By Brian Pinelli
Special to USAHockey.com
Team USA forward Nate Thompson and defenseman Matt Carle share plenty in common – they are both 29, grew up playing together in Anchorage, Alaska, and are both members of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning. On Saturday, in Team USA’s 5-3 victory over Austria at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Helsinki, the two longtime friends both wore the “A” on their jersey as alternate captains of the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Thompson spoke about their longtime friendship and skating together for many years: “Growing up, we played on every youth hockey team together and then it was pretty cool to end up on the same NHL team and now to get a chance to play over here both as alternate captains…it’s definitely something I won’t forget.”
“We haven’t played together on a U.S. team before so it’s something else we can put in the memory banks,” Carle said. “This is a special treat to be able to come over here and be a part of the leadership group for this team.”
In Saturday’s contest against Austria, the U.S. gave up two goals in the first six minutes, but kept its composure and scored four goals in the second period en route to victory. Both Thompson and Carle are confident that the team will improve in today’s game versus Latvia, which dropped its opener, 6-0, to Russia, on Saturday.
“I think we have to have a better start obviously,” Thompson said. “I think every game is going to get tougher. It’s just a matter of coming out ready, being prepared and playing a full 60 minutes.”
Carle, who hasn’t worn the red, white and blue since helping the U.S. earn its first-ever gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2004, echoed similar thoughts.
“Obviously, the start is going to be huge for us,” Carle said. “We want to come out and play our game, try to establish a forecheck, get the puck down low and create chances.”
Brian Burke, who as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group helped assemble the 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team, is here in Helsinski and offered his assessment of the team’s opening game against.
“We looked rusty, it looked like it was our first game and we had a couple of breakdowns which led to the first two goals,” Burke said. “What I liked was that our team didn’t get rattled. We stayed with the game plan and were successful.
“I think our D is probably our strong point and if you asked 20 NHL general managers, that’s what they would tell you. But I think our forwards are underrated. I think some of these young forwards are going to take a step forward in this tournament.”
Faceoff against Latvia at Hartwall Arena is at 8:15 p.m. local time/1:15 p.m. EST as the U.S. seeks their second victory of the tournament.
The game will be streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra and will be shown on delay on NBC Sports Network at 1:15 a.m. EDT on May 6 in the United States.
When: 1:15 p.m. EDT
Where: Helsinki, Finland
TV: Delay on NBC Sports Network (May 6, 1:15 a.m. EDT)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Live Stats: IIHF.com
Tag(s): News