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*** Offical *** World Cup of Hockey THread *** Confirmed ***
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World Cup: Bouwmeester in for Pronger
TSN.ca Staff
8/15/2004
Chris Pronger has withdrawn from the World Cup of Hockey, TSN has learned.
Sources told TSN that the big defenceman tweaked his previously injured right knee while training. Although the injury is not considered major, it is enough to force him to withdraw from the World Cup of Hockey, which starts August 31st for Team Canada.
Pronger apparently informed Hockey Canada of his decision to withdraw Sunday.
Team Canada named Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester to replace Pronger.
I am honoured by the opportunity to represent Canada, said Bouwmeester. This is a chance to play with and against the best players in the world, and I am excited to be a part of Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.
We are disappointed that Chris could not participate, but this gives a great opportunity to one of Canadas rising young stars, said Gretzky. When you can replace Chris with a player of Jays caliber, it shows you how much depth we have in this country.
Internationally, Bouwmeester has represented Canada five times, including winning gold medals at both the 2003 and 2004 Mens World Championships, as well as being named as the tournaments Best Defencemen and an All-Star in 2003. He was a three time medalist with Canadas National Junior Team, and is the youngest player ever to play for Canada at the National Junior tournament.
Bouwmeester has played two NHL seasons, both with the Florida Panthers. During the 2003-04 season, Jay missed 18 games due to a foot injury, but was still able to set career highs in assists (18) and points (20). In 2002-03, he was named to the NHLs All-Rookie team. He scored four goals and 12 assists for 16 points while setting a franchise rookie record by playing in all 82 games.
Cheers.
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
8/15/2004
Chris Pronger has withdrawn from the World Cup of Hockey, TSN has learned.
Sources told TSN that the big defenceman tweaked his previously injured right knee while training. Although the injury is not considered major, it is enough to force him to withdraw from the World Cup of Hockey, which starts August 31st for Team Canada.
Pronger apparently informed Hockey Canada of his decision to withdraw Sunday.
Team Canada named Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester to replace Pronger.
I am honoured by the opportunity to represent Canada, said Bouwmeester. This is a chance to play with and against the best players in the world, and I am excited to be a part of Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey.
We are disappointed that Chris could not participate, but this gives a great opportunity to one of Canadas rising young stars, said Gretzky. When you can replace Chris with a player of Jays caliber, it shows you how much depth we have in this country.
Internationally, Bouwmeester has represented Canada five times, including winning gold medals at both the 2003 and 2004 Mens World Championships, as well as being named as the tournaments Best Defencemen and an All-Star in 2003. He was a three time medalist with Canadas National Junior Team, and is the youngest player ever to play for Canada at the National Junior tournament.
Bouwmeester has played two NHL seasons, both with the Florida Panthers. During the 2003-04 season, Jay missed 18 games due to a foot injury, but was still able to set career highs in assists (18) and points (20). In 2002-03, he was named to the NHLs All-Rookie team. He scored four goals and 12 assists for 16 points while setting a franchise rookie record by playing in all 82 games.
Cheers.
Aquaman
Ruzicka takes over as Czech coach
Associated Press
8/17/2004
PRAGUE (AP) - The Czech Republic moved quickly to replace late hockey coach Ivan Hlinka, turning the national team over to former Olympic captain Vladimir Ruzicka on Tuesday.
Hlinka, the former Pittsburgh Penguins' coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, died Monday after a car crash. He was 54.
The 41-year-old Ruzicka, the captain of the 1998 Olympic team, will direct the team in the World Cup of Hockey.
He spent five seasons in the NHL with Edmonton, Boston and Ottawa.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Associated Press
8/17/2004
PRAGUE (AP) - The Czech Republic moved quickly to replace late hockey coach Ivan Hlinka, turning the national team over to former Olympic captain Vladimir Ruzicka on Tuesday.
Hlinka, the former Pittsburgh Penguins' coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, died Monday after a car crash. He was 54.
The 41-year-old Ruzicka, the captain of the 1998 Olympic team, will direct the team in the World Cup of Hockey.
He spent five seasons in the NHL with Edmonton, Boston and Ottawa.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Lemieux declares himself fit for camp
Canadian Press
8/16/2004
PITTSBURGH (CP) - Mario Lemieux declared himself fit for the World Cup of Hockey following a 50-minute, on-ice workout Sunday.
The Penguins' owner-player reports to Canada's camp in Ottawa on Thursday.
Jay Caufield, the 38-year-old centre's personal trainer and a former Penguin, supervised drills seven months to the day after Lemieux had arthroscopic surgery on his left hip, forcing him to miss most of the 2003-2004 NHL season.
The hip was sore after skating but it won't stop Lemieux from participating in the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 tournament.
"I've played with pain for 20 years,''' Lemieux told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I can do it a couple more.''
It was only his third skating workout since the surgery. He also made four week-long trips to California this summer to train at workout guru T.R. Goodman's gym in Venice, Calif.
Lemieux is weighing in at 225 pounds - down from 238 at the start of last season.
"No fries,'' Lemieux explained with a grin.
He said recovering from this hip injury is "a lot tougher'' than coming back from the season-ending hip surgery he had after the 2002 Olympics.
"It took a lot longer than I expected,'' he said. "It takes so much time to rebuild the muscles around it. Took forever.''
Notes: Ottawa-region hockey fans will get their first good look at Canada's World Cup of Hockey team during an intra-squad game next Tuesday. Tickets for the 6 p.m. EDT game are priced at $7 but can only be purchased by those who have purchased or will be purchasing tickets to tournament games. Proceeds will go towards Roger's House and the Canadian Hockey Foundation.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
8/16/2004
PITTSBURGH (CP) - Mario Lemieux declared himself fit for the World Cup of Hockey following a 50-minute, on-ice workout Sunday.
The Penguins' owner-player reports to Canada's camp in Ottawa on Thursday.
Jay Caufield, the 38-year-old centre's personal trainer and a former Penguin, supervised drills seven months to the day after Lemieux had arthroscopic surgery on his left hip, forcing him to miss most of the 2003-2004 NHL season.
The hip was sore after skating but it won't stop Lemieux from participating in the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 tournament.
"I've played with pain for 20 years,''' Lemieux told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I can do it a couple more.''
It was only his third skating workout since the surgery. He also made four week-long trips to California this summer to train at workout guru T.R. Goodman's gym in Venice, Calif.
Lemieux is weighing in at 225 pounds - down from 238 at the start of last season.
"No fries,'' Lemieux explained with a grin.
He said recovering from this hip injury is "a lot tougher'' than coming back from the season-ending hip surgery he had after the 2002 Olympics.
"It took a lot longer than I expected,'' he said. "It takes so much time to rebuild the muscles around it. Took forever.''
Notes: Ottawa-region hockey fans will get their first good look at Canada's World Cup of Hockey team during an intra-squad game next Tuesday. Tickets for the 6 p.m. EDT game are priced at $7 but can only be purchased by those who have purchased or will be purchasing tickets to tournament games. Proceeds will go towards Roger's House and the Canadian Hockey Foundation.
Cheers,
Aquaman
WC: Finns add Mikko Koivu to roster
Sports Ticker
8/19/2004
HELSINKI, Finland (Ticker) - Finland will have a pair of brothers on its 2004 World Cup of Hockey roster as center Mikko Koivu was added to the team Wednesday, replacing Esa Pirnes of the Los Angeles Kings.
Pirnes, who collected three goals and eight assists in 57 games with the Kings last season, suffered an ankle injury in June and is unable to participate in the World Cup, which begins later this month.
Selected sixth overall by Minnesota in the 2001 draft, Koivu will join Team Finland at the beginning of training camp on August 20. He has spent the past four seasons with TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League, recording 17 goals and 41 assists in 151 games.
