We Have a Hungry Group of Guys Who Are the Future of This Team, Says Nick Carter

Everyone will have to play their role

Nick, team USA will be defending their bronze medal at this year’s World Championship in Ostrava. How are you personally looking ahead to the tournament, and with what expectations will you be entering it?

I am very excited about the tournament. There is nothing like playing for your country on the biggest stage in this sport. Going into the tournament, I think everyone expects to win gold and be the last team standing on the final day.

What will the final phase of your preparation look like leading up to the championship? What will the team still go through before the tournament begins?

We have a camp coming up next weekend where the team will come together to practice and go over systems so we can get used to playing with one another. Since we are from all over the United States, it is challenging for the whole team to get together multiple times. Coming from different regions of the country, we try to play as much as we can leading up to the tournament through local tournaments and leagues.

The greatest achievement in USA history so far is the silver medal from 2015. How strong is the team’s desire to succeed in Ostrava and take another step forward?

Well, you know everyone wants to win gold. That’s why we all come to this tournament. It’s going to take all of us to reach the gold medal game, so I believe everyone is going to have to play their role in order for us to be successful. We have a hungry group of guys who are the future of this team and I am excited to see what we can do.

The team for the championship has been finalized. How would you assess its strength and overall setup?

With a new coach this year, the game plan is going to be different than in previous years. It may be an adjustment for some of us, but that is why we have camp—to make sure everyone is on the same page. I know our team is built on speed, and with a big rink, it will allow players to use that as their strength.

The atmosphere in Pardubice was incredible

The competition at the World Championship is traditionally very strong. How do you perceive the strength of European teams such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Canada compared to the USA?

The European teams are always strong, and even countries like Switzerland are making huge strides. When we play the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Canada, we know those will be tough games. I think one thing that helps the Czech Republic and Slovakia is their ability to play and practice together as a team throughout the year. Building chemistry can be challenging when you only play with guys a couple of times before the tournament, but we understand the challenges we face with teammates being spread across the country.

You will start the tournament with a match against your traditional rival from Canada. The very next day you will face Slovakia, who have also long been among the world's top teams. How difficult will it be to handle such a tough doubleheader at the beginning of the tournament?

I wouldn’t want to start it any other way than playing against Canada. It is one of the best, if not the best, rivalries between countries, and it is going to be a lot of fun to play against them. The most difficult part about the first two games will be the quick turnaround from our 8:00 p.m. game against Canada to the 1:00 p.m. game against Slovakia the next day. We will need to make sure we focus on recovery between games.

What role do you play on the team this year and how would you like to be most useful to the team?

As one of the oldest players on the team, I want to help lead the younger guys and bring out their full potential. I remember my first men’s World Championship in 2013, and it was definitely nerve-wracking, but it gets a little easier as the tournament goes on, and I had great leadership to help me. As for my role, I will do anything to help the team win, and I know every guy on this team will do the same.

You personally also took part in the 2017 World Championship in Pardubice. How do you remember the atmosphere of that tournament, and what stands out the most in your memories from your time in the Czech Republic?

The atmosphere was incredible. It was the most fans I have ever played in front of when we played against the Czech Republic. Not only were we at the World Championship, but playing in front of that many people truly makes you feel like a professional athlete in those moments. What stands out to me is how passionate the fans were. Being able to draw 7,000 people to a single game makes the tournament so much better.