Kovalchuk - Malkin - Ovechkin
Semin - Datsyuk - Afinogenov


Those are dangerous top-two lines. Russia is probably Canada's number 1 threat, but besides Gonchar and Markov, their Achilles heel looks to be their defense.

Holy shit, Russia is loaded...

Team Canada is being announced tomorrow at noon on national TV! I can't wait!

Originally Posted by Jake

Holy shit, Russia is loaded...

Team Canada is being announced tomorrow at noon on national TV! I can't wait!

Being a loaded team means shit. If it meant anything, the Rangers would be perennial cup contenders, and Canada would have won gold in '98 from our goalies alone (Brodeur, Roy and Joseph, numbers 1, 2, and 4 in all time wins), nevermind Gretzky, Borque, Yzerman, Sakic, etc.

The real advantage the Russians have, IMO, is that in Russia there is one junior league, not 3 like here. That mans greater chance of players having played together at some point, either in Russian Junior, Russian Pro, or NHL teams. Chemistry goes a long way.

We're just only 12 hours away from finding out whose on the team.

Has anyone been following the world juniors? Does Canada look good or what, 3-0!

Go Canada Go!!!

For the men, Russia will beat Canada for gold if they get great goaltending.
Slovakia may be able to put together a team capable of a bronze finish on the men's side. They are my sleeper pick.

As for who gets named to the team, it doesn't matter. I don't like the names being thrown around. Having Stamkos on would be great because he is of Macedonian descent. If he makes it and Canada wins he would follow in the footsteps of Ed Jovanovski, as he was on the 2002 team.

My Team Canada

Forwards:
Heatley, Crosby, Iginla
Nash, Getlaf, Perry
Morrow, M. Richards, Mike Fisher
Cammalleri, B. Richards, Dustin Penner

Martin St. Louis

Defence:
Pronger, Niedermayer
Keith, Weber
Drew Doughty, Bouwmeester

Stephane Robidas

Goalies:
Luongo, Brodeur, Carey Price

Official roster was released today:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/new...l?cid =rsstsn

Forwards
Patrice Bergeron, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Que. (Boston Bruins)
Sidney Crosby, Cole Harbour, N.S. (Pittsburgh Penguins) Alternate captain
Ryan Getzlaf, Regina, Sask. (Anaheim Ducks)
Dany Heatley, Calgary, Alta. (San Jose Sharks)
Jarome Iginla, St. Albert, Alta. (Calgary Flames) Alternate captain
Patrick Marleau, Aneroid Sask. (San Jose Sharks)
Brenden Morrow, Carlyle, Sask. (Dallas Stars)
Rick Nash, Brampton, Ont. (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Mike Richards, Kenora, Ont. (Philadelphia Flyers)
Corey Perry, Peterborough, Ont. (Anaheim Ducks)
Eric Staal, Thunder Bay, Ont. (Carolina Hurricanes)
Joe Thornton, St. Thomas, Ont. (San Jose Sharks)
Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg, Man. (Chicago Blackhawks)


Defence
Dan Boyle, Ottawa, Ont. (San Jose Sharks)
Drew Doughty, Ottawa, Ont. (LA Kings)
Duncan Keith, Penticton, B.C. (Chicago Blackhawks)
Scott Niedermayer, Cranbrook, B.C. (Anaheim Ducks) - Captain
Chris Pronger, Dryden, Ont. (Philadelphia Flyers) - Alternate captain
Brent Seabrook, Tsawwassen, B.C. (Chicago Blackhawks)
Shea Weber, Sicamous, B.C. (Nashville Predators)


Goalies
Roberto Luongo, Montreal, Que. (Vancouver Canucks)
Martin Brodeur, Montreal, Que. (New Jersey Devils)
Marc-Andre Fleury, Sorel, Que. (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Notable forwards left out of the mix include Jeff Carter (Flyers), Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes), Ryan Smyth (LA Kings), Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning), Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Mike Fisher (Ottawa Senators).

Pretty solid roster, most of the positions were expected (goalies), a bit surprised at drew doughty but he has been great since he came into NHL so not disappointed at all.

Go CANADA Go!

I was a bit skeptical about Bergeron making the team, but Bob McKenzie managed to convince me otherwise. Man, he's good. >_>

I really like the roster, especially the addition of Toews and Doughty. Toews will be an amazing penalty killer and face off winner. Doughty will mostly be on the PK, but don't be surprised if he gets 5 on5 time as well (he plays against the league's best forwards with the LA Kings anyway)

To know why Bergeron made the team, you only have to look back to the 2005 World Juniors and the amazing chemistry the Perry-Crosby-Bergeron line had. Obviously Correy Perry won't play on the top line, it'll probably be Nash-Crosby-Bergeron and Perry will probably be on Getzlaf's line.

Speaking of the 2005 world juniors, seven players from that team are on this year's Olympic team: Crosby, Bergeron, Richards, Perry, Getzlaf, Weber and Seabrook. I think that's pretty amazing.

No mike green! he would have helped SO much....

^
He's a huge defensive liability though.

Team USA

Goaltenders:
Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)

Defensemen:
Erik Johnson (St Louis Blues), Jack Johnson (Los Angeles Kings), Mike Komisarek (Toronto Maple Leafs), Paul Martin (New Jersey Devils), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)

Forwards:
David Backes (St. Louis Blues), Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings), Ryan Callahan (New York Rangers), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks), Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils), Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay Lightning), Zack Parise (New Jersey Devils), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche)


NO Scott Gomez or Brian Gionta... Burkie just owned you Montreal. Haha.

Team USA has AWESOME goalies. I think this USA team has a lot of potential...

WTF, Canada is down 5-3 in the 3rd period against the USA (World Jr. gold medal game for those that don't know).

UPDATE: Canada just scored!!! 5-4 USA, 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd. GO CANADA GO!

UPDATE2: CANADA TIES IT!!! IT'S 5-5, 1:30 remaining!

Originally Posted by Kevin S

UPDATE: Canada just scored!!! 5-4 USA, 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd. GO CANADA GO!

TIED!!