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P.K. Subban makes the cut, but Martin St. Louis and Joe Thornton are left off Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey roster
Men's Olympic hockey team has speed and smarts: Mike Babcock
Montreal Canadiens
defenceman PK Subban will play for Canada at the Olympics in Sochi next
month, as Team Canada’s GM Steve Yzerman and the rest of his Olympic
brain trust announced the men’s hockey roster Tuesday morning.
Left off Canada’s
roster were veterans Martin St. Louis, Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle and Eric
Staal, along with some younger players thought to be on the bubble, like
Claude Giroux, Tyler Seguin, Logan Couture and Brent Seabrook.
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Always a topic of
great debate, Canada opted for a mix of youth, chemistry and veteran
experience in assembling the 25-man roster that will travel to Sochi,
Russia next month to defend the gold medal won in Vancouver four years
ago.
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“In the end
we’ve put together the best group of players we possibly can. Now we
have to become the best team we possibly can,” head coach Mike Babcock
said.
Sidney Crosby, who scored the game-winning goal over the United States in overtime, is back and likely will be named captain.
Roberto Luongo, who
was in net for the completion of the 2010 tournament, could get another
chance next month as he’s back on the roster following some tumultuous
times. Jonathan Toews, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Patrice Bergeron
are also among the Vancouver medallists named to the team.
Team Canada is hoping to cash in on Chris Kunitz’s natural chemistry with his Penguins teammate Crosby.
“Chris Kunitz has been
an outstanding player throughout his career, a Stanley Cup champion,”
Yzerman told a news conference Tuesday at the Toronto Maple Leafs’
practice facility. “He played for me at the 2008 world championship in
Quebec and Halifax and was a very good player on that team.”
“He’s a skilled
player,” Yzerman added. “Yes he plays with Sidney Crosby and he’s been a
great contributor not only to that line but to his team.”
Martin St. Louis,
snubbed in 2010 by Yzerman, was cut again this time around. Joe
Thornton, Eric Staal, Claude Giroux and Dan Boyle were also considered
candidates who didn’t make the cut.
Yzerman said St. Louis, who plays in Tampa, was an especially hard decision.
“He’s a tremendous
hockey player who has played outstanding hockey for us in Tampa this
year,” said Yzerman, who is the general manager of the Lightning. “Our
team has a good record and he’s a big reason why our team is playing
well.”
Lightning forward
Stamkos’ status for the tournament is unclear as he continues to recover
from a broken leg. Yzerman said his rehab is going well.
“If he’s healthy he’s one of the best 25 players obviously in Canada and should be on that team,” said Yzerman.
Canada’s roster
features two of the NHL’s top three scorers in Crosby (23 goals, 40
assists) and Getzlaf (20 goals and 28 assists). U.S. winger Patrick Kane
(23 goals, 31 assists) is the other.
Canada beat the United
States in overtime to win the gold medal in 2010 when Crosby beat Ryan
Miller. It was Canada’s second gold medal since the NHL began sending
its players at the 1998 Nagano Games.
Canada opens the Sochi Games Feb. 13 against Norway.
Here’s a look at the players selected:
Forwards:
Sidney Crosby
(Pittsburgh), Jonathan Toews (Chicago), Patrice Bergeron (Boston), Ryan
Getzlaf (Anaheim), John Tavares (New York Islanders), Matt Duchene
(Colorado), Patrick Sharp (Chicago), Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh), Jamie
Benn (Dallas), Patrick Marleau (San Jose), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay),
Corey Perry (Anaheim), Rick Nash (NY Ranger), Jeff Carter (L.A.)
Defence:
Shea Weber
(Nashville), Duncan Keith (Chicago), Jay Bouwmeester (St. Louis), Alex
Pietrangelo (St. Louis), Drew Doughty (L.A.), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (San
Jose), PK Subban (Montreal), Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver)
Goalies: Carey Price (Montreal), Roberto Luongo (Vancouver), Mike Smith (Phoenix)
With files from The Canadian Press
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