The 21-year-old Koivu joins Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu as the second brother tandem on Finland's roster. Jarkko Ruutu of the Vancouver Canucks and Tuomo Ruutu of the Chicago Blackhawks both were named to the team's original roster in May.
Finland will get the World Cup underway when it plays the Czech Republic on August 30 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Sports Ticker
8/19/2004
HELSINKI, Finland (Ticker) - Finland will have a pair of brothers on its 2004 World Cup of Hockey roster as center Mikko Koivu was added to the team Wednesday, replacing Esa Pirnes of the Los Angeles Kings.
Pirnes, who collected three goals and eight assists in 57 games with the Kings last season, suffered an ankle injury in June and is unable to participate in the World Cup, which begins later this month.
Selected sixth overall by Minnesota in the 2001 draft, Koivu will join Team Finland at the beginning of training camp on August 20. He has spent the past four seasons with TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League, recording 17 goals and 41 assists in 151 games.
The 21-year-old Koivu joins Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu as the second brother tandem on Finland's roster. Jarkko Ruutu of the Vancouver Canucks and Tuomo Ruutu of the Chicago Blackhawks both were named to the team's original roster in May.
Finland will get the World Cup underway when it plays the Czech Republic on August 30 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Team Canada kicks off camp Friday
Canadian Press
8/19/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Canadians need a lift, and Wayne Gretzky's boys are ready to answer the bell.
Team Canada kicks off a 10-day World Cup of Hockey training camp Friday, hoping to restore a national pride wounded by a lacklustre Summer Olympics.
Nothing but a World Cup championship will do.
``We're only here for one thing and everyone is going to expect us to be No. 1, so we have to deal with that,'' Canadian head coach Pat Quinn said on the eve of his first practice. ``You see what's happening to some of our athletes overseas (at the Olympics). It's tragic really, but you have to deal with it.
``Our own expectations are high. We're here to win and that's the only thing that's going to please us.''
Canada enters the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup with wind in its sails, having captured back-to-back IIHF world championships, as well as Olympic gold in 2002.
The Canadians are ranked No. 1 in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation and are strong contenders at this year's World Cup.
``That's the kind of pressure we're going to put on ourselves,'' veteran centre Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings said Thursday after taking his medical at the University of Ottawa. ``You look around here and see who's on this team, and you think, `Why shouldn't our expectations be nothing but gold,' so that's how we're approaching this.''
Now the mission it to wrestle away the World Cup title Canada lost to the rival Americans in 1996 (no World Cup was held in 2000). Defenceman Adam Foote of the Colorado Avalanche is one of only four players held over from that team and the memory of losing the tournament on home soil is etched in his memory.
``Winning in Salt Lake certainly makes you feel a lot better about losing to the Americans in '96,'' Foote said before getting his photo Thursday. ``But this is a different tournament and it's not just the U.S. we have to worry about. There's a lot of great teams in this year's tournament.
``We need to make sure that we gel together as a unit and everything else will take care of itself.''
Players arrived Thursday and headed to the University of Ottawa rink for medicals, photos and equipment fittings.
For some, like Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, it seems like just yesterday they hoisted the Stanley Cup.
``It sure feels that way,'' St. Louis said as he checked out some new sticks.
For others, like superstar Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's been a long time without hockey. The 38-year-old is seven months removed from the arthroscopic surgery he had on his left hip, forcing him to miss most of the 2003-2004 NHL season.
Lemieux, who to no one's surprise, will be named Canadian captain Friday, arrived at the rink looking tanned and trimmed, and was all smiles as he met some of his teammates for the first time.
If Lemieux needed introductions, it's because Canada has once again undergone a facelift. Only 10 of the 23 players from the 2002 Olympic squad are back.
``Some guys I know, some guys I don't,'' said Draper, a key member of Canada's 2003 world champions in Helsinki. ``It's always neat to meet everybody.
``But the real fun starts tomorrow when we get everybody on the ice.''
Canada will have three practices under its belt before taking on the United States in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday night, the first of three exhibition games. Canada hosts the Americans here at the Corel Centre next Wednesday and only 12,000 tickets have been sold for that game.
The exhibition games are a luxury Canada didn't have in Salt Lake, and it showed in the opening 5-2 loss to Sweden.
This time Quinn and assistant coaches Ken Hitchcock, Jacques Martin and Wayne Fleming have three tuneup games to iron out the kinks.
``Yeah, that's the time when the players will get a chance to execute and learn the system,'' Quinn said before running off to a coaches' meeting. ``The exhibition games will help us fit the pieces together and also get some game time in since most of the guys haven't played in awhile.''
And with the first exhibition game Monday comes the first headache. Since only 20 players can dress for games, that means six unhappy souls.
``We've got 26 guys here, that's going to be a distraction for us,'' said Quinn. ``We didn't have that problem in Salt Lake. There we could dress everybody that was with us (except the third goalie).
``We're going to have six guys every night saying they should be in there and maybe they'll be right. So that will be something we're going to have to deal with as a team.''
Quinn doesn't have the same roster here that was first handed to him May 15 when Gretzky announced his team selections on live national TV. Steve Yzerman, Ed Belfour, Rob Blake and Chris Pronger have since pulled out because of injury, replaced with Lecavalier, Jose Theodore, Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester.
The losses of Blake and Pronger, in particular, are significant, leaving Canada with only two blue-liners - Foote and Scott Niedermayer - that are 30 years or older.
Ed Jovanovski of the Vancouver Canucks and Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators will likely be counted on more heavily with the losses of Blake and Pronger.
``I think that's exactly what's going to happen,'' Quinn said. ``We'll move those guys along. We had to replace two big important guys that have played a lot of international hockey for us, and played it well, but what it does is throw the ball to other people.''
Casting a shadow on the World Cup, meanwhile, will be the labour uncertainty. The World Cup championship game goes Sept. 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, a day before the collective bargaining agreement expires between the NHL and NHL Players' Association. A lengthy labour disruption is expected to commence Sept. 15.
In the meantime, labour talks will be held Aug. 25-26 in Ottawa and Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Montreal.
``It's in the back of our mind, it's reality,'' Draper said. ``But it's a short tournament and we have to eliminate distractions, so we can't really get caught up in the CBA talks between the NHLPA and the NHL.
``I hope this tournament creates a lot of positive vibes around the hockey world.''
It could be the last NHL-calibre hockey for quite some time.
Notes: The organizing committee announced the one-ice officials for the tournament on Thursday. The European pool will be handled by referees Marc Joanette, Don Koharski, Dan Marouelli and Kevin Pollock, along with linesmen Derek Amell, Greg Devorski, Brad Kovachik and Brad Lazarowich. The North American pool will be worked by referees Paul Devorski, Don VanMassenhoven, Stephen Walkom and Brad Watson and linesmen Jean Morin, Brian Murphy, Tim Nowak and Pierre Racicot.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
8/19/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Canadians need a lift, and Wayne Gretzky's boys are ready to answer the bell.
Team Canada kicks off a 10-day World Cup of Hockey training camp Friday, hoping to restore a national pride wounded by a lacklustre Summer Olympics.
Nothing but a World Cup championship will do.
``We're only here for one thing and everyone is going to expect us to be No. 1, so we have to deal with that,'' Canadian head coach Pat Quinn said on the eve of his first practice. ``You see what's happening to some of our athletes overseas (at the Olympics). It's tragic really, but you have to deal with it.
``Our own expectations are high. We're here to win and that's the only thing that's going to please us.''
Canada enters the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup with wind in its sails, having captured back-to-back IIHF world championships, as well as Olympic gold in 2002.
The Canadians are ranked No. 1 in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation and are strong contenders at this year's World Cup.
``That's the kind of pressure we're going to put on ourselves,'' veteran centre Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings said Thursday after taking his medical at the University of Ottawa. ``You look around here and see who's on this team, and you think, `Why shouldn't our expectations be nothing but gold,' so that's how we're approaching this.''
