Columbus Blue Jackets as a special adviser. The Jackets used a fourth round draft pick on Reilly in 2011.  Patrick is not alone in his admiration of Reilly's skill sets, but "he needs to put on some muscle." The fact that this kid is pure Minnesota, and plays a near identical game to Hall-of-Fame coach Phil Housley of St. Paul makes it unlikely that he will miss this tourney.  "It may come down to a little bit of the gut feeling, and maybe who pairs up better with other guys," said Johansson. Three of the most skilled defensemen on the planet in a heartwrenching game of hockey musical chairs. Three lightweight dancers, two chairs, the music stops two days before Christmas...
NYRangers assistant GM Jeff Gorton was omnipresent in Westchester, keeping a close eye on J.T. Miller, the Blueshirts first pick in 2011.  Miller currently plays in Hartford for the AHL Whale, and had to be given permission to miss 8 games for this tournament.  "I've seen him play 15 or 20 games this year," said Gorton. "As soon as he learned he would be allowed to go (to Russia), he's been our best forward."  A teenager playing with men, the best forward.  Gorton said it matter of factly.  Although the Team USA captaincy won't be announced until the club gets to Helsinki, Miller's captaincy is a poorly kept secret.  "It's like having another coach in the room when we're not in there," says head coach Housley.
"I've never really been a veteran, or an older guy," said the 19 year old Miller from East Palestine. Ohio "That's why it's kinda neat coming here, being one of the older guys, trying to be a leader. I don't really take that role very often , so I'm going to make sure I take full advantage of it, do the best I can here to help get a gold medal."
...there are 3 Minnesotans in camp, including 6'3" defenseman Brady Skjei (pronounced "Shea") from Lakeville, a young man who is versed in the glorious past of the Great State of Hockey, beyond the scope of the movie "Miracle." "The history that the Gophers have with the U.S. program goes way back, when players like Herb Brooks was playing, and John Mayasich (Captain of the 1960 Olympic Gold Squaw Valley Club) and all them. It's a really long tradition, and we just want to add to it."  Skjei made a point of including Notre Dame star Mario Lucia as one of the Minnesotans. His dad Don Lucia coaches Reilly and Shea at the U.
...The diminuitive Rocco Grimaldi, generously listed at 5'6," appears to be a lock to make the squad, after being cut in 2010 and hobbled by a lame knee in 2011. "It's nice," he said, exhaling. "It's been a long road, finally good to be here, to go overseas. I can't remember the last time the world juniors was overseas (2008 Czech Republic), obviously something special being in Russia, I've never been there before, should be fun, should be a good atmosphere, obviously we've got a pretty good team, hopefully we can do something special." Grimaldi speaks in non-stop staccato bursts, not unlike the way he plays.   A bowling ball of dynamic speed and energy Grimaldi is currently on a line with Miller and the 5'9" John Gaudreau--the captain and two Lilliputians.  Housley breaks into a smile discussing their skills and effectiveness, even though there haven't been any legitimate scrimmages to date, you can already pencil in that troika as a line you will see facing the Swedes Thursday in Helsinki if you tune into NHL Network at lunch time. As for little Rocco's knee, did he have any reservations? "Not any more, at first I did, but now that I'm more comfortable with the team and having these practices, I'm good, good to go." He and Seth Jones are buddies from time on various national teams, and he was an informal tour guide when Seth visited North Dakota, Seth's first choice if went the NCAA route.  "I took him to some classes, showed him the rink, but didn't put any pressure on him." Seth, as most of your readers know, opted for major junior, playing for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Seth is proud to be playing in "the Dub."
...Housley on Seth after seeing him in these last 4 practices which contained a ton of short games in tiny spaces. "He covers SO much range with his body, even for a big man he handles the puck really very well in tight areas."

In the dozens of interviews conducted about the team's chances at this year's WJC, Johansson said the goal was the gold medal game, the players are united in their quest: gold.

Newsy notes from Westchester, Practice 2

USA forward Stefan Noesen left camp last night as the IIHF ruled him ineligible for the 2013 World Juniors, honoring the suspension he received from the Ontario Hockey League while playing for the Plymouth Whalers. "We don't feel the process is equitable," said USA Hockey director Dave Ogrean, but the suspension sticks, and now there will be only 1 more forward cut from the team... 

