Canadian-born Pominville to play for Team USA at World Championship
Ken Campbell
2008-04-09 17:49:02
Canada and USA haven’t fought over a piece of land since the War of 1812, but almost 200 years later, the United States has managed to lay claim to Pominville.
It became official Wednesday when Buffalo Sabres right winger Jason Pominville, who was born in Montreal and played all his minor hockey in Canada, was announced to the roster of the U.S. team for the upcoming World Championship. Officials in both countries were stunned to learn recently that Pominville has always had a dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and he could have played for either the Canadian or the American team because he had never represented either country in an International Ice Hockey Federation sanctioned event.
The news wasn’t as good for the Americans on a couple of other fronts though. Sabres goalie Ryan Miller declined an invitation to play in the tournament and St. Louis Blues rookie Erik Johnson had to decline in order to have surgery to repair cartilage damage in his shoulder. Los Angeles Kings rookie Jack Johnson, who finished the season on the injury list with a broken foot, might be able to play in the tournament and USA Hockey is waiting for the results of an MRI before they move forward.
Pominville, meanwhile, was invited to the tryout camp for the Canadian World Junior team for the 2002 tournament, but was cut from the final roster.
“Not too many people knew about it and I think that’s why it caught everybody off guard a little bit,” said the 25-year-old right winger who registered 53 assists this season. “It’s something I thought about for a long time. I’m sure there will be mixed opinions. I respect Hockey Canada and I respect Steve Yzerman, but I have a right to do this.”
Pominville’s mother Deborah is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and met Jason’s father Jean-Marie when Jean-Marie was playing minor pro hockey in the United States League for the Green Bay Bobcats in the 1970s. The couple married and moved to Montreal where Pominville grew up, but maintained a dual citizenship. By playing for the U.S. in this tournament, Pominville will be eligible to play only for the U.S. in international hockey for the remainder of his career.
Pominville said he wasn’t even sure of the rules regarding his eligibility for international play until recently and once he found out he was eligible for the U.S. team, his agent Normand Dupont called USA Hockey to notify them Pominville would be interested in playing in the American program.
Pominville was one of 17 players named to the team Wednesday, along with teammates Drew Stafford and Paul Gaustad.
Keith Ballard, Tom Gilbert, Matt Greene and James Wisniewski were named at defense and David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Jeff Halpern, Patrick Kane, Peter Mueller, Patrick O’Sullivan and Lee Stempniak were also named at forward.
Of the first 17 players named, all but Halpern are under 30 years old. The remainder of the roster will be filled out after the first round of the playoffs.
The Americans will be a young team to be sure, but coach John Tortorella said it’s all part of a changing philosophy at USA Hockey.
“It used to be guys would mix a little hockey in while you’re out there vacationing,” Tortorella said. “I think it needs to be the other way around. Let’s go try to win.”
So where exactly is Pominville? Apparently, it’s along Route 5 in western New York. That’s the name of a restaurant in Hamburg that named a section of the establishment Pominville.
“I guess people call in and make reservations for Pominville,” Pominville said.
amy (Posted 2008-05-08 15:43:47)
Pominville is no traitor. he may have been born and raised in Canada, but his mother is an American. He was drafted by Buffalo, he lives in Buffalo, his fans are in Buffalo. right now, he lives in America. He can call himself an American just as much of a Candien, and he is probably proud to be a part of both countries. He has every right to play for the U.S. He also said the U.S. team came and invited him, while he recieved no word from team Canada. So of course he was gonna go to the team that actually wanted him. Its the Canadien team's fault for not going after him sooner.
Troy (Posted 2008-05-07 17:19:45)
wow some of these canadians must think this is some kind of war throwing around a term like traitor. Dude wants to play hockey. Canada basically says, 'hmmm we dunno if you're good enough' while the US says 'sure if you're qualified to play you're good to go'.
I think people who protest this move are just jealous that he's able to exercise an option to play for someone else. You guys never made a big deal over Olaf Kolzig and he basically had the same background as Pominville. Granted he never had dual-citizenship, but even if he did I think he would choose Germany for the same reasons that Pominville and Hull chose Team USA. They all want to play.
Joe D (Posted 2008-04-13 13:09:49)
Tony O played for USA in the Canada Cup in the 80's AFTER playing for Canada in the '72 Summit. Is he a "traitor"? No. He's one of the greats. Lighten up.
Jason M. (Posted 2008-04-12 22:15:47)
Ok, seriously, he has dual citizenship. It's his choice, and he chose the U.S. Read the article, Canada doesn't want him. They REJECTED him in 2002. And this isn't because he couldn't make Team Canada, he finished this season 8th among Canadians in assists and 11th in points. I believe 25 players represent the national team. Plus, for the World Championships, no players are represented from playoff teams, so his addition to Team Canada would have been a given, except he chose U.S.A. instead. Just for the record, he finished 2nd in assists and 5th in points among non-playoff Canadians. Simply put, he wants to play his international hockey for Team U.S.A.
