Team USA’s Olympic Orientation Camp on August 26 and 27 near Washington D.C. won’t be a full-blown audition to be on the team.
As Chuck Gormley of CSNWashington shares, issues with insuring player’s contracts will keep the 40 or so players from participating in full-blown practices at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Virginia.
With the camp taking place just a few weeks before NHL training camps open, it’s not worth the risk of injury to have them go all out. USA Hockey will instead focus on other things when they meet next month.
“The camp will give us a chance to get our players, coaches, management and team staff together in preparation for Sochi,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey and a two-time Olympian. “We’ll have more details surrounding the camp to announce in the weeks ahead.”
As of now, USA Hockey says the players will work with youth hockey groups and show off the new Team USA jersey, but the last thing they’ll do is find out how everyone plays against each other.