Perhaps the least likely forward to be cut is sniper Alex Galchenyuk, a Russian American born in Milwaukee, raised in Moscow, and has lived all over the world, following his father's hockey playing career.  Alex was drafted 3rd overall in last year's draft, and that was following a knee injuyry that cost him a large chunk of the 2011-12 season.  The whispers among the scouts is that he easily could have gone first overall...

The real dream maker/breaker drama will come from the defense corps, specifically, the left handed defensemen.  Patrick Sieloff, Brady Skjei ("Shea"), Matt Grzelcyk, Shane Gostisbehere and Mike Reilly are in a dogfight for 3 spots.  They are clever puck-moving defensemen, not unlike their head coach Phil Housley, and two from this list will probably be sent home from Helsinki on December 22, victims of the numbers game, with Christmas at home representing a sad consolation...

Seth Jones has been the #1 media draw here in Westchester, including a magazine photo shoot which cost him his lunch half hour with the club. The beginning of a long career of sacrifice to feed the media machine...

In attendance, for the first practice: Bob Carpenter, Craig Patrick, Derek Stepan, Mark Messier, Jim Schoenfeld, Mike Sullivan, Jim Gorden. Nice to have a version of hockey to observe. 19 year olds skating top speed, all extremely fit and super motivated to make this squad.  Most entertaining drill was the mini 2 on 2, players into boxed in the corner of the rink, goals at right angles, losing team forced to do pushups. Battle royale...

Quick look at Team USA

The media credential list on display at the MSG/NYRangers practice facility in Tarrytown, New York looked like a Who's Who of sportswriters (Klein from the Times, Kwak and Hackel from Sports Illustrated). And why not?  The media capital of the world has not shortage of hockey specialists, and the Rangers practice facility is on everyone's GPS favorites.  And this collection of American prospects is a worth all 4 looks: Sunday, Monday (x2) and Tuesday, starting with super prospect Seth Jones. He is one of 3 right shooting defensemen that expect to have lengthy NHL careers: Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg, 9th overall pick in 2012) and Connor Murphy (Phoenix 20th overall in 2011).

The pace was furious, the kids provided excellent sound bites, and there was a bit of news.  Despite a dubious performance at last year's WJC and a recent hip injury, the starting goaltending job is John Gibson's to lose. The Pittsburgh native is a second round pick of Pittsburgh.  There is a 6'5" octopus from Providence College named Jon Gillies that is supposed to be lights out, great stats for mediocre team.

More items from tomorrow...big shoot day for NHL

Travel Prep

It's sweat time for my Visa and Passport. I'm waiting for the Courier to arrive from The Sports Network (TSN) in Toronto with my precious travel documents. The first two applications were rejected--this Visa business has a higher degree of difficulty than normal because my request to the Russian Consulate was made by a Canadian outfit (TSN) and I am American. Here's what I've learned: You must go to the Russian Consulate in the country that is sponsoring you, and 2) don't print out your Visa application.  There is a link to type out and send your file electronically to the designated Consulate, you assign a date as to when the hard copy will arrive with your picture and your signature. I was told by the incredibly efficient Larisa in Toronto that my third attempt was indeed the charm, but must now wait for the documents to return from Canada via FEDEX. Larisa is managing the travel documents of several dozens personnel making this trip, and she still makes everyone feel that they are being serviced personally.

The destination is Ufa, Russia, technically the capital of Bashkortistan, one of the satellite republics Russia, formerly of the Soviet Union.  It's a two hour flight due East of Moscow, an 11 hour time difference from NYC; Noon here is 11 pm there. It's a heavily wooded area located in the southern Ural mountains near a couple of rivers and most importantly, it's C-O-L-D.

I have purchased another set of long underwear, a water bottle that contains it's own filter, and two A.C. adapters.  Once the travel docs arrive I should be good to go. Oh, I need to get my skates sharpened because there will be ice.  Departure day is on Mayan Doomsday, so I'm curious what will be the state of planet earth when I arrive in Moscow.  This has all the makings of an excellent adventure.