Advertisement

USA Hockey mistakenly tells 67-year-old Canadian he made Olympic roster

When the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team was announced after the Winter Classic, the players were informed they made the cut around the same time. The hope was to cut down on leaks and social media declarations before the big reveal.

So Jim Johansson, USA Hockey’s director of hockey operations, and his staff sent text messages to the players who made the Sochi 2014 team on Wednesday before the announcement in Ann Arbor. One of those players was Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, who played for the Americans in the Vancouver Olympics as well.

He didn't get the message.

But Gord Miller of Canadian sports network TSN explains who actually did.

Yes, the U.S. Olympic management reached out to a 67-year-old Canadian to congratulate him on his selection to the team.

Johansson said Kesler has two numbers, and that the one for Canada had changed. "I had one text exchange with a Canadian guy that had a sense of humor to him," said Johansson, "basically a 67-year-old guy who can't skate but willing to serve 'his' country by suiting up for the USA."

But he shouldn’t be so self-deprecating: If he can play center, the Americans might consider him. Or he showed up in one of Brian Burke’s player personnel dreams

J