Caps Briefing: Internationally Known
We all know the Capitals are known to rock a microphone. This year a few Caps prospects will get a little more exposure on the world circuit. Darren Machesney, the starting goalie for the Caps' top farm team in Hershey, will represent Canada in the Spengler Cup. Machesney has been in the Caps system since the 2005 draft, and has worked his way up from the South Carolina Stingrays to play for the Bears. The opportunity to represent his country, even if it's only in a Swiss tournament, is a testament to just how hard he has worked.
Stefan Della Rovere will also represent Canada, but in the World Junior Championship. The WJC is a little bit like hockey's Rose Bowl, and Canada is more dominant than USC. NHL Network will televise the tournament this year, giving hockey fans a rare chance to see the sport's future. Della Rovere has made headlines with his strong showing in tryouts for the dance. He was the last player the Caps picked in the 2008 draft. He follows Caps rookie defenseman Karl Alzner, who helped Canada win a fourth straight championship last year.
Washington's 2008 Second round pick, Dimitry Kugryshev, is expected to represent Russia this year, but may be forced to miss the tournament with a knee injury. Kugryshev's spirits are still high, if his blog is any indication. Kugryshev cheerfully writes that, "Patrick Roy is just as emotional of a coach as he was when he was a player." Anyone who can be so upbeat about playing for a man who once faced deportation for terrorizing his own wife is tough enough to play ice hockey. We just hope the Quebec coach had nothing to do with the Caps prospect's knee injury.
The Caps, meanwhile, are happy to see their future looking bright, but weren't that worried about it. With nine players injured, they've just won four games in a row. Since hockey teams only dress 20 players for a game, this is pretty impressive. In fact, the Caps have climbed to fifth out of the NHL's 30 teams. We're looking forward to cheering them on tomorrow night at 7 p.m., when they take on the 27th place St. Louis Blues at Verizon Center.