I agree, though I was talking more about elite NHL players. We also still trail greatly in coaching quality. Canada has a big head start. That's slowly changing because we've been kiping Canadians to help because we have the coin.
I don't think there's any doubt hockey has grown, though if the NHL doesn't get a handle on costs that will stop soon enough. Pricing families out of buildings when you don't have a television friendly sport isn't very wise.
I think it's awesome that Europe has really picked it up. I was pretty surprised by how well the Germans actually played in the early games as well. I don't think they'll ever be a real power, though.
Considering most "experts" had the U.S. hanging at 5th, I was pretty happy with the result. I'd rather have seen it decided on a different kind of goal (that game probably shouldn't have been decided on a defensive lapse, ya know?), there isn't ANY reason for the U.S. to hang their heads.