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Ducks’ Ryan Whitney added to U.S. Olympic team

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Ducks defenseman Ryan Whitney was added to the U.S. Olympic team Thursday, giving the Ducks nine players on various Olympic teams.

Whitney and Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes were named to replace New Jersey Devils defenseman Paul Martin and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek, who withdrew because of injuries.

Whitney, who turns 27 this month and is a native of Massachusetts, has four goals and 24 points this season with a minus-seven defensive rating.

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‘It’s unfortunate for Paul he can’t go,’ Whitney said Wednesday night before being officially notified he had made the team. ‘He’s a pretty good guy and a great player. It’s unfortunate for him. You never want to see anybody injured, but you’ll go any way you can get there.’

Brian Burke, general manager of the U.S. team, called Whitney ‘a good-sized player with puck-moving ability’ and noted Gleason’s ‘physical presence.’

Burke, the former Ducks’ general manager and now GM of the Maple Leafs, praised both as ‘character guys.’

‘There are guys who were very alive right to the end of the [original] selection process,’ Burke said.

-- Robyn Norwood

Related: Listen to Ryan Whitney talk about his selection to the U.S. Olympic hockey team

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