Team USA Forwards Part one

Let's start at the top. Zach Parise, number 9.  Notice how his hair looks EXACTLY the same every time you see him.  It's like, spray glued so the part in the front is always sticking up at an angle.  Craziness.

The 26 year old Minnesotan plays for the Devils.  And well, I'd probably like him better if he didn't.  I'm prepared to go on record stating that I'm pretty biased toward him.  I mean, one: he's a devil.  And two...he's a devil.  Aside from all this, he's apparently a darn good hockey player and I suppose he's pretty good at scoring too.  (Maybe it's the 61 points this season, I don't know.)  I unfortunately had to witness some of this talent firsthand at my very first Penguins game at Mellon arena this year.  Three assists in a 4-0 win to give Brodeur his record shutout number of 104.  Painful I tell you, painful.  Hopefully Zachy will score ON Brodeur this time.

Number 12, Ryan Malone.  Whom I miss very dearly.

Ok, so I was going to put everyone in their Team USA Jerseys.  Look how long that lasted.  I just really wanted to see Bugsy in a Pens sweater again.  As much as I love this character, I can admit that he's a little inconsistent.  When he's hot, he's HOT.  But when he's not, he's really not.  He's great at cleaning up the garbage in the crease and working hard to get the puck in the net.  Also he has a fabulous future as a reporter (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wnE5maHQco).

Former K-wing, Jaime Langenbrunner.  Number 15.

I looked hard for a shot of Jamie in a K-wings sweater with no success.  Apparently noone took pictures of him at all the season he was here.  Mostly I just like to tell myself he went straight from being a K-wing fifteen years ago to Captain of Team USA Hockey and skipped this whole New Jersey Devils bit.  Solid player, solid leadership, and solid veteran presence on the ice (which I feel that USA needs some help on being without Sir Billy G).

Joe Pavelski, number 16. Sharks forward.

SMILE JOE!  Apparently not.  I think it's because he's sad his teammates all left him to go play for Canada.  Poor guy is gonna have to face a whole line of teammates tomorrow.  I hope he gets in some big hits.  :)  Not that he really does those.  But it'd be cute.  In all seriousness though, I hope he does well.  I've never had reason to dislike his playing (for good or bad reasons) and if he does well I'm guessing that'll make Patti happy (Go Sharks!).

Wearing number 17, is Ryan Kesler.  I'll be honest, I really know next to nothing about him.

       

He is, however, a Michigan native.  So cool!  But the Pens rarely see him as he plays for the Canucks.  So I hope the Vancouverites enjoy seeing him play some more.

Donning sweater numbers 23 and 24 are a pair of Rangers.  I know I'm not supposed to like the Rangers, but I kind of do. (Though our last game against them made it pretty easy to dislike them for a while.)  Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan.

 

 

Chris Drury is apparently also a Little League World Champion.  Awesomeness.  He is also one of the many many NHL captains/alternate captains on Olympic rosters.  Ryan Callahan is Ryan number 3 (so far) on Team USA.  Also wears an A for the Rangers.  I haven't been hearing as much about these two this season as I thought I would.  They haven't been terrible, but Ryan Callahan has certainly underperformed expectations.  Who knows...maybe this is just what they need to pick things up.  Let's hope so.

Part two will be up very soon!