Yahoo Sports From the Archive: "Catch Them if You Can," Remembering 2016's Team North America
In 2016, the World Cup of Hockey brought out one of the most exciting teams ever assembled.
To include more Canadian and American players who wouldn't make their countries' national teams at the tournament, a Team North America was created for 23-and-under players.
The star power on Team North America was immense. Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Dylan Larkin, Johnny Gaudreau, Aaron Ekblad, Nathan MacKinnon, Morgan Reilly — at risk of naming the whole roster, there were so many All-Stars, captains and franchise cornerstones on the roster.
Once they took the ice, the North Americans proved to be exciting. Their pre-tournament action saw dominant 4-0 and 7-4 wins over Team Europe before the group narrowly lost to the Czech Republic, 3-2. When the games really counted, the team proved just as potent. North America started by crushing Finland, 4-1, and they were the only team to beat Sweden during the group stage in a 4-3 overtime win. But, a Game 2 loss to Russia gave the Russians a head-to-head tie-breaker as Group B's second seed. North America didn't make it to the four-team knockout stage.
Even if the team didn't get to play for medals, the North Americans played some of the most exciting hockey of the tournament. Gaudreau tallied four points in the three games, and so did defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere with four assists from the blue line. Matthews and MacKinnon scored two goals each, while McDavid tallied three assists They were a speedy, electric group whose play exceeded their age on the World Stage.
In memory of Gaudreau, we take the time to remember Team North America with this preview from The Hockey News.
The Hockey News Archive
"Catch Them if You Can" by Matt Larkin
Aug. 12, 2016 / Vo. 70, Issue 3
Can Team North America achieve mere respectability at the World Cup? That question is passé. It’s time to ask if Team North America can win the World Cup. That’s how good the roster of 23-andyounger players looks.
No team can match the speed deployed by GM Peter Chiarelli. North America features the reigning all-star weekend’s fastest skater ever in an all-star skills competition in Dylan Larkin. Add Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathan Drouin, Jack Eichel and Brandon Saad and you have one of the most blindingly fast hockey teams ever assembled.
It’s not as if the North Americans bring all sizzle and no steak. In McDavid, who finished third in the NHL in points per game, they have one of the best players in the tournament. Gaudreau was a top-10 scorer last season. Mark Scheifele was as dominant as any player in the league after the allstar break. Auston Matthews was among USA’s best players at the World Championship. The North Americans boast eight forwards who scored at least 20 goals in 2015-16. That’s as many as the Czechs, Finns and Team Europe have combined.
And how about North America’s blend of size and mobility on defense? Aaron Ekblad is a horse who would’ve cracked Canada’s roster if he were eligible. Shayne Gostisbehere is already an elite puck-mover one season into his NHL career. Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba are towering minuteeaters. Morgan Rielly is a savvy two-way defenseman. Given how fleet this D-corps is, it might be the third best in the field behind Canada’s and Sweden’s starstudded bluelines.
The North Americans’ Achilles heel, the potential embarrassment, was supposed to be goaltending. A year ago, they had no crease candidates even holding down regular NHL gigs. Now, their probable starter, Matt Murray, just equalled a rookie playoff record with 15 wins, guiding the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup. The World Cup stage will be decidedly lower stakes for him. Likely backing him up: John Gibson, who was named to the 2016 All-Star Game and inspired enough confidence in Anaheim for the Ducks to trade Frederik Andersen. Even the third-stringer, Connor Hellebuyck, is a topdrawer prospect, good enough to be the Winnipeg Jets’ No. 1 right now. What was once a weakness looks like a strength.
The closest the North Americans have to a flaw is inexperience. But how much does that matter in a short tournament in which this team has less to lose than any other, save for maybe fellow gimmick team Europe? The kids have a deep, balanced, dynamic roster, packed with high-impact NHLers. Instead of labelling them a sideshow, let’s label them a contender.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER
Jonathan drouin is a supreme playmaker, but don’t sleep on the Tampa Bay Lightning winger’s ability to shoot, especially on the power play. During his QMJHL tenure, 20 of his 77 goals came with the extra man and he scored five of his 11 AHL goals on the power play. Of the 13 goals he’s scored in the NHL, four have come with the man advantage. Are you noticing a trend? Keep an eye on him when the young stars’ team is on the PP.
X-FACTOR
Connor McDavid had the third highest points per game average of any player in the NHL last season and lived up to all the hype. He starts his sophomore season as the leader of Team North America, and could be the difference-maker in tight games between the young guns’ teams and their more experienced foes. McDavid’s ability to control the puck at high speeds is going to torment World Cup clubs who are slow on the back end.
average age years 21.7
average height feet-inches 6-2
average weight pounds 200
average nhl experience games played 154 ■
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