Strengths
With an elite group of forwards and good puck-handling
defencemen, the U.S. should have no problems scoring goals.
The team possesses plenty of speed, which should help them
on the larger international ice surface. Their biggest
strength, however, is playing on home soil in front of a
patriotic crowd with high expectations. This could be a big
factor in the elimination round.
Weaknesses
The goaltending trio of Richter, Dunham, and Barrasso
have been far from dominant this season. Both Richter and
Barrasso have won Stanley Cups in the past, but their best
days are behind them now. The U.S. is also lacking in
stay-at-home, physical defencemen. Aaron Miller and Chris
Chelios may have to defend a whole lot of two-on-one
breakaways.
History
| NO. |
 PLAYER |
 Pos. |
 Ht. |
 Wt. |
 Birth
Date |
 Team |
| 1 |
Mike
Dunham |
G |
6'3 |
200 |
6/1/72 |
Nashville
(NHL) |
| 2 |
Brian
Leetch |
D |
6'1 |
200 |
3/3/68 |
NY
Rangers (NHL) |
| 3 |
Brian
Rafalski |
D |
5'9 |
200 |
9/28/73 |
New
Jersey (NHL) |
| 5 |
Tom
Poti |
D |
6'3 |
215 |
3/22/77 |
Edmonton
(NHL) |
| 6 |
Phil
Housley |
D |
5'10 |
185 |
3/9/64 |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| 7 |
Keith
Tkachuk |
LW |
6'2 |
225 |
3/28/72 |
St.
Louis (NHL) |
| 9 |
Mike
Modano |
C |
6'3 |
205 |
6/7/70 |
Dallas
(NHL) |
| 10 |
John
LeClair |
LW |
6'3 |
228 |
7/5/69 |
Philadelphia
(NHL) |
| 11 |
Tony
Amonte |
RW |
6'0 |
191 |
8/2/70 |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| 12 |
Brian
Rolston |
C |
6'2 |
205 |
2/21/73 |
Boston
(NHL) |
| 13 |
Bill
Guerin |
RW |
6'2 |
210 |
11/9/70 |
Boston
(NHL) |
| 16 |
Brett
Hull |
RW |
5'11 |
203 |
8/9/64 |
Detroit
(NHL) |
| 18 |
Chris
Drury |
LW |
5'10 |
185 |
8/20/76 |
Colorado
(NHL) |
| 20 |
Gary
Suter |
D |
6' |
215 |
6/24/64 |
San
Jose (NHL) |
| 24 |
Chris
Chelios |
D |
6'1 |
190 |
1/25/62 |
Detroit
(NHL) |
| 28 |
Adam
Deadmarsh |
RW |
6'0 |
205 |
5/10/75 |
Los
Angeles (NHL) |
| 30 |
Tom
Barrasso |
G |
6'3 |
210 |
3/31/65 |
Carolina
(NHL) |
| 33 |
Aaron
Miller |
D |
6'4 |
200 |
8/11/71 |
Los
Angeles (NHL) |
| 35 |
Mike
Richter |
G |
5'11 |
185 |
9/22/66 |
NY
Rangers (NHL) |
| 39 |
Doug
Weight |
C |
5'11 |
200 |
1/21/71 |
St.
Louis (NHL) |
| 48 |
Scott
Young |
RW |
6'0 |
201 |
10/1/67 |
St.
Louis (NHL) |
| 61 |
Mike
York |
C |
5'10 |
185 |
1/3/78 |
NY
Rangers (NHL) |
| 97 |
Jeremy
Roenick |
C |
6'0 |
205 |
1/17/70 |
Philadelphia
(NHL) |
Probably best known for their trashing of a hotel room in
Nagano after losing to the Czech Republic. The U.S. has won
gold medals in both previous Winter Games held on home soil,
but hasn't been back on the podium since its 1980 Gold
medal.
Flames Players/Prospects
None, after Craig Conroy failed to make the roster. Phil
Housley, Gary Sutter, and Brett Hull have all played for
Calgary in the past.
Keys to Victory
The U.S. will have to be committed to team defence if it
wants to be competitive in the Olympic tournament. Forwards
like Mike Modano, Doug Weight, and Jeremy Roenick will have
to help out the smaller defensemen on the team, especially
in the defensive zone. The U.S. also needs a goaltender to
step up and be #1. Mike Richter has had international
success in the past (1996 World Championship), while Tom
Barrasso is a two-time Stanley Cup winner. If one of these
two keepers gets hot, the Americans should be a medal
contender.
Â
Team United States
