Playing against Germany in Olympics a familiar opponent for Marshfield’s David Warsofsky
If the United States Olympic men’s hockey team needed a scouting report on Team Germany heading into their matchup, it could count on defenseman David Warsofsky to provide one.
The Marshfield native certainly had more familiarity with Team USA’s opponent on Sunday than any other member of the squad. Out of the 25 players on Team Germany’s roster, 20 of them suit up in the same professional German league, known as the DEL, that Warsofsky plays in. Even two of Warsofsky’s ERC Ingolstadt teammates – Fabio Wagner and Daniel Pitta – play for Germany.
Warsofsky was unsure how much that inside knowledge would benefit him, but it couldn’t have hurt as he helped the U.S. close out preliminary round play with a 3-2 win over Germany. The U.S., which won Group A with three straight wins, advances straight to the quarterfinal round.
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“Obviously I’ll have some familiarity when we play the German team. A lot of those players have come from the DEL,” Warsofsky told the Ledger prior to the Olympics. “Once we’re over there and playing games, it’s going to be great competition. I think no matter where you’re playing at this stage of your career or what league you’re in, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The 31-year-old Warsofsky, who bounced around the NHL and AHL before deciding to play overseas this season, hasn’t had a sizable role during his first Olympic experience.
After turning in a solid debut in the Olympic opener versus China, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound left shot defenseman had his playing time cut in half in a 4-2 win over Canada and he was on the ice for both Canadian goals. Warsofsky was dropped to the third defensive pairing against Germany and finished with 6:52 of ice time – the least amount among Team USA’s seven dressed defensemen.
While Warsofsky, a former Boston University standout, looks to find his way, he does provide valuable experience that the U.S. is trying to accumulate with having a roster that hasn’t been this young since 1994. Warsofsky is only one of six Team USA members that has played in the NHL.
The kids have stepped up though for Team USA, including Norwell’s Drew Commesso. The 19-year-old goaltender earned his second win of the Olympics versus Germany by coming through with 24 saves, including a key stop in the final minute with the Germans pushing for the equalizer.
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The strong play from Commesso along with fellow teenager and Hingham native Matty Beniers – the youngest member of Team USA as he turned 19 in November – hasn’t come as a surprise to Warsofsky as he holds down his elder statesman position.
“The young kids these days are just so good,” Warsofsky said. “They come up and their age is beyond where I was when I was their age. There’s really not much leadership you have to give them because they’re pretty wise beyond their years. You kind of let them do their thing and just be a leader when you need to be for the most part.”
For the second straight game, the U.S. got off to a slow start as Commesso allowed his first goal of the tournament when Patrick Hager registered a power-play tally just two minutes into the contest.
But the U.S. bounced back in a penalty-filled game with three consecutive goals, the first of which came off a blast from the point on the man-advantage from former Boston Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer with 15:34 left in the first period.
Team USA went ahead early in the second period when Nick Abruzzese, who plays collegiately at Harvard, whipped a puck out in front on a wraparound attempt that went right to Matt Knies, who deposited his shot into the back of the net. Beniers was on the ice for the tally and helped keep offensive possession alive to lead to the goal.
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Nathan Smith’s insurance goal 2:47 into the final frame proved key after Germany got within a goal with 2:25 left. Commesso slammed the door shut from there to deny the German’s comeback bid.
The U.S. has secured its spot in the knockout round, which begins Tuesday night, along with the Russian Olympic Committee, Finland and Sweden.
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