Team Canada 2 (The Omissions) | 
To start off, I just want to thank OIH reader Matt Decaire for supplying his roster for the article. Thanks for the support!
If you live in Canada, you know first hand how this country is blessed with superior hockey talent compared to other parts of the world. Being able to ice two teams at the Olympics, and be competitive, I don’t think any other country could do.
With yesterday’s announcement of the Olympic team, there were additions and omissions that were not only surprising, but debatable. And, until the tournament gets underway, critics will scrutinize the picks that Steve Yzerman and co. made. This will continue until the tournament is done, and Canada either brings home the gold, or another disappointing finish a la 2006.
As you can see in the upcoming roster, Canada left off some high profile veteran players, as well as some younger players that have been having amazing seasons. On paper, this team could rival the best in the world, albeit probably finish fifth or sixth, but would be competitive enough to put on a show.
Without further ado, Team Canada 2!
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Forwards C |
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Jeff Carter |
Marc Savard |
Mike Cammalleri |
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Martin St.Louis |
Vincent Lecavalier |
Steven Stamkos |
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James Neal |
Brad Richards |
Simon Gagne |
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Ryan Smyth |
Mike Fisher |
Patrick Sharp |
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*Omissions: Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton, Dustin Penner, Brooks Laich, John Tavares, Milan Lucic*
Jeff Carter: Apparently there was much deliberation over whether to take Carter or his Philadelphia teammate Mike Richards. With all the troubles that Philly has had this season, they were leaning towards Carter since he has stayed out of most of the discussion. In the end, Team Canada brass took Richards, leaving Carter available for this team.
Vincent Lecavalier: “Vinny” has been playing lights out recently. He has six points in his last five games, but besides that, he has been dominant on the ice, carrying the play whenever he touches the puck. Although he is 12th in the league in assists, his first 25 games killed his chances of making the big squad, but was plenty good enough for Team Canada 2.
Mike Fisher: With Patrice Bergeron coming out of left field and being named to the big team, many believed that Fisher was robbed of his chance. I wasn’t one of these people, as having one good season and being engaged to a hot country singer does not put him over the likes of Martin St. Louis or Brad Richards, proven veterans in the NHL and international play.
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Defenceman LD RD |
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Jay Bouwmeester |
Dion Phaneuf |
| Mike Green |
Robyn Regehr |
| Stephane Robidas |
Ed Jovanovski |
| 7th: Tyler Myers |
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Mike Green: The biggest knock on Green is well documented. Although he’s on pace to be the highest scoring defenceman for the second year in a row, he has a terrible knock on him for being bad defensively. They decided to go with Drew Doughty over Green, as they felt that Doughty could do everything that Green does, but is more responsible in his own zone and can play against the opposition’s best players.
Jay Bouwmeester: Besides having somewhat of a sub-par season in Calgary, the word on the street, and from looking at the chosen roster, is that Yzerman wanted to build a team that has some already established chemistry among the players. This is where Brent Seabrook was taken over Bouwmeester, allowing him to play with his Blackhawk defence partner Duncan Keith.
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Goalies |
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Dwayne Roloson |
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Cam Ward |
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Carey Price |
Cam Ward: An injury earlier in the season, combined with the solid play of Marc-Andre Fleury, killed Ward’s chances of making the big squad. On this team, there is no clear cut number one goalie, as Roloson has been playing well on the island, and Price has had his dominant moments in Montreal
Topics: Cam Ward, Hockey Canada, Jay Bouwmeester, Jeff Carter, Mike Fisher, Mike Green, Team Canada debate, Team Canada omissions, Vancouver Olympics, Vincent Lecavalier
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Yikes. You actually threw in the “engaged-to-a-hot-country-singer” comment in your synopsis to rule out Mike Fisher when he is having one of the best seasons of his career? ZOINKS! Seriously though, Fisher has (and will continue) to step up with two key Senator players out of the Ottawa line-up and his first half definately overshadows Lecavalier and Patrice hands down.
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