As General Manager Brian Burke built the United States Olympic roster, he intentionally passed on aging stars for younger, faster players. Coincidently, he managed to compile an impressive group of Ryans.
The seven players who share that name on the American roster have been key contributors to the team in the tournament, which culminates today with the gold-medal game against Canada. Players with the first or last name
Ryan have combined for five goals and eight assists, and Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, leads all goaltenders in the tournament with a .954 save percentage. He has a shutout streak of 111 minutes 38 seconds
and has quickly established himself as the most recognizable Ryan on the team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ryan Malone, also having a stellar tournament with three goals and two assists, is reunited with his former Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Ryan Whitney. Whitney,
a defenseman, and Bobby Ryan (1 goal, 1 assist) are also teammates on the Anaheim Ducks.
Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, not to be confused with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Phil Kessel (1 goal, 1 assist), scored an empty netter to put Canada away, 5-3, last Sunday.
The Nashville Predators’ Ryan Suter (4 assists) and Ryan Callahan of the Rangers (1 assist) have also made key contributions.
As if the plethora of Ryans wasn’t enough to fluster coaches, two players on the roster share another last name: the defensemen Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues (one goal) and Jack Johnson of the Los Angeles Kings (one assist), not to be confused with the surfing singer.
Then there is the Penguins’ Brooks Orpik, who played with Malone and Whitney in Pittsburgh. He was named after the legendary coach Herb Brooks, who led the 1980 team on a gold medal run that included the Miracle on Ice victory against the Soviet Union.
Whether their names are Ryan, Johnson or Brooks, one word is certain to be on all of their minds during their rematch with the Canadians: gold.