It was leaked earlier in the day by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that Dustin Byfuglien was not included in the Brian Burke’s plans for the American Olympic team. As expected Patrick Kane was named to Team USA. This brings the Blackhawks total to six players participating in the Winter Games.
Team USA (1) – Patrick Kane
Team Slovakia (2) – Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky
Team Canada (3) – Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook
Team Canada announced their Olympic roster this morning, and Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook will represent their country in Vancouver at the Winter Games. Being selected over so many other capable players to represent their nation is easily a highlight in their young careers.
Steve Yzerman and the Canadian brass had a deep talent pool to choose from. Keith was a lock to make Team Canada. Seabrook could have made the team all his own, but his on-ice relationship with Keith solidified his spot on the roster. Toews was on the bubble regarding his selection to the team, but as I wrote last week his leadership and past international experience would make him as asset. I neglected to mention his plus/minus rating and his success in the face-off circle.
Team Finland –
No surprise here, Antti Niemi was left off the Finnish team’s roster. The Fins are pretty deep at the position when it comes to NHL talent.
WJC Update –
In Sweden’s 4-1 victory over Russia, Blackhawks prospect Marcus Kruger came away with just a plus/minus of +1. In three games Kruger has two assists, two penalty-minutes and a plus/minus of +5 in the tournament.
A couple Blackhawks got some good news today. Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky were selected to the Slovakian Olympic hockey team. They are the first Blackhawks chosen to represent their country at the Winter Games in Vancouver.
No one will question Hossa’s addition to the roster. The choice of picking Kopecky to the team might surprise many since he hasn’t done anything of value with Chicago, but he is one of the few Slovakian players in the NHL. Only two Slovakian NHL players didn’t make the team – Marek Svatos and Boris Valabik. When Czechoslovakia split in 1993, most of the hockey talent resided in the Czech Republic.
Team Canada will announce their Olympic squad tomorrow morning, and Team USA will announce theirs New Years Day during the Winter Classic broadcast.
It was as though Team Canada’s Olympic general manager, Steve Yzerman, held informal auditions in Chicago this weekend for a spot on the Canadian national team. He was in attendance for the Bruins and Red Wings games. Detroit’s head coach, Mike Babcock, is slated to coach the Canadian Olympic team as well. They were able to get a good look at the Blackhawks’ Canadian born players first hand. Other members of the Canadian brain trust – Kevin Lowe, Doug Armstrong and Ken Holland – were in attendance for Sunday’s match-up.
The four Blackhawks invited to September’s training camp – Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews – were closely scouted in both games. Brian Campbell did his best over the two-game stretch to be noticed. It was the best we’ve seen from him all season.
The only sure thing from the Blackhawks to make the Canadian roster would be Keith. His leadership and on-ice skills speak for themselves. Seabrook’s only chance to make the team is if Yzerman likes the idea keeping the blue-line duo together. Sharp doesn’t have a real shot since there are better forwards being considered. Campbell’s elevated play has come too late to make a real push for a roster spot. Toews’ future with the 2010 Canadian Olympic national team is teetering on the fence.
Toews has stiff competition for a roster spot, as Yzerman has a deep pool of centers to pick from. He already has international competition experience on his resume. Toews played for Team Canada in the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships as well as the 2007 and 2008 World Championships. He is also the third youngest player to be named any team’s captain. At the age of twenty-one he commands respect from his teammates.
One thing that Toews has going for himself is that Yzerman and Babcock have openly stated their admiration for the young captain. I’d like to finish this entry with a quote from Yzerman following Friday’s overtime win over the Bruins. What better way to make the case that Toews deserves a roster spot on the Canadian Olympic team then use the words from general manager himself.
Yzerman said of Toews:
“He’s a great competitor, he’s physically strong, he’s really responsible in all areas of the game – like everything about him. He’s a tremendous young player so I don’t see any shortcomings in his game and he’s just going to get better and better every year.”
The executive director of Team Canada, Steve Yzerman, announced today that he would reveal the 23-man Olympic roster on New Years Eve – one day before the American team is slated to announce their roster. In one hundred days from today, the Winter Games will begin in Vancouver.
Four players from the Blackhawks were invited to the orientation camp in August – Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. It is very doubtful that all four will make the team, yet non-invitee Brian Campbell could play his way onto Team Canada.
For the new readers and those that have forgotten, Red Rising will follow Team Canada’s quest for another Olympic gold medal. The focus, however, will be on the performance of the Blackhawks that make the team.
In somewhat related news, Yzerman’s roster announcement will be made in the midst of the World Junior Championship. Defensive prospects Shawn Lalonde and Dylan Olsen are competing for a chance to make that team.
Exciting stuff, eh?
No smile, Mr. Toews?
Yesterday, the last day of training camp for the Canadian Olympic team in Calgary, Alberta, ended in a scrimmage – Team Red vs. Team White. Patrick Sharp and Brent Seabrook (Red) faced-off against Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews (White) at the Pentgrowth Saddledome. The exhibition game played out like a glorified all-star game in front of a sellout crowd.
Over the course of the four-day Olympic orientation camp each player showcased their skills hoping to make the national team. It’ll be tough for any player to crack the roster since the list of invitees to the Canadian camp is so deep.
There are a few locks to make Team Canada, and none of them are Blackhawks. The best case scenario would be if three of the four ‘Hawks at the camp made the Olympic roster – Sharp being the odd-man out. There are just too many talented forwards that would keep the goal-scoring, defensive savvy forward from skating in Vancouver come February.
The 2006 Winter Games in Italy were an embarrassment for Canada placing seventh overall. Steve Yzerman and Mike Babcock will do anything in order to avoid a similar fate in front of the home crowd in Vancouver. Youth and speed hopefully will be served this time around in order to keep up with the European squads. A clunker like Chris Pronger, whose game really doesn’t translate well to the international style of play, could be passed over by the Canadian brain-trust – a decision could benefit the younger Seabrook if that is the case.
Keith may be the Blackhawk with the best chance to represent Chicago. He posses speed and a sound defensive game that would be an asset to Team Canada. Keith has improved steadily each season since his rookie campaign, and is quietly one of the better all-around defensemen in the league. There are few of his Canadian counterparts that would trump Keith’s value on and off the ice to the national team.
Toews would also benefit from a youth movement. There are arguably about five men at center ahead of him on the depth chart, but it would benefit Team Canada if they make a spot of Toews on their roster. Just as he is considered the future of Chicago hockey, he is also the future of Canadian hockey. Toews already has some experience at the international level playing in the 2007 and 2008 World Championships. A roster spot should be made for him, even if it means moving someone over to the wing.
Canadian 2010 Olympic Jersey
Last week when the U.S. Men’s Olympic orientation hockey camp met Patrick Kane and his legal situation loomed over the Woodridge, IL ice-rink. Today, Team Canada’s orientation camp started in Calgary, AB – first practice was held tonight. The story that will overshadow the Canadian training camp will be Dany Heatley’s trade demand, but I won’t bore you with that crap.
The Blackhawks have four players that will partake in this week’s orientation camp – Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. They have been split up evenly between the Red and White team. Team Red will have Sharp and Seabrook, and Team White will play Toews and Keith. The rest of the Canadian camp invitees can be found here.
There are a total of forty-six players at the camp, and the roster will need to be reduced to twenty-three in December.
What better time than now to announce that Red Rising will cover Team Canada leading up to and during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Every post regarding the Canadian Olympic team, however, will be Blackhawks centric.
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