Team Canada

Goaltenders/Gardiens de but
30	Brodeur, Martin	L/G	6’2	210	5/6/72	Montréal, QC	New Jersey Devils
1	Luongo, Roberto	L/G	6’3	205	4/4/79	Montréal, QC	Florida Panthers
35	Turco, Marty	L/G	5’11	183	8/13/75	Sault Ste. Marie, ON	Dallas Stars
Defence/Défense
4	Blake, Rob	R/D	6’4	225	12/10/69	Simcoe, ON	Colorado Avalanche
3	Bouwmeester, Jay	L/G	6’4	210	9/27/83	Edmonton, AB	Florida Panthers
-	*Boyle, Dan	R/D	5’11	190	7/12/76	Ottawa, ON	Tampa Bay Lightning
52	Foote, Adam	R/D	6’2	215	7/10/71	Whitby, ON	Columbus Blue Jackets
55	Jovanovski, Ed	L/G	6’2	210	6/26/76	Windsor, ON	Vancouver Canucks
24	McCabe, Bryan	L/G	6'2	220	06/08/75	Calgary, AB	Toronto Maple Leafs
27	Niedermayer, Scott	L/G	6’1	200	8/31/73	Cranbrook, BC	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
44	Pronger, Chris	L/G	6’6	218	10/10/74	Dryden, ON	Edmonton Oilers
6	Redden, Wade	L/G	6’2	212	6/12/77	Lloydminster, SK	Ottawa Senators
28	Regehr, Robyn	L/G	6’3	226	4/19/80	Rosthern, SK	Calgary Flames
Forwards/Avants
14	Bertuzzi, Todd	R/D	6’3	245	2/2/75	Sudbury, ON	Vancouver Canucks
9	Doan, Shane	R/D	6’2	216	10/10/76	Halkirk, AB	Phoenix Coyotes
33	Draper, Kris	L/G	5’10	190	5/24/71	Toronto, ON	Detroit Red Wings
21	Gagné, Simon	L/G	6’0	185	2/29/80	Ste-Foy, QC	Philadelphia Flyers
15	Heatley, Dany	L/G	6’3	215	1/21/81	Calgary, AB	Ottawa Senators
12	Iginla, Jarome	R/D	6’1	208	7/1/77	St. Albert, AB	Calgary Flames
40	Lecavalier, Vincent	L/G	6’4	207	4/21/80	îÎe Bizard, QC	Tampa Bay Lightning
61	Nash, Rick	L/G	6’4	215	6/16/84	Brampton, ON	Columbus Blue Jackets
39	Richards, Brad	L/G	6’1	198	5/2/80	Murray Harbour, PEI	Tampa Bay Lightning
91	Sakic, Joe	L/G	5’11	195	7/7/69	Burnaby, BC	Colorado Avalanche
94	Smyth, Ryan	L/G	6’1	190	2/21/76	Banff, AB	Edmonton Oilers
10	*Spezza, Jason	R/D	6'3	211	06/13/83	Toronto, ON	Ottawa Senators
22	*Staal, Eric	L/G	6'4	205	10/29/84	Thunder Bay, ON	Carolina Hurricanes
26	St-Louis, Martin	L/G	5’9	185	6/18/75	Laval, QC	Tampa Bay Lightning
97	Thornton, Joe	L/G	6’4	225	7/2/79	St. Thomas, ON	San Jose Sharks

Goaltenders:

From the outset of the Team Canada selection process, Gretzky and crew made it absolutely clear that Martin Brodeur will be Canada's number 1 goalie; even despite the fact that Brodeur and the Devils had an atrocious start to their season. However, Brodeur has earned the spot playing absolutely spectacularly in the red and white in both Salt Lake City and the World Cup. As was the focus of Gretzky's crew from the beginning: experience is number 1. Behind him will be Roberto Luongo who took his spot between the pipes in the semi-finals of the World Cup and played a fantastic game against the Czechs whilst Brodeur was nursing a hand injury. Many believed that Turco should play behind Brodeur as a result of his excellent season thus far with the Stars. To that I say not likely! Gretzky knows where to put his loyalties and its done.

Defencemen:

All the big nhl-laden teams in the tournament are deep up front but only two, in my mind, are as deep on defence. One is the Finns and the other is the Cannucks. There was plenty of discussion about the fact that neither Ed Jovonovski nor Scott Niedermeyer will be participating due to injury and that it is a harsh blow to Canada. I say that is hogwosh. This Canadian team is extremely solid up front. The one thing that really stands out is that I have never in my entire life seen a bigger defence than the one Canada will ice in Torino. Not one of the Cannuck d-men are below 6'2 and 210 pounds. Led by the veterans Blake and Foote, this defence will probably be the best in the tournament both offensively and defensively. They will move the puck very well and with plenty of speed and will take the body hard and often. Everyone knows, it is no fun playing against Canada's defence.

Forwards:

As with all Canadian teams, there was no lack of controversy regarding who was picked up front. Eric Staal is third in scoring in the NHL and Jason Spezza is having a banner year playing with Dany Heatley while Rick Nash has sat out most of the season with injuries and Todd Bertuzzi....well nobody needs to be reminded what he did. Despite all the controversy, Gretzky and his boys have put together a fine assortment of players ranging from the slick, speedy Tampa Bay Lighting Martin St. Louis to the penultimate power forward, the San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton. The number one line argueably will be the Iginla-Sakic-Gagne line that was so dynamic in the World Cup while Quinn will try to retain some of the Lightning chemistry between St. Louis and Lecavalier on a line with Ottawa Senator phenom Dany Heatley. Another point of chemistry will be the Nash-Thornton combination that was so potent for HC Davos in the Swiss Elite League, the Spengler Cup and the World Hockey Championships last year. This group will score and will score in bunches as they have a fantastic balance of speed and size. Look for Jarome Iginla and Todd Bertuzzi, two Western Canadian boys, to have excellent tournaments.

General Comments: Canada is argueably the favourite for Gold comming into the tournament with the Czechs nipping at their heels. There will be no shortage of goals from this offensive-minded, high-powered roster. Pay no attention to the first three games against Italy, Germany and Switzerland as the first real test wont come until they face Finland in their fourth contest. The three games are good to try out line combinations and give Luongo, who will start against Germany, a chance to play.