U.S. adds Gleason and Whitney to defense

Published January 08, 2015

By Steve Keating

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - The United States men's Olympic ice hockey team shored up their injury-hit defense by adding Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Whitney and Carolina Hurricanes' Tim Gleason to their line-up on Thursday.

The two additions offer similar skills to those of New Jersey Devils' puck-moving defenseman Paul Martin and rugged Toronto Maple Leafs' blueliner Mike Komisarek, who were both forced off the squad this week with injuries.

"These are both players who were prominent during the original picking of the team," said Team USA general manager Brian Burke during a conference call to announce the additions.

"Ryan Whitney is a good-size player with mobility and puck-moving skills and Tim Gleason a good-size defenseman with a hard edge to his game.

"These are two players who were alive right to the bitter end of the selection process, so they were guys who were knocking at the door, so we feel fortunate that we can add players without a significant decline in the pool."

Gleason has represented the U.S. three times internationally, including at the 2008 world championships, and has five goals and 10 assists this season for the Hurricanes, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Whitney has four goals and 20 assists for the Ducks.

The U.S. open the Olympic tournament on February 16 against Switzerland.

(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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