Team Canada World Hockey Championships 2008 - First Round All But Done

Milan Lucic, Team Canada Captain, Super Series 2007

Now that the first round is virtually over there are a couple of standout players that I believe will get invites to the World Championships.

Its now a fact that Martin Brodeur has been invited to join the team, but it's yet to be seen whether he'll go. I think this is a win-win for Canada. Brodeur goes and the team gets a Hall of Fame goalie out for vengeance after his post-season blues, a man who will almost certainly backstop the Olympic team in 2010. If they don't get Brodeur they get two goalies who have had decent seasons, and one (Ward) who is in the running to have a big role in 2010 and therefore has something to prove.

There haven't been a lot of players named to the energy line, and I think Boston has a player that would fit the bill very nicely: Milan Lucic. Was Canada's captain in the Super Series with the intent of 'sending the Russians a message.' He plays a freaking mean game, and he can put the puck in the net on occasion. I think he'll get a long look.

Matt Cooke in Washington could help fill out that line as well. It depends on the outcome of game 7 but he's been to this tournament before, and he is a classic pest.

The Predators could really help Team Canada on defence by donating the services of Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber. Hamhuis and Weber played in the tournament last year and are both very good defenceman. I think Brent Burns will get an invite from the team because of his strong play this year.

I would bet the Anaheim crew (Pronger, Neidermeyer, possibly Beauchemin), but I would bet they all turn the team down. Beauchemin didn't look that good and Pronger doesn't seem like the type of guy to play in a 'lesser tournament.'

If those three go that'll leave one more defenceman, and it's really anyone's guess as to who it could be. Chris Phillips is a guy that has been called a 'potential' Team Canada blueliner for years, Mike Green or Braydon Coburn could go depending on which team loses, and one of Brian Campbell or Dion Phaneuf could be a huge boon for Team Canada. Robyn Regehr has been simply outstanding and could probably step in as Canada's best defensive defenceman.

The Sharks/Flames outcome could have a profound effect on Team Canada. Jarome Iginla has probably been the best player in the entire ice surface these playoffs, and he might be willing to travel to Quebec to play, especially if Martin Brodeur goes. Iginla has traditionally shyed off this tournament in recent years, but I think this particular year has special meaning and greater convenience. Thornton is the guy to ask on the Sharks. Right now I don't think he's good enough to make the Olympic team on the top two scoring lines, and he might have to settle for a grinding role much like he had in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. This could be a chance for him to prove his usefulness.

We're only a week and half away from the Tournament opener, and this team will take shape sooner rather than later.

Curtis Joseph Finally Grabs the Gold

Early morning December 31st, Curtis Joseph, 40, accomplished something he had failed at twice earlier in his long and generally successful career. He won a gold medal as Canada's number 1 goaltender, albeit in the lesser known Spengler Cup.

His first opportunity came waaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1996, as Canada assembled what was the twilight period of Edmonton Oiler greats for the very first World Cup of Hockey. That year Curtis Joseph was the number 1, with backups Bill Ranford and Martin Brodeur(!). He was considered a good goalie I think, but he hadn't yet reached the height of his own legend, that would come a few years later, closer to when he left Edmonton and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. There is nothing really to say about that edition of Team Canada except to say that they lost in a spectacular fashion when it mattered most. Certainly that team's 3rd period collapse to Team USA, (with both teams tied for one win apiece in the best of 3 series) is comparable in terms of level of disaster to Canada's World Jr. 3rd period collapse to Team USA in 2004, or the semi-final loss to the Czech Republic in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Many questions were asked about the age of the team leaders such as Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier (and in fact Messier was left out of the 1998 Nagano team, but would go on to play hockey for another 300 years or so). The real story of the tournament was Brett Hull's performance, and bitter Canadians (myself) still like to point out that for all intents and purposes he is Canadian, certainly in terms of who he owes his career to. He only played for Team USA because he was rejected by Team Canada due to lack of conditioning on one occasion early on in his career, but Team USA's shallow talent pool was ready to accept him with open arms. From then on he was loyal to Team USA. But I digress.

In 1998 Patrick Roy made a rare appearance for Team Canada so Joseph never got the opportunity. But it would come to him again in 2002.

It seems insane to think that only 6 years ago Curtis Joseph was considered a better goalie than Martin Brodeur, as Brodeur has been so consistently good for so long, but that's the way it was. However, Joseph simply did not play well in his first start; after storming out to a 1-0 lead, Mats Sundin put one past Joseph (admittedly on a breakaway), then was unable to make a key save later on in the period. The third goal against, halfway through the second, Joseph let in a suspect shot from the point. Another breakaway in the 3rd led to another goal against.

It wasn't so much that Joseph was at particular fault - it was more that he simply wasn't able to bail his teammates out of bad situations. He was replaced by Martin Broduer in the second game against Germany and never played another minute.

That was not the case against Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Monday, where Joseph made many key stops, including a shorthanded breakaway and a dangerous shot from the slot by Oleg Tverdovsky in the third.It took a long time, but he finally won one for Canada.

No doubt Joseph used this tournament to showcase his ability to perform at a high level, even at his advanced age. But regardless of his reasons, Joseph showed the world, and his home country, that he's still got something left in the tank. Now are there any takers?

If I were a hockey player (which I technically am)

Well I guess I was tagged by HG, (or was it MG?), but the point is that I was tagged at some point, so, if I were a hockey player...

Team: I know readers are asking...Flames, or Oilers? The answer? Team Canada!
Uniform Number: 2, in honour of Al MacInnis, probably the Flames all time best player.
Position: I have no scoring talent, so obviously defence. Plus, what forward wears #2?
Nickname: My current hockey nickname is Viper, but all-time is Lupes. Don't ask.
Dream Linemates: Well, Al MacInnis as my D partner, Gretz, Fleury and Messier up front. Broduer or Roy in net.



Rounding out the Powerplay: Are you kidding me? That line would be on a constant PP, except for they would have to make up for me. So it would be more like we would always be down 4 men to 5. Hmm...
Job: Let everyone else do their thing.
Signature move: Chirping the crap out of the other team once a victory was assured. I'm a bad winner sometimes.
Strengths: My Lanny McDonald moustache and dashing good looks.
Weaknesses: My failing knees. I'm just like #4 Bobby Orr!

Injury problem: Everything - my knees are messed, my shoulder is currently messed, and most of the time I have some foot problem related to the fit of my skates.
Equipment: Vapor XXX skates, old worn out gloves, and the piece de resistance...red pants!
Nemesis: Dominik Hasek - He got us in '98 and he's still going! He's like 80 years old for God's sake!
Scandal involvement: I won't go into it, but suffice it to say it's worse than Kristian Huselius but better than Sean Avery. Interpret that however you want.
Who I'd face in the Stanley Cup final: Well technically it would be the World Cup (Canada Cup), Olympics or World Championship finals, and we'd face the Czech Republic. Those guys are really good.
What I would do with the Stanley Cup after our victory: In the spirit of the Oiler's glory years, I'd get ripped and lose it.
Would the Media love me or hate me: The media would love me. I talk as much as Conroy and I think like Andrew Ference.

I'll tag Finny, Scarlett, the Guys at Oil Pressure. Don't ANY of you dissapoint me, I have a memory like an Elephant!

Oh, and upon request, Steal Thunder over at Completely Hammered!