USA Hockey invites Byfuglien, Kane to Seven Bridges

Posted June 30, 2009 11:00 pm

By Tim Sassone

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, here celebrating a goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals, will be in Woodridge in August to compete at the Olympic camp for Team USA. Associated Press

Blackhawks winger Dustin Byfuglien's strong showing in the playoffs was rewarded Tuesday when he was one of 34 players invited to the U.S. Olympic team orientation camp set for Aug. 17-19 at Seven Bridges in Woodridge.

Byfuglien will join Hawks teammate Patrick Kane at the camp that will help determine the American team for the 2010 Winter Games to be played in Vancouver next February.

"It's just an honor to be in this group," Kane said. "It's a step in the right direction to hopefully making that team. It's pretty exciting to think about, and definitely has been one of my goals to play on one of the highest levels of hockey. I've always been a USA hockey fan."

Kane is a lock to make the team, which will be picked largely by USA general manager Brian Burke and coach Ron Wilson.

The invitation extended to Byfuglien shows how people recognized his difference-making play in the playoffs against Calgary, Vancouver and Detroit.

"I think if you watched a guy like that, especially in the playoffs, he was dominating," Kane said. "Any team can use a guy like that. When he puts his mind to it, he can be one of the best power forwards in the league, and I think that's what they're looking for."

It should be a strong USA team in search of the country's first gold medal since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice."

Here is a list of the players invited to the camp at Seven Bridged.

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick and Tim Thomas.

Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter and Ryan Whitney.

Forwards: Kane, Byfuglien, David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan and Paul Stastny.

"I don't know what to expect," Kane said. "I'm sure it will be a time just to get to know your teammates and do some team bonding. I think they usually pick the team over the first half of the season."

FA update: Meanwhile, the start of the free-agent signing period in the NHL begins Wednesday and Kane admitted he has spoken to Martin Havlat about coming back to the Hawks.

Havlat would be an unrestricted free agent starting Wednesday and is believed to have at least the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings interested in him.

The Hawks still could sign Havlat even after he becomes a free agent.

"We have a lot of trust in our management that they know what they're doing," Kane said. "We need him in our lineup because he obviously was a big part of our team offensively and defensively.

"If we lose him he's going to be missed, but I'm sure there's a lot more going on behind the scenes. Hopefully it will work out in our favor, but if it doesn't work out I'm sure they'll bring in somebody else to help us out."

Havlat's agent, Allan Walsh, denied in a Twitter message that the Hawks were offering his client only a one-year deal.

There also was an Internet report Tuesday that Hawks GM Dale Tallon was aggressively trying to put together trade packages for Edmonton and Colorado that included goalie Cristobal Huet.

The Hawks would like to re-sign goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, but to do that they would need to deal Huet and the three years and more than $16 million he has remaining on his contract.

Three-time U.S. Olympian and Dallas Stars center Mike Modano will be among the many NHL players participating in the USA Hockey training camp in August at Seven Bridges in Woodridge. Associated Press

Dustin Byfuglien, who stepped up his play in the NHL playoffs, has been invited to participate with Team USA at the Olympic camp in August at Seven Bridges in Woodridge. Charles Rex Arbogast

Heading to camp Here is a look at the roster for the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp: Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny Coaches: Ron Wilson, with John Tortorella and Scott Gordon serving as assistants

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