Re-living Helsinki experience

Opening game of US World Championship campaign proved to be more difficult than expected. Austria took an early 2-0 lead, but USA slowly found their way into the game and overturned the deficit into a 5-3 victory.

Tim, how did you see the first game of the tournament for you?

Austria came out hard. They were better than us and deservedly took the lead. They have been playing together for some time while our team met only a few days ago. But we managed to eliminate some of the mistakes in the second period, kill their scoring chances and eventually got the win. That’s what we have to do.

After two years with Jokerit, you certainly know Helsinki well. Does that experience help you?

That’s actually the main reason why I am here. I spent a long year in KHL. When they originally asked me to join the team, I was only thinking about taking a long summer off. But then I found out the championship is in Helsinki and there was no way I wouldn´t come. I don´t get many chances to represent my country, too.

How do you remember your time in Finland?

I spent two of the best years of my career here. Jokerit is a great organization and it is really special to play here in the same arena again.

How long have you been together with your teammates on the US team?

Usually there is more time after the NHL regular season, but it wasn´t to be this year because of the lockout. We basically got together and met on a plane on Wednesday, arrived on Thursday and got our first game on Saturday. It´s not hard to gel with each other as a team, it is much harder to get used to play together. It´s going to take a few more games but I´m sure we will improve.

There is not much time, though. Your next game is coming up tomorrow…

Our main goal is to get through the group stage. Then we will see… There are many things we have to work on.

You spent this season with Dinamo Minsk of KHL. Did you get back to the USA before the tournament or did you stay in Europe?

I got back to US a few weeks ago after my KHL season was over. But to be honest, I didn´t do much skating during that time.

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