December 21, 200520 yr Team Canada Announces Olympic Roster Canadian Press 12/21/2005 5:09:40 PM Todd Bertuzzi made it and Sidney Crosby wasn't picked for what is a veteran-laden Olympic men's hockey team. The negativity that has buzzed around Bertuzzi since his league suspension over the Steve Moore attack will no doubt follow him to Turin but, in the end, he was considered too good to leave off the 2006 Olympic squad. Selectors went with the tried and true in naming 10 who won 2002 gold and adding others who impressed during the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Of the 23 players named, 21 were on in the lineups of those two squads. ''It's never an easy task,'' Kevin Lowe, assistant executive director, said of choosing the squad. Lowe also read a statement by Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, thanking hockey fans for their best wishes after the death of his mother Phyllis to cancer on Monday. ''This is a great day for Canadian hockey and congratulations to everyone. I know my mom was looking forward to this day as every Canadian is,'' Gretzky said. Team Canada officials read out the player names by position, as if drafting the players, alternating with players from the women's team as they were selected. Youngsters wearing Team Canada jerseys with the men's player names on the back entered as they were announced. There was no room in the team for much-ballyhooed rookie Crosby, who was recommended by Mario Lemieux after the 2002 captain took himself out of the running, or for sensational third-year pro Eric Staal. At the time of announcement on the ice at GM Place in Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon, Staal was led all NHL players with 24 goals and was fourth in points with 47. He was named to a reserve squad to be available only if a forward on the main roster withdraws due to injury. Crosby is second among NHL rookies and 29th overall with 33 points. ''I understand and recognize that it's not an easy decision for the Canadian selection committee,'' said Pat Brisson, Crosby's agent. ''Regardless of their decisions, it was going to create some kind of controversy with the talent pool. ''However, as I've said before, in my opinion Sidney thrives under pressure and could play with anyone in the world and make a difference.'' Experience at the senior international level in Canada's colours obviously was a paramount consideration in the selections. Goaltender Martin Brodeur, defencemen Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Ed Jovanovski, Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, and forwards Simon Gagne, Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth are the 10 holdovers from Salt Lake City. Also named for the February tournament in Turin, Italy, were goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco, defencemen Wade Redden and Robyn Regehr, and forwards Bertuzzi, Shane Doan, Kris Draper, Dany Heatley, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Joe Thornton. ''It's a Canadian dream coming true,'' said Turco. ''There was no guarantee. ''I just feel fortunate and really honoured that I got picked.'' The reserve squad consists of Staal, Jason Spezza and Bryan McCabe, who is the highest-scoring defenceman in the NHL. They would only play in case of injuries taking others out off the roster. Spezza was thought to have a strong chance of making it. He was tied for fourth in the NHL with linemate Heatley and Staal in points on Wednesday. Others among leading NHL point-getters who weren't selected included Patrick Marleau, Brendan Shanahan and Alex Tanguay. Twelve of the 2002 Olympic champions aren't among the 23 main roster players for 2006: Lemieux and fellow forwards Steve Yzerman, Paul Kariya, Eric Lindros, Mike Peca, Shanahan, Owen Nolan and Theo Fleury, defencemen Eric Brewer and the retired Al MacInnis; and goaltenders Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour.
December 22, 200520 yr i actually recognize the names of like half of the players on that list. i guess that means we're in trouble.
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