Buffalo Sabres Invited to Olympic Camps

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

As Olympic camp invitee lists are being released, so far at least four members of the Buffalo Sabres will be attending camps for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. Jhonas Enroth and Henrik Tallinder have both been invited to Team Sweden’s Olympic camp, while Ryan Miller was invited to the USA camp. Ville Leino will attend Finland’s camp.

Hockey Canada’s list of camp invitees, released Monday, did not include any members of the Sabres organization.

Enroth is one of four goaltenders invited to the Swedish camp. Leading the way is New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist. Joining him and Enroth are Viktor Fasth of the Anaheim Ducks and Robin Lehner of the Ottawa Senators.

Tallinder is one of 13 defensemen invited to Sweden’s camp. Also on the list are a pair of Detroit Red Wings (Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall), a pair of Philadelphia Flyers (Nicklas Grossman, Erik Gustafsson) and a pair of Chicago Blackhawks (Niklas Hjalmarsson, Johnny Oduya). Jonas Brodin, Alex Edler, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson and Douglas Murray.

Enroth, a native of Stockholm, has previously represented his country in multiple IIHF-sanctioned tournaments, including the WJC-18 in 2004-05 and 2005-06. He also appeared in the World Junior Championships in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and played for Sweden in the World Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Tallinder has also represented Sweden numerous times, including at the World Junior Championships and most recently at the 2013 World Championships.

Shortly after it was announced that both Jhonas Enroth and Henrik Tallinder were invited to Sweden’s Olympic camp, two more Buffalo Sabres players received invitations from their respective countries. Ryan Miller will be one of six goaltenders attending the USA camp, while Ville Leino has been invited to Finland’s camp.

Miller, of course, was a part of the 2010 USA Olympic Team. He appeared in six games for the US and had a 1.35 GAA, eventually winning a silver medal that year. He’s previously represented the US in World Championships, including 2002 and 2003.

Miller’s invitation to selection camp and prior experience, however, doesn’t necessarily secure a spot on the final roster. He’s up against some fierce competition, including Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard and World Juniors gold medalist John Gibson, the lone AHL goaltender to be invited. Jonathan Quick is also a contender, along with Craig Anderson and Cory Schneider.

Other invitees to the USA camp include Buffalo native Patrick Kane, long-time Buffalo resident Brooks Orpik, Ithaca native Dustin Brown and Greece native Ryan Callahan. Zach Parise, Erik & Jack Johsnon, Alex Galchenyuk and Bobby Ryan are a few other notable names on the list.

Former Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville did not receive an invite.

Leino has never appeared in the Olympics before, but represented Finland in the Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) in 2006-07. He’ll compete for a spot alongside the likes of Mikko and Saku Koivu, Valterri Filpulla and Jussi Jokinen. Sean Bergenheim, Lauri Korpikoski, Teemu Selanne, Leo Komarov and Niklas Hagman have also been invited, along with 17-year-old Alexander Barkov, who was drafted second overall this past June.

Other players invited to Finland’s Olympic hockey camp include Pekka Rinne, Niklas Backstrom, Kari Lehtonen, Tuukka Rask and Antti Niemi. Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman is one of 14 blueliners inivted to the camp.

It’s also expected – though hasn’t been made official yet – that Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek will be a part of Team Austria for the upcoming games.

Less than 200 days until the Olympics begin in Sochi………. get ready!