Now the mission it to wrestle away the World Cup title Canada lost to the rival Americans in 1996 (no World Cup was held in 2000). Defenceman Adam Foote of the Colorado Avalanche is one of only four players held over from that team and the memory of losing the tournament on home soil is etched in his memory.
``Winning in Salt Lake certainly makes you feel a lot better about losing to the Americans in '96,'' Foote said before getting his photo Thursday. ``But this is a different tournament and it's not just the U.S. we have to worry about. There's a lot of great teams in this year's tournament.
``We need to make sure that we gel together as a unit and everything else will take care of itself.''
Players arrived Thursday and headed to the University of Ottawa rink for medicals, photos and equipment fittings.
For some, like Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, it seems like just yesterday they hoisted the Stanley Cup.
``It sure feels that way,'' St. Louis said as he checked out some new sticks.
For others, like superstar Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's been a long time without hockey. The 38-year-old is seven months removed from the arthroscopic surgery he had on his left hip, forcing him to miss most of the 2003-2004 NHL season.
Lemieux, who to no one's surprise, will be named Canadian captain Friday, arrived at the rink looking tanned and trimmed, and was all smiles as he met some of his teammates for the first time.
If Lemieux needed introductions, it's because Canada has once again undergone a facelift. Only 10 of the 23 players from the 2002 Olympic squad are back.
``Some guys I know, some guys I don't,'' said Draper, a key member of Canada's 2003 world champions in Helsinki. ``It's always neat to meet everybody.
``But the real fun starts tomorrow when we get everybody on the ice.''
Canada will have three practices under its belt before taking on the United States in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday night, the first of three exhibition games. Canada hosts the Americans here at the Corel Centre next Wednesday and only 12,000 tickets have been sold for that game.
The exhibition games are a luxury Canada didn't have in Salt Lake, and it showed in the opening 5-2 loss to Sweden.
This time Quinn and assistant coaches Ken Hitchcock, Jacques Martin and Wayne Fleming have three tuneup games to iron out the kinks.
``Yeah, that's the time when the players will get a chance to execute and learn the system,'' Quinn said before running off to a coaches' meeting. ``The exhibition games will help us fit the pieces together and also get some game time in since most of the guys haven't played in awhile.''
And with the first exhibition game Monday comes the first headache. Since only 20 players can dress for games, that means six unhappy souls.
``We've got 26 guys here, that's going to be a distraction for us,'' said Quinn. ``We didn't have that problem in Salt Lake. There we could dress everybody that was with us (except the third goalie).
``We're going to have six guys every night saying they should be in there and maybe they'll be right. So that will be something we're going to have to deal with as a team.''
Quinn doesn't have the same roster here that was first handed to him May 15 when Gretzky announced his team selections on live national TV. Steve Yzerman, Ed Belfour, Rob Blake and Chris Pronger have since pulled out because of injury, replaced with Lecavalier, Jose Theodore, Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester.
The losses of Blake and Pronger, in particular, are significant, leaving Canada with only two blue-liners - Foote and Scott Niedermayer - that are 30 years or older.
Ed Jovanovski of the Vancouver Canucks and Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators will likely be counted on more heavily with the losses of Blake and Pronger.
``I think that's exactly what's going to happen,'' Quinn said. ``We'll move those guys along. We had to replace two big important guys that have played a lot of international hockey for us, and played it well, but what it does is throw the ball to other people.''
Casting a shadow on the World Cup, meanwhile, will be the labour uncertainty. The World Cup championship game goes Sept. 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, a day before the collective bargaining agreement expires between the NHL and NHL Players' Association. A lengthy labour disruption is expected to commence Sept. 15.
In the meantime, labour talks will be held Aug. 25-26 in Ottawa and Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Montreal.
``It's in the back of our mind, it's reality,'' Draper said. ``But it's a short tournament and we have to eliminate distractions, so we can't really get caught up in the CBA talks between the NHLPA and the NHL.
``I hope this tournament creates a lot of positive vibes around the hockey world.''
It could be the last NHL-calibre hockey for quite some time.
Notes: The organizing committee announced the one-ice officials for the tournament on Thursday. The European pool will be handled by referees Marc Joanette, Don Koharski, Dan Marouelli and Kevin Pollock, along with linesmen Derek Amell, Greg Devorski, Brad Kovachik and Brad Lazarowich. The North American pool will be worked by referees Paul Devorski, Don VanMassenhoven, Stephen Walkom and Brad Watson and linesmen Jean Morin, Brian Murphy, Tim Nowak and Pierre Racicot.
Cheers,
Aquaman
NotoriousJTC
Golden Member
Any World Cup of Hockey pools going on?... I figure this may be the last chance to participate in any sort of fantasy pool in involving NHL hockey players for a quite a while 🙁
Getting closer, damn, in need hockey, this T&A is boring the living daylights out of me
Erm, i mean T&F, and i haven't been watching beachvolley... eh, is it just me or do they zoom those butts real close? Not that i would notice though, i never watch. anything. ever..
Erm, i mean T&F, and i haven't been watching beachvolley... eh, is it just me or do they zoom those butts real close? Not that i would notice though, i never watch. anything. ever..
Weinrich replaces Hatcher on Team USA
TSN.ca Staff
8/20/2004
St. Louis Blues defenceman Eric Weinrich has been named to replace Derian Hatcher on the United States World Cup hockey team.
Hatcher, who was part of Team USA's win in the inaugural event in 1996, was forced to drop out due to personal reasons.
"We are disappointed that Derian will not be a member of this team," said general manager Larry Pleau. "But with Eric's addition to the roster, Team USA is receiving a highly proven veteran on defense who possesses outstanding leadership skills and international experience."
Weinrich was part of the American squad which won bronze at the world hockey championships this past May in the Czech Republic.
The news comes on the day Team USA opens training camp in Columbus, Ohio. The Americans will face Team Canada in a pre-tournament game on Monday, August 23.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
8/20/2004
St. Louis Blues defenceman Eric Weinrich has been named to replace Derian Hatcher on the United States World Cup hockey team.
Hatcher, who was part of Team USA's win in the inaugural event in 1996, was forced to drop out due to personal reasons.
"We are disappointed that Derian will not be a member of this team," said general manager Larry Pleau. "But with Eric's addition to the roster, Team USA is receiving a highly proven veteran on defense who possesses outstanding leadership skills and international experience."
Weinrich was part of the American squad which won bronze at the world hockey championships this past May in the Czech Republic.
The news comes on the day Team USA opens training camp in Columbus, Ohio. The Americans will face Team Canada in a pre-tournament game on Monday, August 23.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Super Mario named captain
The Canadian Press
8/20/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Mario Lemieux was named captain of Team Canada on Friday while Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic, Scott Niedermeyer and Adam Foote were named alternates as Canada opened training camp for the World Cup of Hockey.
Super Mario captained Canada to the 2002 Winter Olympic gold medal. "Mario is a great leader and we are very happy to again name him as the captain of Team Canada," Wayne Gretzky, executive director of Team Canada, said in a statement.
Despite the losses of Steve Yzerman, Ed Belfour, Rob Blake and Chris Pronger to injury, the Canadian team remains confident of its veteran leadership.
"We are fortunate to have an abundance of leaders on our team," said Canadian head coach Pat Quinn. "We are confident that these players will bring our team the necessary leadership on the ice and in our dressing room as we prepare for the World Cup."
Colorado's Foote will be a leader on the blue-line, having played for Canada in Salt Lake, as well as the 1998 Nagano Olympics and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Iginla, who led the Calgary Flames to a surprising Stanley Cup final berth this spring, scored two goals in Canada's gold medal victory over the United States at Salt Lake City. He also won world junior gold with Canada in 1996 and captured world championship gold in 1997.
Niedermayer was a key member of this year's world champion roster in Prague, while also playing with the 2002 Olympic champions. He's also a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman last season.
