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Phantoms’ Olympic predictions are predictable
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
This year’s Youngstown Phantoms are represented by five nations. Not surprisingly, there are varied opinions flying around the locker room as to which nation will win the gold medal in the Winter Olympics hockey tournament that begins Wednesday in Sochi, Russia.
“Sweden,” said captain Alfred Larsson from Malmo, Sweden.
“Canada,” said defenseman Bo Pellah from Burnaby, British Columbia.
“Russia,” said forward Maxim Letunov from Moscow.
“Obviously, USA is going to win gold,” said forward Kyle Connor of Shelby Township. Mich.
Obviously, national pride weighs heavily when factoring gold medal chances. (Defenseman Lukas Klok of the Czech Republic is the other international player).
Canada defeated USA in the gold medal game four years ago in Vancouver in a NHL rink, and Larsson makes an interesting argument why European teams might do better this time. The Sochi tournament is being played on Olympic-sized ice which is 15 feet wider than NHL rinks.
“I think European teams have a big advantage because [the players] from those countries played on it growing up,” the second-year Phantom said. “Sweden is one of those countries — I think they have a really good shot.
“I think if you’ve grown up playing on the Olympic-sized ice, it’s easier to go back and play.”
Assistant coach Brad Patterson, a Canadian who played professionally in England and Italy, says the wider space between the boards makes a difference.
“There are aspects of the game that are a lot different — penalty kill, power play,” Patterson said. “Things here that are very north-south [goal to goal] tend to go [east-west on Olympic ice].
“There is a lot more freedom because it’s wider.”
Patterson said NHL players are so skilled that they should be able to adapt quickly.
“If you took our guys and put them on the Olympic sheet, there would be a huge transition,” Patterson said of players ages 18-20 playing to earn college scholarships. “It would be drastically different.
“NHL guys ... are so good that they should be able to make plays when there is [more] time and space.”
Connor, who has played in two European tournaments, said the extra space is harder on defenders.
“Personally, I like it because it’s wider,” the Phantoms’ leading scorer said. “It helps with the power play. You have more time and I feel you can get more speed. It helps a fast-paced team.
“With the ice so big, it really favors the guys who can move their feet.”
However, Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen thinks there won’t be a huge difference between teams because European coaches have incorporated NHL methods.
“Their game has adapted, kind of taken the form of our game in a lot of ways,” said the third-year head coach from Chicago. “A lot of the coaches over there are guys who have worked in the NHL or various leagues around the U.S. and Canada.
“So I think the European style is slowly becoming the North American style. I don’t see it as being as big a factor as everyone is making it out to be.”
No one is more excited to see the sights from Sochi than Letunov, who is spending his third season in North America.
“I’m very excited about it,” Letunov said. “I’d love to go to Sochi, I think it’s a great city.
“[The Olympics are] a really good opportunity [to show] what Russia looks like,” Letunov said. “There’s a lot of different ways that [are portrayed] in movies. I think it’s a great opportunity to see how beautiful [Russia] is.”
Larsson, Letunov and Pellah expect to hear from their American teammates once the games begin.
“The guys always give me a hard time about being Canadian,” said Pellah who joined the Phantoms in January after a trade. “They’re always saying the Americans are going to win the Olympics. But we’re just going to have to see.
“I think Canada is going to take [gold],” said Pellah, who predicted that Sweden and Russia also would medal.
Patterson agreed.
Noreen and assistant coach Michael Zucker predicted Canada, USA and Sweden will finish in the top three.
“I’m going to try and watch as many games as I can, at least [with] TIVO,” said Noreen, noting that the nine-hour time difference translates into early morning hockey games.
“The best hockey I’ve ever seen in my life was the [2010] Olympics,” Noreen said. “I thought it was great. I’m not the biggest fan of it not being amateurs playing in it. But as far as quality of hockey, it’s not going to get any better.”
Zucker, a New Jersey native, said the staff is aware of how much these games mean to their players.
“We’ll make time to see them, even change the schedule around,” Zucker said. “I think the kids will enjoy watching those games.”
Larsson believes Russia and Canada will finish behind Sweden in the medal round.
Connor went way out on a limb to predict Sweden and Russia finishing behind the U.S.
What about Canada?
“I don’t think they’ll be able to crack the top three,” Connor said.
Letunov, who said Canada is considered Russia’s top rival in hockey, showed diplomatic skills.
“I think the guys will be giving me a little hard time [about Russia], but that’s OK,” Letunov said. “I’m going to cheer for Russia, obviously, but my second team will be USA because it’s my third year here and I like their style of play.”