As always, Patrick's cards, and those of other players, can be purchased through Checkoutmycards.com and Sportsbuy.com. Click on the pictures of the cards to go to COMC and clicking on the links will take you to Sportsbuy.com.
As I have been doing the last week or two, I'll be highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada. Today's player of the day is the last line of defense for the Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas
In keeping with the format change, you can read the player's bio via his wiki.
As I have been doing every day, I will be highlighting a player from Team USA or Team Canada as a player of the day. Today's player from the Nashville Predators and Team USA is one of the best young defensemen in the NHL: Ryan Suter.
Ryan is a consistent, hard checking defensemen for the Nashville Predators. He was taken in the 1st round, 7th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He honed his skills playing for the Wisconsin Badgers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association(WCHA) during the 2003-04 season, his hometown college team. During the lockout season he played for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He played his first NHL season in 2005-06 and was able to pot 16 points in 71 games. Each season his point total increased due to more power play time as he established himself as one of the teams top four defensemen.
Ryan has played for Team USA seven times total. Three times he donned the Red, White and Blue jersey he helped win a gold medal. His first gold came in 2002 at the World Junior Under-17 Hockey Championships. That same year he got another gold at the World Junior Under-18 Hockey Championships. His last gold medal came in 2004 at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Overall he has played in 41 international games and contributed 26 points.
Ryan's, and other players, cards can be purchased through Checkoutmycards.com and Sportsbuy.com. The pictures of the cards will take you to Checkoutmycards, and the links will take you to Sportsbuy.
Each day, I have been highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada leading up to the Vancouver Olympics that has a chance to stand out during the games. Today's player from Team USA is a role player, pain in the butt to play against, and has had much success on the international level: Ryan Kesler.
Ryan was drafted by the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in June 2000. Despite being drafted by Brampton, he chose to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) so that he could later play NCAA college hockey. He played for the USNTDP for 2 years putting up 99 points in 131 games while attending high school and playing against kids that were mostly 2-3 years older than him.
After high school and the USNTDP, he accepted a scholarship to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Central Collegiate Hockey League (CCHL). While with the Buckeyes, he was named the George Burke Most Valuable Freshman by scoring 11 goals and 20 assists to finish fourth on his team in scoring. The following summer he was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks. The following season, 2003-04, he got played in 5 preseason games for the Canucks, but was sent down to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. For most of that season, he split time between the Moose and Canucks, ultimately playing in 28 NHL games his first year. During the lockout he spent the entire season with the Moose, in which he stood out as one of the Canucks best prospects. That season he was named to the AHL's all-star team and finish 3rd in scoring for the Moose.
Kesler joined the Canucks for all 82 games of the 2005-06 season, thus starting his rookie season. In 2006-07 he suffered a torn acetabular labrum and only played in 48 games. Over the course of the 2007-08 season he was able to establish himself as one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. That season he set career highs in goals scored (21) and points (37). During the 2008-09 season he was placed on a line with free agent pick ups' Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin. While playing with them he was able to better his career bests in goals (26), assists (33), and points (59). Those numbers earned Ryan league wide recognition as a Selke Trophy Finalist.
During his career he has also earned two gold medals. The first was at the 2002 World Under 18 Championships held in Piestany. After the Under 18 Championships, he was awarded the Best Player Award, since he was the best player in the tournament. The other being the 2004 World Junior Championships held in Helsinki.
These cards and many more are available through Checkoutmycards.com and Sportsbuy.com. To purchase, either click on the picture card or the link below the cards. The pictures will bring you to Checkoutmycards, and the link will take you to Sportsbuy.
In case you missed it , I will be highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. Today's player, from Team USA and one of the top power forwards in the NHL, Ryan Malone.
With his strength, size, and willingness, Ryan takes the puck hard to the net and is willing to take a beating to screen goalies. He developed these skills by playing against top tier players and by adopting the hard working attitude of his hometown of Pittsburgh. For his junior year of high school he attended and played for Shattuck-St. Mary's. During his senior year of high school he played for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). After high school he played 4 years at St. Cloud State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association(WCHA), where he was on over a point a game pace during his junior and senior years.
