Sports Seconds: Send the rookies to Italy in 2006
Team Canada's men's hockey team created a long list of 81 National Hockey League (NHL) players that will hope to crack the roster for the 2006 Turin, Italy Olympics and join in on the efforts to defend their Olympic gold medal.
The list includes many obvious shoo-ins for the team including, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Mario Lemuiex, Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, Boston Bruins captain Joe Thornton, and New Jersey Devils goal tender Martin Brodeur.
With an ample amount of talent to choose from, Team Canada's executive led by Wayne Gretzky could easily put together three separate competitive teams from this list, but must narrow it down to 23.
Instead of selecting what I feel will be the entire finalized roster for team Canada, I am going to suggest three players that should be left off the team, and three players that most definitely should be placed on the roster.
Three players that should be kept off the finalized list for the 2006 Turin, Italy games are Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe, and Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi.
Yzerman has been the long-time captain of the Detroit Red Wings, and a fixture on Team Canada hockey teams for almost as long. Has been the epitome of a classy, hard working, Canadian for his entire career.
However, reality has sunk in for Yzerman, whom at 40 years of age is not the player he once was. This is something Yzerman should realize as well, and a sympathy spot on the team for him to honour his career is something that I doubt Yzerman would accept anyway.
McCabe is enjoying a fantastic start to the 2005/2006 season and is currently ranked 11th in the NHL in scoring, tops for all defenseman. Despite this fact, and despite my adoration for McCabe's style of play, he should still be left off.
For some reason I can envision in my head McCabe blowing a tire in a crucial point in a game, springing either Russian sensation Ilya Kovalchuk or Alexander Ovechkin for a game-winning goal.
Still within the aftermath of the Steve Moore incident, Bertuzzi's inclusion on the team would be too much of a distraction for the club, something that is not needed for such a great event, and for such a talented team.
For the three players that I suggest should be placed on the roster, I am going with some young players that are catching the NHL by storm this season. Pittsburgh Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby, young Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, and Carolina Hurricanes sniper Eric Staal should all be on the team without a doubt.
Crosby is proving that the hype was warranted, and is putting up great numbers despite the pressure that has been placed upon him and only being 18 years of age. He's currently 12th in the NHL in scoring, 9 goals, and 15 assists for 24 points. He also displays the grit, toughness, and determination that would allow him to contribute immensely to Team Canada.
Phaneuf has ignored the new rule changes this season, and is throwing his body around with authority. His thunderous hits, gritty style of play, and arrogant attitude has earned him the respect of many players, coaches, and executives in the NHL.
Currently sitting sixth in the NHL in scoring, Staal is leading the Hurricanes to a great start to the season, and would be an excellent choice to throw on a wing for Team Canada. Staal is doing a great job at scoring currently, but with passes from Sakic, Lemieux, or Thornton, Staal could really contribute well for Team Canada in 2006.
Disagree with Aaron's Olympics picks? Email him at llahnoraa@yahoo.ca
The list includes many obvious shoo-ins for the team including, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Mario Lemuiex, Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, Boston Bruins captain Joe Thornton, and New Jersey Devils goal tender Martin Brodeur.
With an ample amount of talent to choose from, Team Canada's executive led by Wayne Gretzky could easily put together three separate competitive teams from this list, but must narrow it down to 23.
Instead of selecting what I feel will be the entire finalized roster for team Canada, I am going to suggest three players that should be left off the team, and three players that most definitely should be placed on the roster.
Three players that should be kept off the finalized list for the 2006 Turin, Italy games are Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe, and Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi.
Yzerman has been the long-time captain of the Detroit Red Wings, and a fixture on Team Canada hockey teams for almost as long. Has been the epitome of a classy, hard working, Canadian for his entire career.
However, reality has sunk in for Yzerman, whom at 40 years of age is not the player he once was. This is something Yzerman should realize as well, and a sympathy spot on the team for him to honour his career is something that I doubt Yzerman would accept anyway.
McCabe is enjoying a fantastic start to the 2005/2006 season and is currently ranked 11th in the NHL in scoring, tops for all defenseman. Despite this fact, and despite my adoration for McCabe's style of play, he should still be left off.
For some reason I can envision in my head McCabe blowing a tire in a crucial point in a game, springing either Russian sensation Ilya Kovalchuk or Alexander Ovechkin for a game-winning goal.
Still within the aftermath of the Steve Moore incident, Bertuzzi's inclusion on the team would be too much of a distraction for the club, something that is not needed for such a great event, and for such a talented team.
For the three players that I suggest should be placed on the roster, I am going with some young players that are catching the NHL by storm this season. Pittsburgh Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby, young Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, and Carolina Hurricanes sniper Eric Staal should all be on the team without a doubt.
Crosby is proving that the hype was warranted, and is putting up great numbers despite the pressure that has been placed upon him and only being 18 years of age. He's currently 12th in the NHL in scoring, 9 goals, and 15 assists for 24 points. He also displays the grit, toughness, and determination that would allow him to contribute immensely to Team Canada.
Phaneuf has ignored the new rule changes this season, and is throwing his body around with authority. His thunderous hits, gritty style of play, and arrogant attitude has earned him the respect of many players, coaches, and executives in the NHL.
Currently sitting sixth in the NHL in scoring, Staal is leading the Hurricanes to a great start to the season, and would be an excellent choice to throw on a wing for Team Canada. Staal is doing a great job at scoring currently, but with passes from Sakic, Lemieux, or Thornton, Staal could really contribute well for Team Canada in 2006.
Disagree with Aaron's Olympics picks? Email him at llahnoraa@yahoo.ca
