United States vs. Canada

Gold Medal Men’s Hockey Game, today, noon, Channel 4.

Matchup at a Glance

Even though the players from Canada and the United States were raised on a North American style of hockey, they’ll have to contest this game under international rules. Among the differences are a rink that is 15 feet wider than the NHL and the absence of the red line, which allows for longer passes.

The U.S. has been more willing and able to play the wide-open style, while Canada took a little longer to adjust. The United States wants to keep the puck moving freely. Canada would rather use its big forwards such as Eric Lindros to bump and bruise the Americans. Canada has more scoring threats on its roster, while the United States has relied primarily on the line of John LeClair, Mike Modano and Brett Hull.

U.S. Coach Herb Brooks is worried about Canada’s Mario Lemieux on the power play. Both teams can be confident in their goaltenders, since America’s Mike Richter (New York Rangers) and Canada’s Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) have won the Stanley Cup.

Rosters

United States

Name, Team

Forwards

Tony Amonte, Chicago

Adam Deadmarsh, Kings

Chris Drury, Colorado

Bill Guerin, Boston

Brett Hull, Detroit

John LeClair, Philadelphia

Mike Modano, Dallas

Jeremy Roenick, Philadelphia

Brian Rolston, Boston

Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis

Doug Weight, St. Louis

Mike York, NY Rangers

Scott Young, St. Louis

Defenseman

Chris Chelios, Detroit

Phil Housley, Chicago

Brian Leetch, NY Rangers

Aaron Miller, Kings

Brian Rafalski, New Jersey

Tom Poti, Edmonton

Gary Suter, San Jose

Goaltenders

Tom Barrasso, Carolina

Mike Dunham, Nashville

Mike Richter, NY Rangers

Coach: Herb Brooks

Canada

Name, Team

Forwards

Theo Fleury, NY Rangers

Simon Gagne, Philadelphia

Jarome Iginla, Calgary

Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks

Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh

Eric Lindros, NY Rangers

Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas

Owen Nolan, San Jose

Michael Peca, NY Rangers

Joe Sakic, Colorado

Brendan Shanahan, Detroit

Ryan Smyth, Edmonton

Steve Yzerman, Detroit

Defenseman

Rob Blake, Colorado

Eric Brewer, Edmonton

Adam Foote, Colorado

Ed Jovanovski, Vancouver

Al MacInnis, St. Louis

Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey

Chris Pronger, St. Louis

Goaltenders

Ed Belfour, Dallas

Martin Brodeur, New Jersey

Curtis Joseph, Toronto

Coach: Pat Quinn

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Confusing Allegiances

SALT LAKE CITY--Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman are U.S. citizens, but they will play for Canada today in the Olympic gold medal men’s hockey game.

Brett Hull was born in Belleville, Canada, and Adam Deadmarsh was born in Trail, Canada, but both forwards will play for the U.S. in today’s game at the E-Center.

Confusing, eh?

To sum it up:

Many Canadian-born hockey players who play for U.S.-based teams become U.S. citizens, primarily for tax reasons.

But Lemieux and Yzerman can’t switch allegiances and play for the U.S.

According to International Ice Hockey Federation rules, “Once a player has represented a country in any IIHF championship or in the Olympic competition or in the qualification to these competitions he will not be eligible to represent another country.”

Lemieux and Yzerman played for Canada in international tournaments when they were in junior hockey, before they reached the NHL level, so they can’t switch jerseys.

Deadmarsh was born in Canada to a Canadian father and American mother, giving him dual citizenship. He played for Canada’s under-18 team in the 1992 Pacific Cup championship but never played for the junior national team. He joined the U.S. junior national team in 1993 and has been a mainstay ever since.

Hull, son of Bobby Hull, also was born in Canada but had dual citizenship because of an American mother. Brett tried out for the Canadian junior team but was told he wasn’t good enough, yet the U.S. hockey program found room for him and was delighted to have him. He played for the victorious U.S. team in the 1996 World Cup of hockey and again represented the U.S. at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

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How They’ll Skate

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