By Kevin Oklobzija - Long before Ryan Callahan ever skated for the New York Rangers, or played junior hockey in Canada, or even caught the eye of USA Hockey officials, he played in some of the most intense street-hockey games known to childhood. The cul-de-sac at the end of Groveview Circle in North Greece was where a career was born.

"After school and in the summer, we played sun-up to sundown, all day, every day," said Sal Tuttobene, who lived a couple doors down from Mike and Donna Callahan's house and was out on the Groveview pavement, scoring goals and trading elbows with Ryan.

"We all used to pretend we were NHL stars — and now Ryan is."

He's a star who will be skating on hockey's biggest stage starting Tuesday when the U.S. plays its first game against Switzerland at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Callahan, 24, is the only athlete from the Rochester area — he still calls Greece home — competing in Vancouver.

Street of dreams

"It's funny how a hockey career blossomed out of this cul-de-sac," said Rick Stockton, Tuttobene's stepfather and father of Shayne Stockton, another Groveview street hockey alum.

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RYAN CALLAHAN STORM BIO... Ryan Callahan was selected by the Storm in the 15th and final round of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection... The Rochester, New York native went on to become the team's all-time leading goal scorer... Earned several awards with the Storm including team MVP in 2004-05... Received the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy... Represented his native USA at the 2005 World Junior Championship.

A total of 73 CHL players are competing in the games including 28 from the Western Hockey League, 25 from the Ontario Hockey League, and 20 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  Team Canada has the highest OHL representation with 7 alumni on their roster, followed by the USA with 6.

The Guelph Storm and London Knights lead the way with five alumni each on various Olympic rosters.

Former Storm players named to their national teams include (pictured left to right) Herbert Vasiljevs (Latvia), Fedor Tyutin (Russia), Drew Doughty (Canada), Ryan Callahan (USA) and Dustin Brown (USA).