Despite tough losses, Team Europe sees positives

Team Europe landed in the United States after a tough week in Canada preparing for the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Despite lopsided losses in two pre-tournament games against youthful Team North America in Quebec City and Montreal, Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said he is happy with the way his blended team of players from countries that do not have a team competing in the World Cup is coming together.

Team Europe flew to Washington, D.C., after its 7-4 loss against the team of 23-and-younger United States and Canada players at Bell Centre on Sunday. It will play its final pre-tournament game against Sweden at Verizon Centre on Wednesday. The tournament begins Saturday when Team Europe plays the United States at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

“The integration process was complicated with the Olympic qualification last week,” Krueger said Monday. “And the transformation from European ice, where most of the players spent their summers, to the North American game was expedited by the Team North America and its speed and skill, and everything was exposed. So as far as the coach’s perspective, if you look at trying to build a team it was an excellent week with lots of lessons, and especially in the last two periods of the game [Sunday] night.

“We could see the game we need to play to be successful at the World Cup and that’s why we’re doing the preparation, is to find that game and to find that identity. But we have our sleeves rolled up. We still have six days to go until it really matters and we’ll use these days properly.”

After losing 4-0 at Videotron Centre on Thursday, Team Europe fell behind 5-1 in the first period Sunday. It drew to within 5-4, but was unable to overcome its early deficit.

“We think we were playing the fastest team in the tournament so we were realistic about that from the start,” Krueger said. “We’re pretty sure that nobody in the tournament …

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