Team Canada Announced on Saturday

On Saturday, Team Canada Executive Director, Wayne Gretzky, announced the lineup that will represent Team Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey in August and September. The lineup that was announced still can be changed up until August 29 allowing any player who is incapable of playing to be replaced.

Several players that participated at the 2002 Olympics will not be a part of the World Cup team. Eric Lindros, Paul Kariya, Mike Peca, Joe Nieuwendyk, Owen Nolan, Brendan Shanahan and Curtis Joseph were left off this year’s team. Other players who were thought to have had a strong chance of being named to the team like Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi, Vincent Lecavalier, Alex Tanguay and Keith Primeau were also not invited.

This year’s lineup will include a mix of returning players with experience, young players, and others who have had seasons far too exceptional to be ignored. The returning players from the Olympic Team are Mario Lemieux, who will again be the team’s captain, Joe Sakic, Martin Brodeur, Ed Belfour, Steve Yzerman, Jarome Iginla, Ryan Smyth, Simon Gagne, Scott Niedermayer, Adam Foote, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger, Eric Brewer and Ed Jovanovski. Newcomers will include Roberto Luongo, Wade Redden, Robyn Regehr, Shane Doan, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Brenden Morrow, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and Joe Thornton.

By selecting this lineup, Gretzky made it clear he believes this tournament will be won with not only free wheeling offensive players but also with players who are capable of playing solid, dependable defense. It will be a different type of game than the Olympics were as the World Cup will be played on NHL sized ice. That takes away room from the fast, skilled players and stresses the importance of guys who can win battles along the boards. By adding players like Draper, Maltby, Morrow, Doan and Gagne, Canada will be a strong team in that area. The only question will be whether or not they will be too strong along the boards and not strong enough with their offensive firepower.