Avalanche star Sakic needs no introduction, having been a major member of the Olympic champions in February 2002 while also winning world championship gold in 1994 and world junior gold in 1988. Sakic is also a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
Sakic, Foote, Iginla and Niedermayer will alternate wearing the 'A' throughout the tournament.
Cheers,
Aquaman
The Canadian Press
8/20/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Mario Lemieux was named captain of Team Canada on Friday while Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic, Scott Niedermeyer and Adam Foote were named alternates as Canada opened training camp for the World Cup of Hockey.
Super Mario captained Canada to the 2002 Winter Olympic gold medal. "Mario is a great leader and we are very happy to again name him as the captain of Team Canada," Wayne Gretzky, executive director of Team Canada, said in a statement.
Despite the losses of Steve Yzerman, Ed Belfour, Rob Blake and Chris Pronger to injury, the Canadian team remains confident of its veteran leadership.
"We are fortunate to have an abundance of leaders on our team," said Canadian head coach Pat Quinn. "We are confident that these players will bring our team the necessary leadership on the ice and in our dressing room as we prepare for the World Cup."
Colorado's Foote will be a leader on the blue-line, having played for Canada in Salt Lake, as well as the 1998 Nagano Olympics and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Iginla, who led the Calgary Flames to a surprising Stanley Cup final berth this spring, scored two goals in Canada's gold medal victory over the United States at Salt Lake City. He also won world junior gold with Canada in 1996 and captured world championship gold in 1997.
Niedermayer was a key member of this year's world champion roster in Prague, while also playing with the 2002 Olympic champions. He's also a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman last season.
Avalanche star Sakic needs no introduction, having been a major member of the Olympic champions in February 2002 while also winning world championship gold in 1994 and world junior gold in 1988. Sakic is also a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
Sakic, Foote, Iginla and Niedermayer will alternate wearing the 'A' throughout the tournament.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Sakic, Iginla, Gagne reunited at WC camp
The Canadian Press
8/20/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Joe Sakic passed the puck blindly to his right and found Jarome Iginla right on the tape.
Just like old times.
Sakic, Iginla and Simon Gagne were reunited Friday as Team Canada kicked off a 10-day training camp in preparation for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey.
Head coach Pat Quinn knows a good thing when he sees one. The Gagne-Sakic-Iginla line scored four of Canada's five goals in the gold medal victory at the Salt Lake Olympics two and half years ago.
Why mess with success?
"We knew right away we weren't going to break that one up, we were going to leave it together," Quinn said Friday after his team's first practice. "Now we'll find out what other ones we can pull together than can contribute as much."
Watched intently by a large group of media at the University of Ottawa hockey rink Friday, superstar Mario Lemieux, recovering from hip surgery, skated a line with Stanley Cup champions Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards -a combination that should send shivers down the spine of the Americans, Canada's opposition in the exhibition opener Monday in Columbus, Ohio.
Big Joe Thornton centred another dangerous line Friday with sniper Dany Heatley to his right and Patrick Marleau to his left.
The checking line, as expected, had Kris Draper between Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan, the same unit dubbed the International Grind Line in 2003 when Canada won the first of back-to-back IIHF world championships.
A fifth forward line Friday had Vincent Lecavalier between Ryan Smyth and Brenden Morrow, and it appears they'll be the odd men out come Monday night.
There's 26 players on the roster but only 20 can dress, meaning three forwards, two defenceman and one goalie will watch from the press box throughout the tournament.
"That's always the hardest part," Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky told a packed news conference after Friday's practice. "But I think we've explained to the players -we had a meeting last night -that only 20 guys can dress, that it's imperative everyone is on the same page, that we're going to try and put our best 20 players forward each and every game.
"But one of the things that's always made Team Canada great is that we have a group of unselfish players."
But just because Lecavalier, Smyth and Morrow looked to be on the outside looking in Friday, that doesn't mean they won't play in this tournament. The best-laid plans change in a hurry. Curtis Joseph started as the No. 1 goalie in Salt Lake but quickly lost his job to Martin Brodeur. Three of the four forward lines from the opening game at the Olympics were also scrapped.
"We may find that two or three games into this we'll need to tweak the lines," Quinn said.
Should Lemieux, for example, have a setback because of his hip, don't be surprised to see Lecavalier thrown into his spot between his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates.
The Sakic line is an important leftover from the Olympic team, given that only 10 of the 23 players who were in Salt Lake are on this year's World Cup squad.
One of the biggest hurdles for Canada in this tournament, including the old Canada Cups, is to come together quickly and find chemistry. Quinn hopes the Sakic line can simply pick up where it left off in Salt Lake.
"We were first put together in the second game in Salt Lake and I think with each game we started to feel more and more comfortable together," Sakic, named MVP at the Olympics, said after practice. "Hopefully by the first game here it'll be the same thing."
Iginla was thrilled to re-discover his Olympic linemates Friday.
"I had a great time playing with Joe and Gags in Salt Lake," said the Calgary Flames star. "You're never sure what the lines are going to be and this was just the first day, but it sure was fun to be back playing with them again."
Gagne, who surprised some observers by being named to the team after an average season with the Philadelphia Flyers, sounded somewhat surprised to be back on the big line.
"I was a bit nervous to be back with those two great players," Gagne said. "But we know each well from Salt Lake. It took just a few drills today to get our timing back together."
While the forward lines took shape Friday, the defence pairings seemed a little less written in stone. Veterans Scott Niedermayer and Adam Foote, Canada's top two blue-liners, played some of the practice together but were also split up.
Wade Redden, Ed Jovanovski, Eric Brewer and Robyn Regehr will likely fill out the group of six defencemen who will dress for most games with youngsters Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester the odd men out.
Note: The U.S. team announced Friday that defenceman Eric Weinrich of the St. Louis Blues will replace Derian Hatcher of the Detroit Red Wings, who asked to be excused due to personal reasons.
Cheers,
Aquaman
The Canadian Press
8/20/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Joe Sakic passed the puck blindly to his right and found Jarome Iginla right on the tape.
Just like old times.
Sakic, Iginla and Simon Gagne were reunited Friday as Team Canada kicked off a 10-day training camp in preparation for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey.
Head coach Pat Quinn knows a good thing when he sees one. The Gagne-Sakic-Iginla line scored four of Canada's five goals in the gold medal victory at the Salt Lake Olympics two and half years ago.
Why mess with success?
"We knew right away we weren't going to break that one up, we were going to leave it together," Quinn said Friday after his team's first practice. "Now we'll find out what other ones we can pull together than can contribute as much."
Watched intently by a large group of media at the University of Ottawa hockey rink Friday, superstar Mario Lemieux, recovering from hip surgery, skated a line with Stanley Cup champions Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards -a combination that should send shivers down the spine of the Americans, Canada's opposition in the exhibition opener Monday in Columbus, Ohio.
Big Joe Thornton centred another dangerous line Friday with sniper Dany Heatley to his right and Patrick Marleau to his left.
The checking line, as expected, had Kris Draper between Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan, the same unit dubbed the International Grind Line in 2003 when Canada won the first of back-to-back IIHF world championships.
A fifth forward line Friday had Vincent Lecavalier between Ryan Smyth and Brenden Morrow, and it appears they'll be the odd men out come Monday night.
There's 26 players on the roster but only 20 can dress, meaning three forwards, two defenceman and one goalie will watch from the press box throughout the tournament.
"That's always the hardest part," Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky told a packed news conference after Friday's practice. "But I think we've explained to the players -we had a meeting last night -that only 20 guys can dress, that it's imperative everyone is on the same page, that we're going to try and put our best 20 players forward each and every game.
"But one of the things that's always made Team Canada great is that we have a group of unselfish players."
But just because Lecavalier, Smyth and Morrow looked to be on the outside looking in Friday, that doesn't mean they won't play in this tournament. The best-laid plans change in a hurry. Curtis Joseph started as the No. 1 goalie in Salt Lake but quickly lost his job to Martin Brodeur. Three of the four forward lines from the opening game at the Olympics were also scrapped.