Chris (Posted 2008-04-11 16:55:33)
Wow, you 'Nucks gotta lighten up. We have Americans all over the world playing for other countries' national basketball teams. Guys that have no chance to make Team USA, but want to have the international/Olympic experience. No one in the US cares. We don't call them traitors. Get over it.
trevor b (Posted 2008-04-11 16:16:19)
Wow, some of you Canucks are sounding positively like a lot of us xenophobic Americans. Careful there!
So the guy wants to play hockey for a country that's soon to make him a multi-millionaire. Weird!
Maxime Giroux (Posted 2008-04-10 17:04:27)
Come on people...the guy won't have playoff hockey (he's canadian,and youg, so you know he wants to play), and now he gets a chance for international hockey...i'd play for Russia if i had a chance to go...Don't you think that if Stevie Y had called him and secured a spot for him on the Canadian roster, that Pommer wouldn't rather wear Red and White rather than adding the Blue to it? Don't you think he knows he would have had more chances at a medal if he played for Canada? When you kick emotions out, all there is left to see is this :
Pommer loves hockey : Pommer is out of the playoffs : Pommer wants to go play World Championships : USA calls, and Pommer sure ain't holding his breath wating for Canada's call...so what does Pommer do? What would you have done? respect the guy, he ain't no traitor...a traitor bails to avoid losing. When have you heard of someone wanting to be on the losing side?
jan (Posted 2008-04-10 16:36:42)
Having watched Jason Pominville's career in Rochester and Buffalo, and having the chance to meet him, this is one player who's proud to be a citizen of both Canada and the US. He has a chance to play international hockey -- how many other players get that chance?
Fred Devlin (Posted 2008-04-10 16:33:14)
What about Tyler Myers? Born in Texas, played his hockey in Canada. He is a dual citizen who just received his Canadian passport last month and will play for Team Canada U-18. Is he a 'traitor' to the Yanks because he is playing for Canada? I think not. And neither is Pominville or Brett Hull. They decided to play where they could have a chance to make the team. I'm sure all the people who are complaining all watch CBC only and do not watch any U.S. TV, as they are so pro Canadian. Give it rest boys...
canadian hockey fan (Posted 2008-04-10 15:34:18)
Josh wake up! There isn't any way that an NHL player raised in America could play for Canada. I'm going to be glad when Canada clobber the Americans (if they make it to the finals.)
Josh S (Posted 2008-04-10 15:25:53)
I love how people make such a big deal out of this. Pommer has dual citizenship, his mother's an american. Why is it such a big deal? I know if he was born and raised in the USA, had dual citizenship, and decided to play for Canada you Canadians wouldn't be complaining.
s from canada (Posted 2008-04-10 15:10:04)
He is obviously doing this because he will continue to be able to play for the US in the future, ie the Olympics, whereas he would have been a longshot for the Canadian team. He had to make his choice now and he will probably get a lot more international play because of it.
chris s (Posted 2008-04-09 22:42:43)
Pominville is no traitor....to say so is just ludicrous. What makes you think he isn't "proud" of Canada? Just because he isn't playing for Team Canada? Pffff.... The better chances for him to play international hockey are with Team USA...thats just common sense. Since he is a dual citizen, that is his right. I respect the nationalism of our country, but lets wise up.
Tyler P (Posted 2008-04-09 22:00:41)
BORN in Canada... RAISED in Canada...hockey roots in Canada... he's CANADIAN... NOT American.
No matter what a "dual citizenship card" says...
His roots are in Canada and he's nothing but a traitor joining the US team.
Just because the US can't develop their own good hockey players, they think they can take the Canadians that don't make the Canadian Team.
If a Canadian doesn't make the team, cheer on Team Canada and be a proud Canadian anyway... don't sit there and cry because you didn't make it... Cheer on your countries team like the rest of us.
He's a sell out just like Jim Carrey... hey lets move to the states to make it big and become rich and famous... they forget about the country they were born and raised in.
I hope Team Canada defeats the US so badly this year that the States will wish they hadn't sent a team to the championships...
Joe W (Posted 2008-04-09 21:16:07)
What kind of people would we be if we did not share?
we are a kind peace-loving people. we should let those that want to play for our nieghbors do so. If I recall correctly, Nedved Played for Canada in the early 90's and he is european. Nolan was born in Ireland, and Robyn Reghier was bor in Brazil or some crazy place like that.
all that aside, I think it's ok just cause it's only Pominville.
Jonathan Wassenaar (Posted 2008-04-09 20:53:40)
My respect for Pominville is gone! What a traitor!
Henry Morgan (Posted 2008-04-09 20:19:53)
Cant really blame the guy. Not good enough to even be on the radar in the deep talent pool of Canadians, he probly knew this was the only way he could play internationally.
That being said, I dont know how anyone who turns their back on their country could look at themselves in the mirror again...
Spencer (Posted 2008-04-09 18:56:21)
I hate traitors, how many Canadians were on the winning US team last time?
Nate Root (Posted 2008-04-09 18:47:51)
You can have him yanks, we've got enough good players in Canada to make up all the medal winners. It's his right, but like Brett Hull he's just another NHLer who can't handle rejection.
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