OLYMPIC FEVER'S UPON US: RUSSIA, SWEDEN NAME ROSTERS
RossCreekNation
December 27 2009 10:04PM
With the Olympics just under seven weeks away, Russia and Sweden have named their respective Ice Hockey rosters, while we Canadians patiently wait until Wednesday at 10:00 am (MT) for Steve Yzerman and company to announce our roster. With months of speculation behind us, we have but a few more days to come up with our own versions of Team Canada. Before I lay out my 'team of the day', let's take a look at what the Russian & Swedish teams have to offer.
RUSSIAN VODKA
After losing the bronze medal game to the Czech Republic at the 2006 Olympics in Italy, the Russians enter these Olympics as Canada's biggest threat. Made up of player's playing in the NHL and the KHL, here's what their roster will look like in Vancouver...
FORWARDS
Maxim Afinogenov (ATL), Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Sergei Fedorov (KHL), Ilya Kovalchuk (ATL), Viktor Kozlov (KHL), Evgeni Malkin (PIT), Aleksey Morozov (KHL), Alex Ovechkin (WSH), Alexander Radulov (KHL), Alexander Semin (WSH), Danis Zaripov (KHL), Sergei Zinoviev (KHL)
DEFENCE
Sergei Gonchar (PIT), Denis Grebeshkov (EDM), Dmitri Kalinin (KHL), Konstantin Korneyev (KHL), Andrei Markov (MTL), Ilya Nikulin (KHL), Fedor Tyutin (CBJ), Anton Volchenkov (OTT)
GOAL
Ilya Bryzgalov (PHX), Evgeni Nabokov (SJ), Semyon Varlamov (WSH)
Some notable players not named to the squad... Alexei Kovalev, Alexei Yashin, Nikolai Zherdev and injured Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.
SWEDISH MEATBALLS
In an effort to defend their gold medal victory of 2006 in Turin, the Swedes have elected to go with a primarily veteran lineup, including 13 members off that '06 roster and 19 active NHLers. Without '06 captain Mats Sundin, this years version will be captained by Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom. Here's a look at their roster...
FORWARDS
Daniel Alfredsson (OTT), Nicklas Backstrom (WSH), Loui Eriksson (DAL), Peter Forsberg (SEL), Tomas Holmstrom (DET), Patric Hornqvist (NSH), Fredrik Modin (CBJ), Samuel Pahlsson (CBJ), Daniel Sedin (VAN), Henrik Sedin (VAN), Mattias Weinhandl (KHL), Henrik Zetterberg (DET)
DEFENCE
Tobias Enstrom (ATL), Magnus Johansson (SEL), Niklas Kronwall (DET), Nicklas Lidstrom (DET), Douglas Murray (SJ), Johnny Oduya (NJ), Henrik Tallinder (BUF), Mattias Ohlund (TB)
GOAL
Jonas Gustavsson (TOR), Stefan Liv (SEL), Henrik Lundquist (NYR)
Without injured Detroit forward Johan Franzen, the biggest surprise to me is the exclusion of Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson who was a part of the '06 squad, and the inclusion of oft-injured Columbus winger Fredrik Modin (although he was also a member of the '06 team).
CANADIAN BACON
Here in Canada, there will be no less than 3,072,634 TV networks airing the 10:00 announcement of the roster Wednesday morning. CTV, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet & NHL Network are just a few of the networks set to air the special broadcast (along with The FAN 960 in Calgary). With TSN & Sportsnet coming together for the Olympics, we'll get to see a "dream team" of experts come together as host Brian Williams will be joined by the likes of Daren Millard, Gord Miller, Pierre McGuire, Nick Kypreos, James Duthie, Bob McKenzie, Dave Hodge and I'm sure a slew of others.
MY TEAM
With everyone and their dog picking a roster these days, I'll now take my ~esteemed~ turn.
FORWARDS
E. Staal-Crosby-Iginla
Marleau-Thornton-Heatley
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Morrow-Toews-St. Louis
B. Richards
DEFENCE
Pronger-Niedermeyer
Weber-Bouwmeester
Seabrook-Keith
Boyle
GOAL
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
Now I'm not so much set on the line combos/defence pairings, but that's how I feel at the moment. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind and/or bash Hockey Canada if they lose even if they pick my exact roster. With names like Lecavalier, M. Richards, Carter, Smyth, Fisher, Bergeron, Doan, J. Staal, Stamkos, Doughty, Phaneuf & Green (just to name a few) also in the mix, Team Canada's roster could look a bit different than mine. One thing is for certain... Canada will not have a repeat performance of 2006 and finish 7th... right?
I showed you mine, now you show me yours. What does YOUR Team Canada look like?
NOW BRING ON THE GOLD!!
From TSN.ca: Another notable absentee is Vancouver's Mikael Samuelsson, who pulled no punches in discussing the snub. "Probably going to get in trouble for this, but they can go (expletive deleted) themselves," was his reaction following the Canucks win over Calgary Sunday night.