"We may find that two or three games into this we'll need to tweak the lines," Quinn said.
Should Lemieux, for example, have a setback because of his hip, don't be surprised to see Lecavalier thrown into his spot between his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates.
The Sakic line is an important leftover from the Olympic team, given that only 10 of the 23 players who were in Salt Lake are on this year's World Cup squad.
One of the biggest hurdles for Canada in this tournament, including the old Canada Cups, is to come together quickly and find chemistry. Quinn hopes the Sakic line can simply pick up where it left off in Salt Lake.
"We were first put together in the second game in Salt Lake and I think with each game we started to feel more and more comfortable together," Sakic, named MVP at the Olympics, said after practice. "Hopefully by the first game here it'll be the same thing."
Iginla was thrilled to re-discover his Olympic linemates Friday.
"I had a great time playing with Joe and Gags in Salt Lake," said the Calgary Flames star. "You're never sure what the lines are going to be and this was just the first day, but it sure was fun to be back playing with them again."
Gagne, who surprised some observers by being named to the team after an average season with the Philadelphia Flyers, sounded somewhat surprised to be back on the big line.
"I was a bit nervous to be back with those two great players," Gagne said. "But we know each well from Salt Lake. It took just a few drills today to get our timing back together."
While the forward lines took shape Friday, the defence pairings seemed a little less written in stone. Veterans Scott Niedermayer and Adam Foote, Canada's top two blue-liners, played some of the practice together but were also split up.
Wade Redden, Ed Jovanovski, Eric Brewer and Robyn Regehr will likely fill out the group of six defencemen who will dress for most games with youngsters Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester the odd men out.
Note: The U.S. team announced Friday that defenceman Eric Weinrich of the St. Louis Blues will replace Derian Hatcher of the Detroit Red Wings, who asked to be excused due to personal reasons.
Cheers,
Aquaman
All eyes on Lemieux as camp opens
by Lisa Burke-Wallace, special to TSN.ca
8/20/2004
OTTAWA - Martin St. Louis may have been named the NHL's most valuable player last season, but when it comes to superstars there's no one bigger than Mario Lemieux in Canadian hockey right now.
Lemieux is taking centre stage as training camp for the World Cup of Hockey gets underway in Ottawa.
All eyes are on super Mario as Canada attempts to maintain its supremacy among hockey nations.
If the first day of practice is any indication Lemieux looks more than ready to shoulder the burden of leading this young Canadian team to a gold medal.
The 38-year-old is coming off hip surgery and no one is really sure how well Lemieux will be able to play.
"We know he's in good shape," said Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director. "But one guy doesn't win this tournament. We can't put all the pressure on him."
But Lemieux is quick to say he's ready to go.
"I feel good," he said. "I really gave myself a chance to get ready for the World Cup. Everything feels fine. I don't anticipate any problems. I've been skating the last couple weeks and pushed myself a little bit."
Head coach Pat Quinn saw no reason for concern following the first practice.
"He looks sleek, he looks young," said Quinn. "He wants to get the rust off and he's planning on playing a lot. He was our leader in 2002 and still is."
Lemieux looked great on the ice skating between St. Louis and Brad Richards, a combination that could stand once the tournament gets underway.
"St. Louis was probably the best player this year in the NHL, he's a great leader," said Lemieux. "Richards sees the ice very well and had a great playoff as well. To be able to play with two guys like that, that can see the ice well and skate very well is going to make my life a lot easier."
As a youngster growing up in a suburb of Quebec, St. Louis was often awed by Lemieux's accomplishments and to now be able to play alongside him was a little overwhelming.
The young winger spoke of Lemieux with admiration, but was quick to add that he can't allow himself to get star-struck.
"Just to be on the same ice surface as Mario is an honor," said St. Louis. "To see number 66 on the middle of your line it can be a little intimidating. I can't let this overwhelm me. I have to take this as a challenge. "I don't want to be trying to look for him so much that I'm not playing my game. I have to play my game."
Richards is bound to develop into one of the NHL's elite, but like many of his teammates he too can't help but feel a little overwhelmed by Lemieux' presence.
"It was pretty exciting at practice," said Richards. "I'm going to do my best to stay with him. It was fun to be on the ice and make some plays with him, but it's just one practice so we'll see what happens."
Notes: The line of Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic and Simon Gagne is expected to remain intact from the Olympic Games in 2002...Other line combinations at practice included Ryan Smyth, Vincent Lecavalier, Brenden Morrow; Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau; Shane Doan, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby.
Cheers,
Aquaman
by Lisa Burke-Wallace, special to TSN.ca
8/20/2004
OTTAWA - Martin St. Louis may have been named the NHL's most valuable player last season, but when it comes to superstars there's no one bigger than Mario Lemieux in Canadian hockey right now.
Lemieux is taking centre stage as training camp for the World Cup of Hockey gets underway in Ottawa.
All eyes are on super Mario as Canada attempts to maintain its supremacy among hockey nations.
If the first day of practice is any indication Lemieux looks more than ready to shoulder the burden of leading this young Canadian team to a gold medal.
The 38-year-old is coming off hip surgery and no one is really sure how well Lemieux will be able to play.
"We know he's in good shape," said Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director. "But one guy doesn't win this tournament. We can't put all the pressure on him."
But Lemieux is quick to say he's ready to go.
"I feel good," he said. "I really gave myself a chance to get ready for the World Cup. Everything feels fine. I don't anticipate any problems. I've been skating the last couple weeks and pushed myself a little bit."
Head coach Pat Quinn saw no reason for concern following the first practice.
"He looks sleek, he looks young," said Quinn. "He wants to get the rust off and he's planning on playing a lot. He was our leader in 2002 and still is."
Lemieux looked great on the ice skating between St. Louis and Brad Richards, a combination that could stand once the tournament gets underway.
"St. Louis was probably the best player this year in the NHL, he's a great leader," said Lemieux. "Richards sees the ice very well and had a great playoff as well. To be able to play with two guys like that, that can see the ice well and skate very well is going to make my life a lot easier."
As a youngster growing up in a suburb of Quebec, St. Louis was often awed by Lemieux's accomplishments and to now be able to play alongside him was a little overwhelming.
The young winger spoke of Lemieux with admiration, but was quick to add that he can't allow himself to get star-struck.
"Just to be on the same ice surface as Mario is an honor," said St. Louis. "To see number 66 on the middle of your line it can be a little intimidating. I can't let this overwhelm me. I have to take this as a challenge. "I don't want to be trying to look for him so much that I'm not playing my game. I have to play my game."
Richards is bound to develop into one of the NHL's elite, but like many of his teammates he too can't help but feel a little overwhelmed by Lemieux' presence.
"It was pretty exciting at practice," said Richards. "I'm going to do my best to stay with him. It was fun to be on the ice and make some plays with him, but it's just one practice so we'll see what happens."
Notes: The line of Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic and Simon Gagne is expected to remain intact from the Olympic Games in 2002...Other line combinations at practice included Ryan Smyth, Vincent Lecavalier, Brenden Morrow; Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau; Shane Doan, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Thornton centres Canada's Big Line
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Scott Hannan was in an unenviable position.
There was big Joe Thornton barrelling down on a 2-on-1 drill Saturday with power forward Dany Heatley at his side, Hannan alone to defend the star-studded duo.
So the San Jose Sharks blue-liner did what he could, wrapping his arms around Thornton and hanging on while the puck bounced away.
If there's a forward line that might strike the fear of God in the opposition during the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey, it's definitely Thornton centring Heatley and Patrick Marleau, a combination of size and skill that a coach could only dream of having at his disposal in the NHL.
