The US hockey team's Olympic orientation camp in Virginia next month will be full of young newcomers.

Winning the 2014 Sochi Games is still the goal, but the US is giving younger players a chance.

Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens, Jake Gardiner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets will at least get a taste of Olympic life, while Zach Parise and Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild are expected to be two of the team's best players.

The idea, general manager David Poile said, is to reward success of players who have participated internationally, like Galchenyuk and Anaheim Ducks goaltending prospect John Gibson, who won a bronze medal with the US at the most recent world championships.

It also means some from the 2010 silver medalists stand a good chance of being left out this time. That includes Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who will be at camp but could need a strong start to the 2013-14 NHL season while competing in a group that includes Gibson, Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson and Cory Schneider.

Associated Press

(China Daily 07/25/2013 page24)