Here's my Team Canada:
Heatley-Thornton-Marleau
Nash-Crosby-Iggy
Penner-Getzlaf-Perry
Morrow-B.Richards-St.Louis
Fisher
Pronger-Neids
Keith-Green
Boyle-Weber
JayBo
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
Penner won't be picked tho.
Here's my Team Canada:
Nash-Crosby-Iggy
Heatley-Thornton-Marleau
E.Staal-Getzlaf-Perry
Lucic-M.Richards-St.Louis
Toews
Pronger-Neidermayer
Keith-Seabrook
Boyle-Weber
JayBo
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
Nash - Crosby - Iginla
Heatley - Thornton - St.Louis
B.Ricahrds - Getzlaf - Perry
Morrow - M.Richards - Sharp
Marleau
Bouwmeester - Weber
Niedermayer - Boyle
Keith - Seabrook
Green
Brodeur
Luongo
Ward
...And just for kicks, Team Canada 2: The leftovers
Smyth - Lecavalier - Doan
Cammalleri - Staal - Bergeron
Hartnell - Toews - Carter
Penner - Fisher - Armstrong
Savard
Hamhuis - Pronger
Phaneuf - Regehr
Souray - Doughty
Burns
Giguere
Fleury
Price
how come my lines came out all F'd up?
I swear, I've never had more trouble posting on a message board or comments section in a blog than I have on this site.
"Probably going to get in trouble for this, but they can go (expletive deleted) themselves," was his reaction following the Canucks win over Calgary Sunday night.
Me and my 23 pts deserve a spot!
Dream Team?!? Nothing that includes McQuire and Kypreos should be called that. Who's next, MacLean? Dear god.
GOTEAMCANADAMENSOLYMPICHOCKEYTEAM!!!
Ok, that needs work.
Are we having GDB's for the Olypics? We should.
Heatley-Thornton-Marleau Staal-Crosby-Nash Iggy-Getzlaf-Perry Morrow-Toews-Sharp B.Richards
Boyle-Neids Keith-Swabrook Regher-JBo Weber
Brodeur Luongo Fleury
regher over the human rake?
I don't like what The Rake brought to the Flyers this season...or in 2006 Olympics. Less question marks the better, imo.
Dion Phaneuf sings karaoke, drunk as puck...
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4d8b2578-6113-4326-8722-8342b318930b
(hat tip to tencer)
Nash - Crosby - Iginla
Heatley - Thornton - Marleau
B. Richards - Getzlaf - St. Louis
Staal - M. Richards - Morrow
Toews
Pronger - Boyle
Green - Niedermeyer
Keith - Weber
Beauchemin
Brodeur
Luongo
Fleury
When does team USA name their roster? I can't wait to ridicule it!
On second thought. Here's my USA projected terrible lineup:
Guerin - Modano - Amonte
Roenick - Weight - Langenbrunner
Blake - Tkachuk - Gionta
Cole - Drury - Grier
Schnieder - Chelios
Poti - Mara
Housley - Leetch
Vanbiesbrouk, Richter, Barasso
That lineup is puuuurrrree booyah!
January 1st. I believe during the outdoor classic.
289. Team Discovery Channel 482 -37
270. RossCreek Renegades 483 -36
Oh RossCreek. It is so on.
@Horcsky
Here's a list of USA hopeful's...
Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Tim Connolly, Chris Drury, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Mike Knuble, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Jason Pominville, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny, James vanRiemsdyk
Defencemen: Zach Bogosian, Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney
Goaltenders: Craig Anderson, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas
*shaking in his boots*
;-)
@RossCreekNation
But for the love of God, how is USA supposed to win without American superstars like Chelios and Barasso?! How I ask you!
Dec 28, 2009
"F"
nash (L) crosby (L) iginla (R)
b. richards (L) getzlaf (R) perry (R)
marleau (L) thornton (L) heatley (L)
j. staal (L) m. richards (L) fisher (R)
toews (L)
"D"
niedermayer (L) weber (R)
pronger (L) boyle (R)
keith (L) doughty (R) Yes, he's ready NOW! Pudgy faced D-Man is just 20 but he's got it all and is low risk too. bouwmeester (L)
"G"
brodeur luongo fleury
Iggy - Crosby - Nash Heatly - Thornton - B. Richards St Louis - Getz - Perry Doan - M. Richards - Morrow Toews
Pronger - Nieds Weber - JayBo Boyle - Keith Doughty
Staal hasn't done enough this year and Stamkos has cooled down which is a shame. Marleau & Vinny are the odd men out. Brad Richards really came back this year and would be hard to leave him off, but look for Stamkos if he doesn't make it.
I like Sharp, he could get in for Morrow or Doan, although they have the experience that Steve Y likes. Sharp & Richards would be some kind of wicked shut down forwards and on PK.
Wouldn't be surprised if Green usurped Doughty as well (they are similar players), but Doughty is the real deal and they might be thinking about the mistakes of Turin.