Earlier this week at EZO Romanshorn, Team USA defeated Switzerland 4-0 in a pre-tournament exhibition game. Cruz Lucius (Grant, Minn.) led the way with a goal and two assists, while Dylan Silverstein (Calabasas, Calif.) and Arthur Smith (Farmington, Conn.) combined in goal for the shutout. The tune-up allowed players to get over any initial nervousness they may have had entering the event.
“We didn’t have that in 2016,” Paluch explained. “The exhibition game helped with putting on the USA jersey for the first time and playing international competition.”
Paluch, of Bowling Green, Ohio, is joined by assistants Guy Gosselin of Grafton, Wisconsin, and Kevin Reiter of Plymouth, Michigan. Paluch and Gosselin are both USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM) regional managers, while Reiter is in his seventh season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and his third as the director of player personnel.
Each year, hundreds of players take part in USA Hockey’s National Player Development Camp for 15-year-olds, and must register with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to be considered for the Olympic team.
This year’s roster is comprised of 17 players from 10 states, including five from Minnesota, three from Michigan and two from Florida. Paluch acknowledges the task of narrowing down hundreds of players to the final 17 is challenging, but in a good way.
“We saw that last time [in 2016], and had a team that was able to win gold,” he said. “We feel the process this year was even tougher.”
Whereas the 2016 squad featured size and strength, particularly on defense, this year’s team emphasizes quickness.
“Physically, we had some size on the back line,” Paluch said of the gold-medal team. “I think our forwards matchup is pretty similar to what we had in 2016. In general, it’s a quick group with a good set of hockey sense and intelligence and the ability to make plays. That’s the kind of team we’re trying to mold when we start the Games.”
Since most of the players are being exposed to international competition for the first time, Paluch wants to ensure they take in the whole experience in addition to competing.
“That balance is very important,” he explained. “Players need to be able to enjoy the experience. As a staff, that’s the atmosphere we really want to create.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge in an event like this is bringing different players from around the country together in a relatively short time. For Paluch, it’s one of the more thrilling aspects of coaching an Olympic team.
“We take the approach of selecting good hockey players, and we want to put them in a good frame of mind and let them play,” he said. “Generally, it’s their first opportunity to represent their country. Ultimately, we want them to understand what that means off and on the ice in a team culture.”
Team USA was able to accomplish that successfully in 2016, so winning another gold medal this year would be especially gratifying.
“I think it’s pretty special when players can come together and achieve something,” Paluch said. “But we certainly understand there are so many good hockey players representing Canada, Russia, Finland, Switzerland and Denmark in this tournament. We just want to be ready to compete. We do have a team that’s capable.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
