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ST. PAUL, Minn -- If it were up to Team USA architect Dean Lombardi, the players who make up the American roster that will compete in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey would have more than a short training camp to bond.Theres some jealousy in the general managers voice when he points out the fact that the 1996 World Cup-champion American team had a month to golf, bond and come together before winning it all.Thats not the case this time around. Its two frickin days, he said. Were not going to mess around.To help prepare, Team USAs management and coaching staff spent time in Minnesota before camps finalizing plans to try to repeat the success of 96. At the conclusion of the meetings, Lombardi chatted with ESPN.coms Craig Custance about the upcoming tournament:ESPN.com: What was the focus of the meetings in St. Paul?Lombardi: Obviously, with the five or six coaches, we had a couple of things to do. One, we gave them an overview on what our philosophy was in terms of selecting the team. As we all know, there are almost no wrong answers when you put together a team with this much talent.I thought it was good for [Team USA head coach] John [Tortorellas] assistants to understand what our thinking was. And then the second thing was Johns area -- putting a team of top players together. Its critical that guys accept their roles. Also, when you essentially have an All-Star coaching staff it can be beneficial -- or you can end up with a gong show.Its the same thing as your team. It was important that [Tortorella] designate the [coaching] roles and make their responsibilities clear. Each guy started putting that together.ESPN.com: You mentioned your philosophy in putting together this roster. Theres been criticism of how you built this team ...Lombardi: When isnt there?ESPN.com: Yeah, but you took on more risk than others in some of your player selections. Does that add more pressure on you?Lombardi: Using 96 as a model, its no different than putting together an NHL team. We made it very clear -- all the work I did prior to it, going through it last August in those preliminary meetings -- that this had to be about team and identity.?So much went into this that you cant begin to explain, but that said you have to stay within a certain theme and philosophy. We could have gone another direction philosophically; I just come back to the word identity. I thought [identity] was critical if we were going to win this thing.?This was a lot harder than I thought. Forget the size of the staff we had -- we had a lot of scouts out there. Youre splitting hairs. It really had to be about team because there were so many good players and there wasnt a lot of separation.It was a great experience. I didnt think it was going to be this difficult. We had to micromanage. We got down to the final one, we sat tighter and it was so close. You come back -- who fits right in? Whats the character? Will they fit into the team? That was always your tiebreaker.ESPN.com: How they fit in with the team was the tiebreaker?Lombardi: Yeah. Thats the other thing that was frustrating. The team in 96 was together for 30 days. We tried to do [team-bonding] things and werent allowed to because of the union. We cant afford to waste time. You cant have any maintenance. Its too short a tournament. You have no preparation.ESPN.com: Theres a belief that you built this team specifically to beat Canada. Is that a fair conclusion?Lombardi: Yeah. I mean, theyre the best. Who are we kidding? You want to be politically correct? No, theyre the best. Its like right now, youve got to beat the [Pittsburgh] Penguins. Thats just the way it is. There are really good teams but theyre clearly always the favorite going in. So, yeah.ESPN.com: So how big is the gap right now between Canada and the U.S.?Lombardi: Its kind of funny. You look at the young guys coming -- it goes in cycles ... I think there are some areas, without getting into it, why you had to go back to team and identity [when picking players]. A lot of people, the whole idea, thats coming with the center ice. One of the things we asked ourselves ... who is the top [center]? You know? Now you are seeing a few coming like Jack Eichel.ESPN.com: But now you dont have access to the top young American centers because theyre playing for Team North America.Lombardi: Yeah. Even Canada went through a period where its No. 1 defenseman since Chris Pronger wasnt there, and then boom, Drew Doughty and Alex Pietrangelo come along. Back then, the Americans had the [top] defensemen, if you looked at it closely.It goes in cycles. The fairly obvious biggest thing is the middle doesnt have the top [guys]. That said, a guy like Joe Pavelski?is one of the top players. He finally got his recognition this year. If you were playing against him, you know how good this guy is. Its not totally fair to say this guy is not a No. 1 center.ESPN.com:?He has to be your captain, right?Lombardi: John [Tortorella] is going to take care of that. You can try to pump it out of him.Editors note: Joe Pavelski was named Team USAs captain on Wednesday. Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. DJ Moore Panthers Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-donte-jackson-blue-jersey/ . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Christian Miller Womens Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Curtis Samuel Womens Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A Florida athletics booster serving as a hearing officer for the university has cleared standout receiver Antonio Callaway of sexual assault.Jake Schickel delivered his decision in writing Friday, saying his impression from last weeks code of conduct hearing was that Callaway was honest, sincere, and presented himself well. The accuser, her attorney and witnesses boycotted the hearing, saying Schickel was biased because of his financial contributions to the Gators.From the totality of the evidence, I find that the burden of proof was not met and I find Mr. Callaway not responsible, Schickel wrote.Schickel addressed the perception of bias, saying he declined to recuse himself because I did not believe that I would be biased in any way in favor of or against any of the parties. I have prosecuted rape cases. I have sat in judgment of lawyers. My family has dealt with rape issues.The accuser has 10 business days to appeal the ruling.Callaway was the only witness at the hearing. Schickel said Callaway testified that the sexual encounter was consensual, at least on the accusers part, and admitted that he was high on marijuana.I was so stoned I had no interest in having sex with anyone, Callaway testified, saying the accuser was the aggressor.Schickel said he found no evidence suggesting that the accuser was intoxicated to the extent she could not consent. The accuser had previously told investigators she did not consent because of intoxication and/or force. Schickel found that she was not detained at any point nor did she ask for help from any of the others present, including another woman.The womans attorney said Friday that the ruling was expected since they didnt show for the hearing and that his client is so disheartened that shes considering not returning to school.Our client and the whole university community deserve a lot better than this, Colorado-based attorney John Clune said.Callawaays Gainesville-based attorney, Huntley Johnson, said Clune has gone out of his way to distort Mr.dddddddddddd Callaways action. Please allow us to level the playing field.The decision by the hearing officer reflects only a fraction of the evidence which is not favorable to the complainant, Johnson added. The womens adviser has said, `They will take their witnesses and go elsewhere. They need to be careful what they wish for.Callaway was suspended in January for violating the universitys code of conduct policy and forced to take classes online. The suspension came nearly two months after the alleged incident in early December.Callaway was partially reinstated in June, allowed to return to campus and work out with teammates. Callaway caught 35 passes for 678 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman last season. He also returned 28 punts for 435 yards and two scores.Schickels decision could clear the way for Callaways full return and allow him to play in the Sept. 3 season opener against UMass.The athletic department deferred calls seeking comment to the university, which has handled the case from the start.The University of Florida will not tolerate sexual misconduct and thoroughly investigates every allegation it receives through the student conduct and Title IX processes, the school said in a statement. While we want to be as transparent as possible, we cannot address rumors, media reports or misleading statements from attorneys on this subject.We cannot confirm whether or not any allegation or student conduct investigation exists; and the university is barred from discussing specific student disciplinary cases. Federal and state law are very clear on this front and require strict confidentiality of this kind of information.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '