Canada, Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the USA are all separated by thousands of miles yet have one thing in common: the St. Louis Blues.

  Just past the midway point, the Blues are 32-9-5 on the year and are in 2nd place behind the Chicago Blackhawks. With 164 goals for and 104 goals against, this is turning into one of the most successful hockey teams in franchise history for the Blues. The Blues have played 3 less games than the Central Western Conference leader Chicago Blackhawks but only trail by 2 points. But what makes this season’s team a foot ahead of the competition?

  Eleven of the players that comprise about 40 percent of the Blues’ squad were named to six different national teams for the 2014 Winter Olympics.  Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester (Canada), Roman Polak and Vladimir Sobotka (Czech Republic), Vladimir Tarasenko (Russia), Jaroslav Halak (Slovakia), Alex Steen and Patrik Berglund (Sweden), while 3 players, David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk were named to the USA national Team, are certainly helping the Blues this year. These eleven players have combined for a total of 94 goals and 186 assists for the Blues while Jaroslav Halak has 737 shots against him and only allowed 65 goals in 31 games played in. These stats show just how much of a powerhouse the nationally stacked Blues are.

  As well as the St. Louis Blues, The USA national team will be well prepared with the current Blues captain, David Backes, with his second olympic appearance this coming winter. TJ Oshie and Kevin Shatternick will be making their first Olympic appearances in Sochi, Russia. Oshie and Shatternick aren’t total strangers to the national hockey scene though, both have played in the world junior championships and world championships for the national program.

  The road won’t be easy but the highly talented national team should do well this year. The USA will be looking to take Gold after falling short to Canada on Sydney Crosby’s late winner goal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. But, it’s all excitement and anticipation for the Blues and their national players this year hoping to win the Stanley Cup as a team and then take the gold from one another in the winter olympics for their national team all in the same year.