While the 44 players are battling each other for positions on the team, Leaman is pleased with the team feel that is developing, particularly with the way veterans continue to guide newcomers.
“I think within the camp, they look out for each other and help each other and there’s definitely a component of guys who were on the team trying to help new guys,” he said.
Vanbiesbrouck said such challenges should be common among players aspiring for the team.
“You can make it complicated, but it’s really not,” he said. “It’s what competitors do. On every team, there’s always an internal competition in order to achieve and earn, such as to be on the power play, or penalty kill and special teams.”
While they try to show how they can help Team USA at World Juniors, the players who make up the two U.S. teams have been competing for wins all week.
Finland proved to be the tougher opponent in the first three doubleheaders — Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After also beating Sweden, 5-2, in the Showcase opener, Finland has three straight one-goal wins over U.S. teams — two over White and one over Blue. However, USA White responded with an overtime win earlier this morning.
USA Blue has played and beaten Sweden twice and USA White won its game against Sweden.
No games were decided by more than three goals. Four players have produced two-goal games for USA Blue. Tanner Dickinson led offensively in the opening, 4-2 win over Sweden.
Logan Cooley scored twice in the only loss, which came, 7-6, in a shootout with Finland.
Matthew Knies and Chase Yoder led offensively in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over Sweden.
USA White allowed just 15 shots in its only win, 4-1, over Sweden.
“I think it has gone pretty well according to the way we expect it,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “We’re always looking for surprises in who’s going to raise their hand in a short period of time and be a player that we’re going to track hard into the season.”
The selection process will continue when the players go their separate ways for college and junior regular seasons, long after the showcase, but the first on-ice steps of team building are being completed.
“I believe, on behalf of players, that everybody’s goal is to make the team, but not only that, but to make a good team,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “All the elements that come together of being a good teammate and helping each other out, that seems to be the team goal. It takes a personal commitment to that.
“There’s a personal commitment, a team commitment and a, ‘You’re doing something bigger than yourself’ commitment.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
