Lavi named Olympic Coach!

Hurricanes Coach Peter Laviolette was named as the Head Coach of the United States Olympic hockey team for the 2006 games in Turino, Italy. The 40-year old was also the coach of Team USA for the 2004 and 2005 IIHF World Championships. Lavi was a player on the 1988 US Olympic team (the only Division III player to make the squad) and he was captain of the 1994 Olympic team.
Under the direction of the late Herb Brooks, the 2002 Olympic team took home the silver medal. We're all hoping that Lavi can improve on that.
It's way too early to even speculate about who will make the squad, but there's a good chance that fellow Hurricane Erik Cole (Oswego, NY) will be given serious consideration.

Here's a list of players who have been invited to the Orientation Camp, which will be held Sept. 5 - 8 in Colorado Springs, CO. (obtained from usahockey.com)

2005 United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Birthplace NHL Team
GOALTENDERS (4)
Ty Conklin 6-0 (183) 180 (82) 5/30/76 L Anchorage, Alaska Edmonton Oilers
Rick DiPietro 5-11 (180) 185 (84) 9/19/81 R Winthrop, Mass. New York Islanders
Robert Esche 6-1 (185) 210 (95) 1/22/78 L Utica, N.Y. Philadelphia Flyers
Ryan Miller 6-2 (188) 166 (75) 7/17/80 L East Lansing, Mich. Buffalo Sabres

DEFENSEMEN (14)
Bryan Berard 6-2 (188) 220 (100) 5/5/77 L Woonsocket, R.I. Free Agent
Mark Eaton 6-2 (188) 212 (96) 5/6/77 L Wilmington, Del. Nashville Predators
Hal Gill 6-7 (201) 255 (116) 4/6/75 L Concord, Mass. Boston Bruins
Tim Gleason 6-1 (185) 217 (98) 1/29/83 L Southfield, Mich. Los Angeles Kings
Derian Hatcher 6-5 (196) 235 (107) 6/4/72 L Sterling Heights, Mich. Philadelphia Flyers
Jordan Leopold 6-1 (185) 205 (93) 8/3/80 L Golden Valley, Minn. Calgary Flames
John-Michael Liles 5-10 (178) 185 (84) 11/25/80 L Zionsville, Ind. Colorado Avalanche
Paul Martin 6-1 (185) 190 (86) 5/5/81 L Minneapolis, Minn. New Jersey Devils
Aaron Miller 6-4 (193) 218 (99) 8/11/71 R Buffalo, N.Y. Los Angeles Kings
Brian Pothier 6-0 (183) 198 (90) 4/15/77 R New Bedford, Mass. Ottawa Senators
Brian Rafalski 5-9 (175) 190 (86) 9/28/73 R Dearborn, Mich. New Jersey Devils
Andy Roach 5-11 (180) 181 (82) 8/22/73 R Mattawan, Mich. St. Louis Blues
Ryan Suter 6-1 (185) 183 (83) 1/21/85 L Madison, Wis. Nashville Predators
David Tanabe 6-1 (185) 195 (88) 7/19/80 R Minneapolis, Minn. Phoenix Coyotes

FORWARDS (21)
Jason Blake 5-10 (178) 180 (82) 9/2/73 L Moorhead, Minn. New York Islanders
Dustin Brown 6-0 (183) 195 (88) 11/4/84 R Ithaca, N.Y. Los Angeles Kings
Erik Cole 6-2 (188) 200 (91) 11/6/78 L Oswego, N.Y. Carolina Hurricanes
Matt Cullen 6-2 (188) 218 (99) 11/2/76 L Virginia, Minn. Carolina Hurricanes
Chris Drury 5-10 (178) 180 (82) 8/20/76 R Trumbull, Conn. Buffalo Sabres
Brian Gionta 5-7 (170) 175 (79) 1/18/79 R Rochester, N.Y. New Jersey Devils
Scott Gomez 5-11 (180) 200 (91) 12/23/79 L Anchorage, Alaska New Jersey Devils
Bill Guerin 6-2 (188) 210 (95) 11/9/70 R Wilbraham, Mass. Dallas Stars
Jeff Halpern 6-0 (183) 201 (91) 7/3/76 R Potomac, Md. Washington Capitals
Chris Higgins 5-11 (180) 192 (87) 6/2/83 L Smithtown, N.Y. Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Kesler 6-1 (185) 195 (88) 8/31/84 R Livonia, Mich. Vancouver Canucks
Mike Knuble 6-3 (191) 228 (103) 7/4/72 R Toronto, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers
Steve Konowalchuk 6-2 (188) 207 (94) 11/11/72 L Salt Lake City, Utah Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Malone 6-4 (193) 215 (98) 12/1/79 L Pittsburgh, Penn. Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Modano 6-3 (191) 205 (93) 6/7/70 L Livonia, Mich. Dallas Stars
Zach Parise 5-11 (180) 186 (84) 7/28/84 L Minneapolis, Minn. New Jersey Devils
Richard Park 5-11 (180) 190 (86) 5/27/76 R Seoul, South Korea Minnesota Wild
Mark Parrish 5-11 (180) 200 (91) 2/2/77 R Edina, Minn. New York Islanders
Brian Rolston 6-2 (188) 210 (95) 2/21/73 L Flint, Mich. Minnesota Wild
Keith Tkachuk 6-2 (188) 225 (102) 3/28/72 L Melrose, Mass. St. Louis Blues
Doug Weight 5-11 (180) 200 (91) 1/21/71 L Warren, Mich. St. Louis Blues

Please note that I cut and pasted this chart. Don't come yelling at me if some of the "team" listings are wrong. I know, for example, that Richard Park isn't with the Wild anymore.