Byfuglien Invited To U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp

Feature Stories 2008-09

Byfuglien Invited To U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp by Andy Neal

Former Prince George Cougar Dustin Byfuglien is one of 34 players invited to the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp from Aug. 17-19, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Ill.

Byfuglien’s 6’3", 247 pound frame made headlines for the Cougar alumni in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, where he recorded 3 goals and 9 points in 17 post-season games.  It came on the heels of a 15 goal campaign, where Byfuglien also notched 16 assists in 77 regular season contests.  Byfuglien spent nearly three full seasons with the Cougars, after being acquired by Prince George in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings early in the 2002-03 season.  The product of Minneapolis, Minnesota, played in 178 regular season games for the Cats, notching 47 goals and 93 assists for 140 points over that span.  Byfuglien, who wore his familiar #33 in Prince George, led the Cougars in scoring in 2004-05 with 58 points in 64 games.

The camp is designed to assist in the preparation of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the XXI Olympic Winter Games to be held from Feb. 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, B.C.

Of the 34 players invited to the camp, five have previous Olympic experience, led by three-time Olympian Mike Modano (Livonia, Mich./Dallas Stars/1998, 2002, 2006). Additional Olympians include Chris Drury (Trumbull, Conn./New York Rangers/2002, 2006), Brian Rafalski (Dearborn, Mich./Detroit Red Wings/2002, 2006), Scott Gomez(Anchorage, Alaska/New York Rangers/2006) and Jamie Langenbrunner (Cloquet, Minn./New Jersey Devils/1998).

2009 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

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.