Last year, Team USA didn't win a game in the IIHF World Championship until they defeated Kazakhstan 10-0 in the relegation round as they lost to Germany, Denmark and Finland in the preliminary round - all by one goal and two in overtime.
Just one game into the tournament and it's already a different story as they defeated Austria 5-1 in their first game in the preliminary round of the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. What's even more impressive is they were lead by some of the up-and-comers in USA Hockey.
The Americans caught some flack when their preliminary roster was announced as it was chockfull of players with zero experience at the men's level, but was a testament to the strength of USA Hockey's commitment to developing it's players for international competition and today's win was a sign that it wasn't as bad an idea as many of their critics claimed.
Nine players on this 25-player roster - Kevin Shattenkirk, Blake Wheeler, Jack Skille, Mike Brown, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Cam Fowler, Jake Gardiner and Jack Campbell - have represented Team USA at the U17, U18 and/or U20 level, but this is their first time on the Men's National Team and eight players - Craig Smith, Nick Palmieri, Mark Fayne, Andy Miele, Chris Porter, Tim Stapleton, Clay Wilson and Paul Gaustad - are making their Team USA debut.
That means only eight have been here before and one of them - Chris Kreider - turned 20 today, but what a birthday it was.
The Boston College forward and New York Rangers prospect got USA on the board first in his second year with the Men's National Team. Atlanta Thrasher and former Minnesota Golden Gopher, Blake Wheeler quickly made it 2-0. Marco Pewal pulled Austria within one in the 2nd period, but Yan Stastny, former Fighting Irish from Notre Dame who currently plays for Moscow in the KHL, jammed away in the crease and made it 3-1. Former BU Terrier and current St. Louis Blue, Kevin Shattenkirk made it 4-1 with a wrister from the circle and Wisconsin Badger and Nashville Predators prospect, Craig Smith, made it a 5-1 final with a power play goal late in the 3rd.
Both Kreider and Smith have yet to play an NHL game and both have publicly announced their commitment to stay at their respective schools for their junior seasons, but they were arguably two of the best players on the ice for Team USA. Kreider was named Player of the Game and I'm sure Smith wasn't too far behind him on the ballot.
It's just one game and no one's putting Team USA on the podium just yet, but there is no denying that the youth movement is on at USA Hockey and it's starting to pay dividends.
They play Norway on Monday at 10am ET on TSN and Versus.
Julie
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