Ryan was drafted in the 4th round of the NHL entry draft before going to play for St. Cloud State. He made his professional debut for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2002-03. The following year, he made the Pittsburgh Penguins out of training camp and played in all 81 games while putting up respectable numbers totaling 43 points. During the lockout season he spent time playing in Finland, Italy and Switzerland. After the lockout he came back to beat his NHL rookie point total by 1 point. He has had his career season in 2007-08 when he got 51 points and 103 penalty minutes. That same year he helped the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs by potting 16 points in 20 games. Over the summer of 2008 him and Gary Roberts' rights were traded to Tampa Bay. Ryan signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 28, 2008. He is currently playing for Tampa Bay. At times he placed on a line with Stamkos and St. Louis, which will only help him eclipse his previous career point totals. Playing in the Vancouver Olympics will be Ryan's first taste of international hockey.
In case you missed it , I will be highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. Today's player, from Team USA, is Phil Kessel.
As product of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP), Phil has been able to compete against players that were stronger, faster, older, and had more experience. He played for both the Under-17 and Under-18 teams between 2003 and 2005, while amassing franchise records for goals (104), most points (180), and the most goals in a season (52) whom he shares with Team USA teammate Patrick Kane. It should also be noted that he recorded 62 points in 47 games while playing for Team USA in the World Junior Championships and the Under 18 World Junior Championships.
From there he went on to play with the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHA). While with the Gophers, he was awarded the WCHA rookie of the year, made the WCHA's all rookie team, and helped his stacked Gopher's team win the MacNaughton Cup during the 2005-06 season.
From there he went on to play for the Boston Bruins during the 2006-07 season. He started the season off with the Bruins, but needed a stop in Providence for a rehab stint after undergoing surgery to remove testicular cancer. That same season, he was named to the NHL's all rookie team and won the Masterson Trophy for his dedication to the game of hockey.
At the end of the 2008-09 season it was determined that Phil needed shoulder surgery. But before he could play another game for the Bruins, and over a contract dispute, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2 first and 1 second round picks. He returned to a Leafs team that was unable to put the wins on the board, and instantly added a more offensive punch to their lineup.
As always, Phil's cards and those of many other players can be purchased through Pat's Cards at Sportsbuy.com and Checkoutmycards.com.
Why Joe will succeed at the Olympics: Won a Wisconsin State Hockey Championship while attending Stevens Point Area Senior High. Won the USHL's Clark Cup in 2004 as part of the Waterloo Blackhawks. Lead the Wisconsin Badgers in points in 2005-06 season, and helped those same Badgers win the NCAA Division 1 National Championship. Joe lead the San Jose Sharks in game winning goals (3) throughout the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Being a smooth skating, shot blocking, and competent player on both sides of the puck has enabled Joe to play and succeed in all situations, evidenced by his ability to put up more than a point per game until reaching the NHL. During the Vancouver Olympics, expect Joe to fill more of a grinder/defensive forward role, while still being able to fill a spot on the power play if needed.
So I've decided that I'm going to highlight players that have the possibility of putting on a great performance for Team USA and Team Canada in the upcoming Olympics. I'm also going to highlight some of their cards that could gain in value depending on their performance.
Today's player of the day is Ryan Miller, the Buffalo Sabres goalie and future Olympic goalie for Team USA. Lately, he's been one of the best players on the Sabres. Ryan was born in East Lansing, Michigan and attended college at Michigan State University, where he won the Hobby Baker Award and was named the CCHA's (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) goalie of the year for the 3 years that he attended MSU.
On another note, Ryan and his father, Dean, started the Steadfast Foundation. The foundation supports cancer patients and their families.
Tonight on the NHL Network, Team USA v. Team Sweden at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. Tomorrow night on NHL Network, and (I think) on TSN in Canada, USA v. Canada at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. See tomorrow's NHL stars today. Definitely something worth checking out.
