Thursday, April 23, 2009

Where Are They Now: Ex-Rangers At Worlds. . .

For a week or so, I kept tabs on the World Championship rosters, looking for familiar faces, and perhaps hoping one Petr Prucha would be tabbed to go. It seems the Czech team is not going with him, or his two new teammates Zbynek Michalek or Martin Hanzal, both of whom were on last year's roster.

But there are still some very, very familiar faces, and one in particular for team Czech.

Last year around this time he was helping the Rangers to beat New Jersey. He spent this season in the KHL. He holds the Rangers record for single season goals and points.

#68 Jaromir Jagr.

Joining Jagr on Team Czech are two former Ranger properties - Marek Zidlicky and Jan Marek and former Ranger Karel Rachunek. Including Zidlicky there are only five current NHL players invited.


For other countries, former Ranger draft pick Al Montoya of the Coyotes will join the US team. He will play against three Coyotes teammates in Shane Doan, Scottie Upshall, and Matthew Lombardi who will suit up for Canada.


More former Rangers:

Slovakia - Marcel Hossa, Peter Smrek, Ivan Baranka
Russia - Dmitri Kalinin
Sweden - Johan Holmqvist
Finland - Jarkko Immonen


Of note:

Jarkko Ruutu will play for Finland, so keep an eye if they battle Team Czech given his history with Jagr in International play.

Young Dane, Mikael Boedker, of the Coyotes will play for Denmark.

Hank's brother Joel will play for Team Sweden.

Young studs Luke Schenn, Drew Doughty, and Steven Stamkos also got the nod for Canada.


If anyone gets to watching, the tournament starts tomorrow and runs through May 10th in Switzerland.



**If I missed anyone, apologies. There are a lot of former Rangers floating around, not that anyone needs reminding of that fact.**

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