Meet Team Canada’s 2014 Olympic Team
After a much too long and far too many speeches by people looking to get their moment of glory, Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Hockey Canada group finally unveiled their 25 man roster this morning. As expected, there were some big names left off the roster, and let the debate begin. Here are the names that were included:
GOALIES
Dec 19, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie
Roberto Luongo(1) defends against the Dallas Stars attack during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Dallas Stars defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver
Carey Price, Montreal
Mike Smith, Phoenix
No real surprises here, as they have been the front-runners for most of the season. Price and Luongo will be 1-2, and Smith will be there to be a cheerleader and take shots in practice. The only question is will Luongo be healthy for the start of the games. Chances are, yes.
DEFENSEMEN
Dec 10, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman
Duncan Keith(2) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Stars 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jay Bouwmeester, St. Louis
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles
Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver
Duncan Keith, Chicago
Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis
P.K. Subban, Montreal
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose
Shea Weber, Nashville
This is a mobile, two way group of defensemen. Whoever is deemed as the 8th defenseman will have to accept the role and the chance they might go and not get to dress.
FORWARDS
Jan 5, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center
Sidney Crosby(87) passes the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jamie Benn, Dallas
Patrice Bergeron, Boston
Jeff Carter, Los Angeles
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
Matt Duchene, Colorado
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim
Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh
Patrick Marleau, San Jose
Rick Nash, New York Rangers
Corey Perry, Anaheim
Patrick Sharp, Chicago
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Jonathan Toews, Chicago
A very centre-laden roster, but players with the hockey sense to move to the wing as more than a couple will have to do. Injuries to Stamkos and Couture are the major question marks among this group.
LEFT OFF
While the debate on who was left off the roster will begin now, I will start you off by listing some of the big names left off, that were on more than a few people’s roster:
Dan Boyle, San Jose
Brent Seabrook, Chicago
Marc Staal, New York Rangers
Logan Couture, San Jose
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia
Taylor Hall, Edmonton
Mike Richards, Los Angeles
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Eric Staal, Carolina
Joe Thornton, San Jose
The biggest surprise might be the exclusion of St. Louis. He has kept pace even in the absence of Stamkos and plays for Yzerman’s Lightning. The rest would all likely make the team of many different countries, but the great depth of Canada has left them off.