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Kevin Allen

 |  USA TODAY Sports


GANGNEUNG, South Korea — Coach Tony Granato has called the U.S. roster configuration “Jimmy’s plan.”

When U.S. general manager Jim Johannson started to ponder how to build a non-NHL roster for the Olympics he believed it should include a handful of skilled college players mixed with a batch of seasoned professionals.

“We went through a bunch of different roster scenarios,” Granato said. “Take 20 college guys. Take 20 European pros. Take 20 minor league guys. What’s the right combination if you mix them up?”

Johannson believed three to seven college players would be right mix. They settled on four. Johannson died in his sleep last month, not living to see that he was right that college players could give the U.S. team a spark. The coaching staff and players are dedicating their performance to Johannson’s memory.

It was Harvard player Ryan Donato’s two goals and Denver forward Troy Terry’s three assists that sparked the Americans to a 5-1 win against Slovakia and place in the quarterfinals. USA plays the Czech Republic at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday (10:10 p.m. ET Tuesday).

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“We’ve said from Day 1, this was (Johannson’s) plan,” Granato said. “It’s been a really nice mix.”

The objective in any international tournament is to reach the quarterfinals against a beatable opponent. The Americans, despite early goal-scoring problems, have accomplished that.

Though the Czechs (3-0) have played sharply in this tournament, they’re not unbeatable. If the Americans win this game, they are guaranteed to play in either the gold medal or bronze medal game.

“We expect another great competitor,” Granato said of the Czechs. “They are a little bit more skilled offensively. This (Slovakia) team was great defensively, maybe the best defensive team in the tournament. (The Czechs) are deeper offensively.”

From the beginning, Johannson targeted Donato, Terry and Boston University Jordan Greenway as three forwards he wanted. All three have delivered in the tournament. Donato and Terry are playing on the top line with Swiss League standout Mark Arcobello. Donato and Terry are on the first power play unit.

Terry is a play-making winger, and Donato owns a wickedly strong shot.

“(Donato) is confident. He wants the puck to shoot it,” Granato said.

Terry said he has learned that if he gets the puck to Donato “there is a pretty good chance it’s going in.” There’s lots of buzz about the Boston Bruins signing Donato for the stretch run and playoffs.

Donato, the son of former NHL player and current Harvard coach Ted Donato, leads the U.S. team with four goals in four games.

“Troy and Arco are unbelievable players,” Donato said. “They see the ice great. If I can get myself open, they are going to find me. If they put me in position to score, we will continue to create goals. Both of those players can finish and create.”

Terry said when he and Donato got together “we both said we are the young guys but we are going to try to make an impact.”

They have on and off the ice. Several veterans refer to Terry as a character or a “funny guy.” He keeps guys loose with his glib comments.

“It’s a fun locker room to be a part of,” Terry said. “I mess with the older guys a little bit sometimes. Just being the youngest guy on the team, there is a lot of joking back and forth.”

U.S. goalie Ryan Zapolski said all of the younger players have made an impact 

“They’re fearless,” Zapolski said. “They’re kids and having fun. That’s the cool thing. A lot of guys are 12, 13 years older than them. So to see how they play and the energy they bring is good for the team.”

As Granato would say, that was Jimmy’s plan all along


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