``Heater and Patty are both big players, and it's always fun playing with the bigger guys,'' Thornton said Saturday after practice. ``I've seen Dany carry guys on his back. So it's going to be fun watching these two linemates of mine carry the puck and carry the play.''
At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Marleau is usually the big man on his line in San Jose. But next to the 6-3, 215-pound Heatley and the 6-4, 225-pound Thornton, Marleau has to look up to his new linemates.
``I was thinking just that the other day in practice, they're both a little bit taller than me, that's for sure,'' Marleau, 24, said after Canada wrapped up its second practice of training camp at the University of Ottawa hockey rink.
``To get a chance to play with them is just amazing,'' Marleau added. ``We're feeling each other out right now, trying to get some chemistry going.''
Because only 10 of 23 players are back from the 2002 Olympic champions, Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn has had to come up with some new combinations at forward but that's not to say Thornton, Marleau and Heatley have no prior history.
Marleau is the common link, having played alongside Thornton at the 2001 world hockey championship in Hannover, Germany, and at Heatley's side when Canada captured gold at the 2003 world championship in Helsinki.
And in both cases, Marleau, a natural centre, shifted to wing, just as he is right now.
``I've played wing in the past before, so it's not a big deal,'' shrugged Marleau, a native of Aneroid, Sask.
Quinn liked what he saw from the line after two days.
``They can call skate and they have all great size,'' said the Toronto Maple Leafs coach. ``We think they can be a strong offensive zone line.''
In other words, Quinn hopes the line will wear down the opposition defence and cycle the puck in the offensive zone, leading to scoring chances.
``We're all big and we can all skate,'' Heatley said. ``We all like to play the body and be tough and strong down low.''
All three forwards missed out on Salt Lake City, Marleau having not yet broken through as a star centre, Heatley just a rookie in Atlanta, while Thornton, well, that's another story.
The first overall pick by Boston in 1997 was deeply disappointed he wasn't picked to play in the Olympics, a situation that was exacerbated by the knowledge that he was the guy executive director Wayne Gretzky would have called if there had been an injury leading up to the February 2002 Games. But in the end not a single forward begged off, leaving Thornton at home and stewing.
Asked about it Saturday, the savvy Thornton stayed away from revisiting old wounds.
``Canada won the gold and that was a good thing. That's all I really remember,'' he said with a smirk.
This time around, the 25-year-old native of St. Thomas, Ont., was no-brainer when the team was announced May 15. And so was Heatley.
The 23-year-old Calgary native delivered a dominating and memorable performance in leading Canada to IIHF world championship gold this spring in Prague, his overtime goal in the quarter-finals against Finland the stuff of legends.
His play in Prague - he was named tournament MVP - answered any lingering doubts that he was back in full form after missing most of last season recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the much-documented car crash last fall that claimed the life of friend and teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley heads to court in Atlanta two days after the World Cup tournament ends, facing charges of vehicular homicide.
But for now the focus is on hockey, and Heatley is flying in camp after two days, looking very much at ease on the big line with Thornton and Marleau.
``It's been a blast the last two days,'' Heatley said of playing with his new linemates.
The only thing the line doesn't have yet is a nickname.
``That's up to you guys, isn't it?,'' smiled Heatley.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - Scott Hannan was in an unenviable position.
There was big Joe Thornton barrelling down on a 2-on-1 drill Saturday with power forward Dany Heatley at his side, Hannan alone to defend the star-studded duo.
So the San Jose Sharks blue-liner did what he could, wrapping his arms around Thornton and hanging on while the puck bounced away.
If there's a forward line that might strike the fear of God in the opposition during the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey, it's definitely Thornton centring Heatley and Patrick Marleau, a combination of size and skill that a coach could only dream of having at his disposal in the NHL.
``Heater and Patty are both big players, and it's always fun playing with the bigger guys,'' Thornton said Saturday after practice. ``I've seen Dany carry guys on his back. So it's going to be fun watching these two linemates of mine carry the puck and carry the play.''
At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Marleau is usually the big man on his line in San Jose. But next to the 6-3, 215-pound Heatley and the 6-4, 225-pound Thornton, Marleau has to look up to his new linemates.
``I was thinking just that the other day in practice, they're both a little bit taller than me, that's for sure,'' Marleau, 24, said after Canada wrapped up its second practice of training camp at the University of Ottawa hockey rink.
``To get a chance to play with them is just amazing,'' Marleau added. ``We're feeling each other out right now, trying to get some chemistry going.''
Because only 10 of 23 players are back from the 2002 Olympic champions, Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn has had to come up with some new combinations at forward but that's not to say Thornton, Marleau and Heatley have no prior history.
Marleau is the common link, having played alongside Thornton at the 2001 world hockey championship in Hannover, Germany, and at Heatley's side when Canada captured gold at the 2003 world championship in Helsinki.
And in both cases, Marleau, a natural centre, shifted to wing, just as he is right now.
``I've played wing in the past before, so it's not a big deal,'' shrugged Marleau, a native of Aneroid, Sask.
Quinn liked what he saw from the line after two days.
``They can call skate and they have all great size,'' said the Toronto Maple Leafs coach. ``We think they can be a strong offensive zone line.''
In other words, Quinn hopes the line will wear down the opposition defence and cycle the puck in the offensive zone, leading to scoring chances.
``We're all big and we can all skate,'' Heatley said. ``We all like to play the body and be tough and strong down low.''
All three forwards missed out on Salt Lake City, Marleau having not yet broken through as a star centre, Heatley just a rookie in Atlanta, while Thornton, well, that's another story.
The first overall pick by Boston in 1997 was deeply disappointed he wasn't picked to play in the Olympics, a situation that was exacerbated by the knowledge that he was the guy executive director Wayne Gretzky would have called if there had been an injury leading up to the February 2002 Games. But in the end not a single forward begged off, leaving Thornton at home and stewing.
Asked about it Saturday, the savvy Thornton stayed away from revisiting old wounds.
``Canada won the gold and that was a good thing. That's all I really remember,'' he said with a smirk.
This time around, the 25-year-old native of St. Thomas, Ont., was no-brainer when the team was announced May 15. And so was Heatley.
The 23-year-old Calgary native delivered a dominating and memorable performance in leading Canada to IIHF world championship gold this spring in Prague, his overtime goal in the quarter-finals against Finland the stuff of legends.
His play in Prague - he was named tournament MVP - answered any lingering doubts that he was back in full form after missing most of last season recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the much-documented car crash last fall that claimed the life of friend and teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley heads to court in Atlanta two days after the World Cup tournament ends, facing charges of vehicular homicide.
But for now the focus is on hockey, and Heatley is flying in camp after two days, looking very much at ease on the big line with Thornton and Marleau.
``It's been a blast the last two days,'' Heatley said of playing with his new linemates.
The only thing the line doesn't have yet is a nickname.
``That's up to you guys, isn't it?,'' smiled Heatley.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canada's WC forward lines may change
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - The five forward lines stayed the same for a second straight day at Team Canada's World Cup training camp: Mario Lemieux between Martin St. Louis and Brad Richard, Joe Sakic centring Simon Gagne and Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton between Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, Kris Draper centring the Grind Line between Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan, and Vincent Lecavalier between Ryan Smyth and Brenden Morrow.
But head coach Pat Quinn says there may be some movement in the next few days.
"We're not stuck on those," he said after Saturday's practice. "Outside of Joe's line (Sakic), we may look at moving the other lines around.
"We've got seven practices and three exhibition games to find the right mix, to find four solid units."
Either way, there's plenty offence to go around.
"When you look at all the combinations that we have, I think there's potential to score goals on every line," said assistant coach Jacques Martin.
"When you put people together like that, you're looking for chemistry. We had that with Sakic, Iginla and Gagne at the Olympics."
BIG JOE: For most of the players on Team Canada, this will be the only hockey they'll play in the near future unless the NHL and NHLPA can somehow avoid a lockout starting Sept. 15.
