By far, Canada has had the most hype building up to the announcement of the roster for the 2010 Olympic Games. Team Canada General Manager Steve Yzerman took the podium just after Noon today to deliver the good news to some and heartbreak to others.
There weren’t very many surprise selections to the Olympic squad that will try to obtain a Gold medal for only the second time in the past 60 years.
Team Canada 2010 Olympic Goaltenders
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
There isn’t much that Brodeur hasn’t done. Back-stopping team Canada to Olympic Gold in 2002, Brodeur has 3 Stanley Cup rings to go along with the NHL records for most games played, most wins by a goalie and most career shut-outs. Expect Brodeur to be the opening day starter for Team Canada as his poise and confidence will surely be of the utmost importance.
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Proclaimed as the predecessor to Brodeur for years now, Luongo has proven to the hockey world that he belongs in the conversation among the best in the world. With his solid, consistent regular season play Luongo strikes fear into opposing teams on a nightly basis, but has failed to win any significant team titles which may hurt his chances at starting for Canada in the city that he now calls home.
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburg Penguins
A year ago, Fleury was nothing more than an afterthought for team Canada, but after a Stanley Cup championship and a solid regular season with the Penguins, Fluery was impossible to leave off.
Team Canada 2010 Olympic Defenseman
Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks
A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Niedermayer will play a vital role in 2010 for team Canada as he will be called upon to play the shut down role against opposing team’s top lines. Niedermayer will also be team captain.
Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
Big and bad, Pronger has been a winner everywhere he has played
Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks
A confident defender, Boyle has the speed and skill that will benefit Canada moving the puck out of the defensive zone without hesitation.
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Probably the biggest surprise named to team Canada, Doughty is only in his second year in the NHL but has definitely proven his worth, Doughty will more than likely be the team’s 7th defenseman.
Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Part one of two of the Blackhawks shut-down pairing, Keith plays big minutes against the leagues best players for a very strong Hawks team. Keith also brings scoring ability to Canada.
Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks
Part two of the Hawks defense tandem, Seabrook has blazing speed and vision rarely seen in young d-men. Playing along side teammate Duncan Keith, Seabrook is a welcome addition to Team Canada as the temptation to select a pairing such as Keith and Seabrook was too hard to resist for Steve Yzerman.
Shea Webber, Nashville Predators
Opposing forwards will fear battling Webber as he displays the toughness and grit that Canadian hockey was founded on. Webber was considered a lock for team Canada for a year now, and will not disappoint on the blue line in Vancouver
Team Canada 2010 Olympic Forwards
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburg Penguins
Arguably one of the best players in the world, Crosby will undoubtedly be a representing Team Canada, not only in 2010 but for many more years to come.
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
Nothing short of brilliant with the puck, Thornton’s vision and skill sets him aside from the rest of the pack with his only knock being his inability to win in the NHL playoffs.
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets
A power forward like no other, Nash not only has the ability to score goals but to knock bodies around. Nash has proven himself as a game breaker not only at the NHL level, but internationally with Team Canada.
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
After suffering a debilitating head injury, Bergeron has returned to the Bruins lineup and re-gained the form that earned him the respect and recognition deserved. Bergeron’s defensive play will go along way to aiding Canada’s team play.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Dominate and skilled, there aren’t many players that can muscle Getzlaf off the puck, who seems to score at will.
Dany Heatley, San Jose Sharks
Canadians will surely forgive Heatley for his trade demand out of Ottawa should he be able to perform with his San Jose line mates the way Yzerman and company know he can. A prolific goal scorer, Heatley can put the puck in the net with relative ease.
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
One of the few remaining members from the 2002 gold medal winning team, Iginla will play more of a veteran role in 2010. He will be relied on to provide leadership to this very young team Canada.
Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Marleau will more than likely play with San Jose line mates Thornton and Heatley as their production during the regular season was almost impossible to ignore. Marleau will also be called upon to kill penalties and check against opposing forwards.
Rounding out Team Canada are:
Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Dan Leggieri - Hockey runs in this man's blood. From the first time he laced up his first pair of skates, he was hooked and there was no stopping his ...
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