Predatore said:
How would you guys compare this team to Canada's teams previous years?
I must admit that there are quite a few names there that I am unfamiliar with (Josh Gorges, Brent Burns, Tim Brent, Jeremy Colliton, Nigel Dawes, Stephen Dixon).
Is this year's team a bit weaker "on the paper" than in previous years or does it hold up pretty good?
thanks
I can say something on the following...
Josh Gorges: Captain of the 2004 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets. An excellent well-rounded defenceman who is both great in his own end while contributing offensively. There is not much that he cannot do. An excellent choice for Team Canada.
Brent Burns: Minnesota Wild - NHL ...enough said.
Nigel Dawes: He has an amazing goal-scoring talent. It seems that whatever he puts towards the net goes in. Put that together with a good defensive game, and you have a complete forward who possesses amazing puck skills.
The others play in the OHL and QMJHL, so I don't know much about them.
HemskyFreak83 said:
politics yet again
the politics of 2 French Canadian goalies happened again this year too i hope it blows up in their face like last year
Huh? I don't understand. Are you saying politics cost Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers the backup spot......or did you read the report wrong and think that there are 2 French-Canadian goaltenders on this team due to politics?
Your wording is very confusing.
Campino said:
Whoever picks these players screws over the QMJHL every year. Its like they don't want fast skaters that can put the puck in the net.
Give me a break. These fast skaters who can score in the Q are not chosen because they can't play a lick's worth of defence, and will likely get schooled at the international level. And it does not matter how big and solid the defencemen are...without help from the forwards, a team will not win games.
Team Canada has plenty of offence on this year's squad. Just because they aren't Quebecois doesn't mean they can't put points on the board.
I would much rather have scoring forwards who can play some defence as well, than to employ scoring forwards who are afraid to cross their own blue line simply because they play in a high-scoring league.
Pedrostallion said:
Getzlaf Carter Burns
Stewart Richards Dawes
Tambellini Crosby Brent
Colliton Paille Talbot
Paillé, the team captain and only returning forward, will not be on the fourth line.
The Messenger said:
Then explain the Staal , Horton cuts from last year ....again not good enough to represent Canada but can play regularly in the NHL??
When they were cut from Team Canada, they were not good enough to play in the NHL. A year later, they were. Players do improve from one year to the next....it's only common sense.
Your argument for Staal and Horton is moot because of the year's difference between them getting cut from the U20 national team and making the NHL.