But Joe Thornton will be on the ice either way, having agreed to a deal with HC Davos of the Swiss league on the condition there's no NHL hockey.
He's got a plan in place once the World Cup ends Sept. 14.
"I'll probably take a week off, see where the CBA is at, and then head over to Davos," he said Saturday.
In the meantime, Thornton has been critical of the Bruins this summer for failing to retain most of their free agents and he wasn't pleased they wouldn't offer him a multi-year deal, resulting in a one-year, $6.75-million US contract awarded in salary arbitration.
"Hopefully we sign some more guys," he said. "I'd like to see Boston re-sign (unrestricted free agent) Glen Murray, he's a big part of the team. And hopefully we'll go after some key free agents. So hopefully we'll keep it positive."
CAPTAIN CANADA: Ryan Smyth broke out laughing when asked if he was angry Mario Lemieux stole the `C' off his Team Canada jersey.
Smyth, nicknamed Captain Canada for his six consecutive appearances at IIHF world hockey championships, has worn the `C' in the last four world tournaments.
But the Edmonton Oilers winger has no problems with Super Mario reclaiming the `C' he wore at the Salt Lake City Olympics.
"I'm honoured to wear the `C' but I think these are different circumstances," smiled Smyth.
Smyth has a special opportunity at this year's World Cup, along with Dany Heatley, Roberto Luongo, Eric Brewer, Brenden Morrow, Scott Niedermayer and Jay Bouwmeester, teammates in Prague this spring when Canada won its second consecutive world championship.
Now that group can make it two world titles in four months.
"Yeah, it's crossed my mind," said the likeable Smyth, who never turns down a chance at representing his country. "That's something pretty special. It would be really neat."
NOTHING TO DO: With three NHL head coaches working together on Canada's World Cup of Hockey team, roles must be designated.
Head coach Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs said there was little changed from the 2002 Winter Olympics, when the same crew took Canada to a gold medal.
Ken Hitchcock, the Philadelphia Flyers coach, handles the defensive side, including "the forecheck, play without the puck, defensive zone coverage."
Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers covers the offence, including special teams.
A third assistant coach, Wayne Fleming, is "basically a drill guy," said Quinn.
"He sets up drills that help the team understand what we're trying to accomplish in our system."
And Quinn's role?
"I have nothing to do," he said with a laugh.
SCOUT IT OUT: Quinn said Canada will scout opponents as much as possible for the World Cup of Hockey, but it will be easier to do for the three other teams in their round robin group - the U.S., Slovakia and Russia - than for the four teams that will play the first round in Europe - Sweden, Finland the Czech Republic and Germany.
"The side we don't know about is in Europe and we're trying to get as much information as we can," he said, before adding with a grin: "we're trying to get some traitors.
"We're sure the Czechs will play their traditional left-wing lock. The Swedes might change to a more conventional style than the Torpedo style they used for a few events.
"The Russians are a bit of a question mark," he added. "Sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't.
"They have tremendous talent, but they're still fighting over who is going to run the (team). They usually play a 2-1-2 system that is different from most we'll see, so we'll have to be prepared to adjust.
"The Slovaks have tremendous talent up front and on defence. They're big. They have a possible question mark in goal, but they're the dark horse team here."
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - The five forward lines stayed the same for a second straight day at Team Canada's World Cup training camp: Mario Lemieux between Martin St. Louis and Brad Richard, Joe Sakic centring Simon Gagne and Jarome Iginla, Joe Thornton between Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, Kris Draper centring the Grind Line between Kirk Maltby and Shane Doan, and Vincent Lecavalier between Ryan Smyth and Brenden Morrow.
But head coach Pat Quinn says there may be some movement in the next few days.
"We're not stuck on those," he said after Saturday's practice. "Outside of Joe's line (Sakic), we may look at moving the other lines around.
"We've got seven practices and three exhibition games to find the right mix, to find four solid units."
Either way, there's plenty offence to go around.
"When you look at all the combinations that we have, I think there's potential to score goals on every line," said assistant coach Jacques Martin.
"When you put people together like that, you're looking for chemistry. We had that with Sakic, Iginla and Gagne at the Olympics."
BIG JOE: For most of the players on Team Canada, this will be the only hockey they'll play in the near future unless the NHL and NHLPA can somehow avoid a lockout starting Sept. 15.
But Joe Thornton will be on the ice either way, having agreed to a deal with HC Davos of the Swiss league on the condition there's no NHL hockey.
He's got a plan in place once the World Cup ends Sept. 14.
"I'll probably take a week off, see where the CBA is at, and then head over to Davos," he said Saturday.
In the meantime, Thornton has been critical of the Bruins this summer for failing to retain most of their free agents and he wasn't pleased they wouldn't offer him a multi-year deal, resulting in a one-year, $6.75-million US contract awarded in salary arbitration.
"Hopefully we sign some more guys," he said. "I'd like to see Boston re-sign (unrestricted free agent) Glen Murray, he's a big part of the team. And hopefully we'll go after some key free agents. So hopefully we'll keep it positive."
CAPTAIN CANADA: Ryan Smyth broke out laughing when asked if he was angry Mario Lemieux stole the `C' off his Team Canada jersey.
Smyth, nicknamed Captain Canada for his six consecutive appearances at IIHF world hockey championships, has worn the `C' in the last four world tournaments.
But the Edmonton Oilers winger has no problems with Super Mario reclaiming the `C' he wore at the Salt Lake City Olympics.
"I'm honoured to wear the `C' but I think these are different circumstances," smiled Smyth.
Smyth has a special opportunity at this year's World Cup, along with Dany Heatley, Roberto Luongo, Eric Brewer, Brenden Morrow, Scott Niedermayer and Jay Bouwmeester, teammates in Prague this spring when Canada won its second consecutive world championship.
Now that group can make it two world titles in four months.
"Yeah, it's crossed my mind," said the likeable Smyth, who never turns down a chance at representing his country. "That's something pretty special. It would be really neat."
NOTHING TO DO: With three NHL head coaches working together on Canada's World Cup of Hockey team, roles must be designated.
Head coach Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs said there was little changed from the 2002 Winter Olympics, when the same crew took Canada to a gold medal.
Ken Hitchcock, the Philadelphia Flyers coach, handles the defensive side, including "the forecheck, play without the puck, defensive zone coverage."
Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers covers the offence, including special teams.
A third assistant coach, Wayne Fleming, is "basically a drill guy," said Quinn.
"He sets up drills that help the team understand what we're trying to accomplish in our system."
And Quinn's role?
"I have nothing to do," he said with a laugh.
SCOUT IT OUT: Quinn said Canada will scout opponents as much as possible for the World Cup of Hockey, but it will be easier to do for the three other teams in their round robin group - the U.S., Slovakia and Russia - than for the four teams that will play the first round in Europe - Sweden, Finland the Czech Republic and Germany.
"The side we don't know about is in Europe and we're trying to get as much information as we can," he said, before adding with a grin: "we're trying to get some traitors.
"We're sure the Czechs will play their traditional left-wing lock. The Swedes might change to a more conventional style than the Torpedo style they used for a few events.
"The Russians are a bit of a question mark," he added. "Sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't.
"They have tremendous talent, but they're still fighting over who is going to run the (team). They usually play a 2-1-2 system that is different from most we'll see, so we'll have to be prepared to adjust.
"The Slovaks have tremendous talent up front and on defence. They're big. They have a possible question mark in goal, but they're the dark horse team here."
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canada power play looks for point man
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - When Chris Pronger and Rob Blake pulled out of the World Cup of Hockey with injuries, it left Canada without its top point men for the power play.
So among the tasks of the Canadian coaching staff for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 tournament is to find new gunners from the point from among the eight defencemen in training camp at the University of Ottawa Sports Complex.
``Pronger and Blake were first-unit power play guys and we replaced them with tremendous five-on-five players (Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester),'' assistant coach Ken Hitchcock said Saturday.
