We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Don’t expect any help from NHL teams

Written by: Jesse Michael on 8th December 2008

Drew Doughty has made his presence felt on the Kings blueline this season and won't play at the WJC | read this item

If Team Canada is going to achieve what has been dubbed the ‘drive for five’ at the World Junior Hockey Championship this year, they will have to do it without some of the key components that helped them win their fourth consecutive gold medal last year in the Czech Republic, and will now be relying on a new crop of players to accomplish the goal.

Five players all together; Steven Stamkos, drafted first overall in 2008 to the Tampa Bay Lightning; Drew Doughty, drafted second overall in 2008 to the Los Angeles Kings; and Luke Schenn, drafted fifth overall in 2008 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, have all lived up to their first round draft selections and looked to have become mainstays on each of their respective teams.

Stamkos, one of the major standouts at the tournament in 2007, posted two goals and eight assists in six games played, whereas Doughty and Schenn combined for four points while playing solid in their own zone defensively.

Two others; Kyle Turris, drafted third overall in 2007 by the Phoenix Coyotes; and Sam Gagner, drafted sixth overall in 2007 by the Edmonton Oilers, have also found their niche with each of their clubs as well.

At last year’s tournament, Turris was one of the unsung heroes of the tournament, posting four goals and four assists in seven games. Gagner played last season with the Edmonton Oilers and managed to score 13 goals and 49 points in his rookie season.

During an interview with Pat Quinn on Sportsnet last week, analyst Nick Kypreos asked Quinn if he had talked to any of the aforementioned players’ teams about releasing the players for the tournament, he stated that he himself had no spoken with any of the teams, but that “Hockey Canada has been in contact with the teams about these guys, but we aren’t expecting any of the young guys up there right now to be available for the tournament.”P[‘

For most countries, the thought of losing four of your major contributors in a championship run would be disastrous, however with returning players John Tavares, P.K. Subban, Thomas Hickey, and Zach Boychuk leading the way, as well as another eighteen of the top Juniors in Canada on the ice with them, Team Canada should have no problem completing their goal of the ‘drive for five’.

Other notables that are eligible to play for Canada but will most likely not be made available are: Brandon Sutter (Carolina), Colton Gillies (Minnesota), and Joshua Bailey (NY Islanders).

Topics: "drive for five", CHL, Czech Republic, Drew Doughty, Edmonton Oilers, Hockey Canada, John Tavares, Kyle Turris, Los Angeles Kings, Luke Schenn, Nick Kypreos, P.K. Subban, Pat Quinn, Phoenix Coyotes, Sam Gagner, Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, Team Canada, Thomas Hickey, Toronto Maple Leafs, Wold Junior Hockey Championship, Zach Boychuk

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