No past or future: Team Europe embraces World Cup stage
TORONTO – Fans are buying up Team Europe and North American 23-and-under jerseys and t-shirts at the World Cup of Hockey because they believe we may never see these team concepts again.
“There has never been a team in a tournament like this with no past and no future,” said Europe coach Ralph Krueger. “It is a crazy situation.”
The North Americans, now eliminated, won over fans with speed and spirited play, and the Europeans have earned respect by playing well enough to advance to the final against Canada. They beat Sweden 3-2 in overtime on Sunday.
"They are a great story," said Canada general manager Doug Armstrong, "Shame on us if we don't take them seriously for what they've done to this point."
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Team Europe boasts players from eight countries that don’t possess enough players to have a team competitive enough to play at this level. The roster includes players such as Anze Kopitar (Slovenia), Frans Nielsen (Denmark), Roman Josi (Switzerland), Zdeno Chara (Slovakia) and Thomas Vanek (Austria)
“Very few countries embraced this project wholeheartedly,” Krueger said. “The only ones who embraced this from Day 1 were the players.”
Krueger has sold his players on the idea that a team with no history, or no guaranteed future, must concentrate on the here and now. “In life and in sports, the ability to be in the now is what makes you strong,” Krueger said. “That’s all we have.”
Krueger and Canada coach Mike Babcock are friends, having worked together for Canada at the 2004 World Championships.
"From where they were at one point when they got lit up a couple of times early, to now where they are, he’s done a heck of a job," Babcock said
Armstrong credits Krueger for keeping the Europeans focused when they were struggling to find their identity early on.
"They didn't panic after everyone around them was panicking after their first game (4-0 loss) against the North Americans," Armstrong said.
Once they found their rhythm, the Europeans became strong defensive team with a heavy reliance on Jaroslav Halak's goaltending.
"They are very comfortable with who they are, and they don't deviate from their game plan," Armstrong said. "They are a well-coached team and they believe in what they are trying to do."
Members of Team Melting Pot don’t view themselves as underdogs.
“There’s no egos,” Vanek said. “It was easy for us to mesh.”
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It’s not as if these guys are abandoning their nationalist pride. Each of them wears his country’s flag on his jersey
“I was excited (about Team Europe concept) because I thought it was the first time I could have a chance to beat the U.S. and other teams,” Vanek added. “All of our stories are similar.”
The Europeans beat the Americans 3-0 in the opener, with many calling it a big surprise.
“This group hasn’t needed any magic,” Krueger said. “There’s a lot of magic happening naturally.”
It has helped that this multinational force includes two-way center Kopitar and 6-9 defenseman Chara.
Krueger spent considerable time talking to Chara about how to build this team before it was selected. He said they now have a friendship that goes beyond the standard coach-player relationship. “He has been a tower in more ways than his physical presence,” Krueger said.
When Krueger accepted the job as coach, he said he saw it as an adventure, and it's clear this journey has exceeded his expectations. Krueger said he would gladly do it again if asked.
It’s unknown what will happen in the future. Even during this tournament, there has been speculation about a qualifying tournament to determine the seventh and eighth teams for the next World Cup.
All we know for sure is that the inclusion of both the North American and European teams has been one of the intriguing stories of this tournament.