``It might mean we do some adjusting, whether it's playing a forward back there or whatever. We'll have to see in the exhibition games who is going to replace those two guys because in a best-case scenario, they would probably be the lead horses on our power play.''
There is no shortage of skill or power play experience among the defencemen in camp, who also include 2003-04 Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer, veteran Adam Foote, Wade Redden, Ed Jovanovski, Eric Brewer and Robin Regehr.
Among them, Niedermayer looks to be a strong candidate to play the point, as do Redden and Jovanovski.
``As a player, you love to be on the ice helping the team,'' said Niedermayer, the smooth-skating New Jersey Devils' defenceman. ``If I'm asked to do a little more because those guys aren't here, I'll be glad to have the opportunity.''
That decision will be made from three exhibition games - Monday in Columbus, Ohio, and Wednesday in Ottawa against the United States and next Saturday in Ottawa against Slovakia - before Canada opens the tournament Aug. 31 in Montreal against the Americans.
Head coach Pat Quinn said all 26 players in camp - six more than the team can dress for a game - will get a chance to play at least one pre-tournament game.
But on Day 2 of training camp on Saturday, indications emerged as to what the defence pairings will be.
Foote, the only right-hand shot among the defencemen, was paired with Redden, while Niedermayer was with Regehr. Jovanovski was with Brewer and a fourth pair had Hannan with Bouwmeester.
Hitchcock, in charge of the defensive side of the game, said that while the coaches had ideas on which blue-liners would play together, the final pairings were ``still very much up in the air.
``Everybody's focused on seeing how it looks after three exhibition games and evaluating from there. I don't think anything is cast in stone, although there's some obvious guys we know will play a lot, like Niedermayer and Foote.''
Hitchcock gave the example of Brewer, the Edmonton Oiler who started out as Canada's seventh defencemen at the 2002 Winter Olympics but ended playing a regular shift as Canada won gold.
``It's two years later now and he's more than ready to take a big bite,'' said Hitchcock. ``It's the same with a guy like Bouwmeester.
``He's a tremendous talent. He's had world championship experience and now he's ready to take a big step.''
Redden, 27, just missed making the 2002 Olympic team but was an easy pick for the World Cup squad after scoring a career-high 17 goals for the Ottawa Senators last season, including 12 on the power play.
``They'll read on how it works out in the exhibition games,'' said Redden, who played for Canada at two world championship tournaments in Europe. ``It looks like I'll be playing with Adam for the first one because we've been together the last couple of days, but we'll see how it works out.''
Regehr, 24, a strong defensive-zone player, made the team largely on his play while helping the Calgary Flames reach the Stanley Cup final.
He said the starting line-ups may depend on what Canada needs for each opponent. If it's solid, physical play, he should have an edge.
``I think it's a matter of what the coaches think is best for each opponent,'' he said. ``You just have to practice hard and when you get a chance to play in a game, play to your strengths because that's what got you the opportunity to play for this team.''
Hannan, 25, who is on a national team for the first time, was added because of his strong play for the San Jose Sharks last season. Bouwmeester, a budding star with the Florida Panthers, played on gold-medal winning Canadian teams at the last two world championships.
It is a much younger group than Canada had at the Olympics and makes 33-year-old Foote and 31-year-old Niedermayer the senior men. Both are among captain Mario Lemieux's four alternate captains.
``I'm not going to do anything differently than before, but if someone wants to talk, we'll talk,'' said Foote, the Colorado Avalanche veteran. ``But these guys, even though they're young, have been in key situations before.
``They're skilled and they've been leaders on their NHL teams. I don't see any problem at all.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
8/21/2004
OTTAWA (CP) - When Chris Pronger and Rob Blake pulled out of the World Cup of Hockey with injuries, it left Canada without its top point men for the power play.
So among the tasks of the Canadian coaching staff for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 tournament is to find new gunners from the point from among the eight defencemen in training camp at the University of Ottawa Sports Complex.
``Pronger and Blake were first-unit power play guys and we replaced them with tremendous five-on-five players (Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester),'' assistant coach Ken Hitchcock said Saturday.
``It might mean we do some adjusting, whether it's playing a forward back there or whatever. We'll have to see in the exhibition games who is going to replace those two guys because in a best-case scenario, they would probably be the lead horses on our power play.''
There is no shortage of skill or power play experience among the defencemen in camp, who also include 2003-04 Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer, veteran Adam Foote, Wade Redden, Ed Jovanovski, Eric Brewer and Robin Regehr.
Among them, Niedermayer looks to be a strong candidate to play the point, as do Redden and Jovanovski.
``As a player, you love to be on the ice helping the team,'' said Niedermayer, the smooth-skating New Jersey Devils' defenceman. ``If I'm asked to do a little more because those guys aren't here, I'll be glad to have the opportunity.''
That decision will be made from three exhibition games - Monday in Columbus, Ohio, and Wednesday in Ottawa against the United States and next Saturday in Ottawa against Slovakia - before Canada opens the tournament Aug. 31 in Montreal against the Americans.
Head coach Pat Quinn said all 26 players in camp - six more than the team can dress for a game - will get a chance to play at least one pre-tournament game.
But on Day 2 of training camp on Saturday, indications emerged as to what the defence pairings will be.
Foote, the only right-hand shot among the defencemen, was paired with Redden, while Niedermayer was with Regehr. Jovanovski was with Brewer and a fourth pair had Hannan with Bouwmeester.
Hitchcock, in charge of the defensive side of the game, said that while the coaches had ideas on which blue-liners would play together, the final pairings were ``still very much up in the air.
``Everybody's focused on seeing how it looks after three exhibition games and evaluating from there. I don't think anything is cast in stone, although there's some obvious guys we know will play a lot, like Niedermayer and Foote.''
Hitchcock gave the example of Brewer, the Edmonton Oiler who started out as Canada's seventh defencemen at the 2002 Winter Olympics but ended playing a regular shift as Canada won gold.
``It's two years later now and he's more than ready to take a big bite,'' said Hitchcock. ``It's the same with a guy like Bouwmeester.
``He's a tremendous talent. He's had world championship experience and now he's ready to take a big step.''
Redden, 27, just missed making the 2002 Olympic team but was an easy pick for the World Cup squad after scoring a career-high 17 goals for the Ottawa Senators last season, including 12 on the power play.
``They'll read on how it works out in the exhibition games,'' said Redden, who played for Canada at two world championship tournaments in Europe. ``It looks like I'll be playing with Adam for the first one because we've been together the last couple of days, but we'll see how it works out.''
Regehr, 24, a strong defensive-zone player, made the team largely on his play while helping the Calgary Flames reach the Stanley Cup final.
He said the starting line-ups may depend on what Canada needs for each opponent. If it's solid, physical play, he should have an edge.
``I think it's a matter of what the coaches think is best for each opponent,'' he said. ``You just have to practice hard and when you get a chance to play in a game, play to your strengths because that's what got you the opportunity to play for this team.''
Hannan, 25, who is on a national team for the first time, was added because of his strong play for the San Jose Sharks last season. Bouwmeester, a budding star with the Florida Panthers, played on gold-medal winning Canadian teams at the last two world championships.
It is a much younger group than Canada had at the Olympics and makes 33-year-old Foote and 31-year-old Niedermayer the senior men. Both are among captain Mario Lemieux's four alternate captains.
``I'm not going to do anything differently than before, but if someone wants to talk, we'll talk,'' said Foote, the Colorado Avalanche veteran. ``But these guys, even though they're young, have been in key situations before.
``They're skilled and they've been leaders on their NHL teams. I don't see any problem at all.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
I got a letter in the mail today saying the tickets are wrong and the games are at 7PM in Montreal. I knew that already - mainly cause I never got my tickets. They lost them in the mail and I need to pick them up the day of the game. Fun, fun, fun.
Sweet, which game?
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