Team Canada, Figuring Out the Goalies

Svyato Rovenchuk The Toronto Made Classic

Senior Analyst Written on September 01, 2009

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CALGARY, AB - AUGUST 24: A jovial goaltender Martin Brodeau during the second practice of the Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp on August 24, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)

Mike Ridewood/Getty Images

Svyato with a new article.

With the 2010 winter Olympics coming up Canada will be the host. Their hopes are really high to win the tournament, so they are going to need the best team possible. As most people know, one of the big backbones of a team is the goaltender.

Here I'll give you a list of the Canada goalies and give you some information and an argument for why or why not he will get the position.

Martin Brodeur

2008-2009 Regular Season Stats

GP: 31
W-L-OT: 19-9-3
GA: 73
SA: 870
SV: 797
SV %: .916
GAA: 2.41
SO: 5
PIM: 4
MIN: 1,814

Why Yes?

Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goalie in the NHL. Most recently Brodeur got the all time wins record from Patrick Roy making him the most winning goaltender in NHL history. Does that also make him the best of all time?

We'll see. Martin Brodeur is also on set to break many other records. Which will most likely earn him a spot with the all time greats when we look back on the best goalie of all time.

Bottom line Brodeur is a top goalie in the NHL today and he deserves a spot as one of the three goalies on the team.

Predicted Position: Starter For Team Canada

Roberto Luongo

2008-2009 Regular Season Stats

GP: 54
W-L-OT: 33-13-7
GA: 124
SA: 1,542
SV: 1,418
SV %: .920
GAA: 2.34
SO: 9
PIM: 4
MIN: 3,181

Why Yes?

Roberto Luongo is another great goalie in the NHL today. Next to Brodeur he might even be the best. Roberto Luongo is the backbone of the Vancouver Canucks team. He is their franchise players(goalie in this case).

He can flash the leather, he can stretch out the pad, he can block it with his stick. He can get it done! Keep in mind that you are hearing all this good stuff from a Flames fan.

Bottom Line is the Roberto Luongo may not get the starting job for Team Canada, but he will still probably make the team and probably back up Brodeur between the pipes.

Predicted Position: Back up for Team Canada.

Marc-Andre Fleury

2008-2009 Regular Season Stats

GP: 62
W-L-OT: 35-18-7
GA: 162
SA: 1,850
SV: 1,688
SV %: .912
GAA: 2.67
SO: 4
PIM: 8
MIN: 3,641

Why Yes?

Marc-Andre Fleury was last year's Stanley Cup winner. His name is also a pain to write (laugh). Despite that Fleury is a premier goalie in the NHL. If you check out his stats last season many of them are pretty good.

His playoff stats are even better. Most of them were the best of the playoffs for goalies. Then again he and Chris Osgood were in it the longest so you can expect it to be the highest.

Despite that, I think Fleury has a great chance of making the team.

Bottom line is, Fleur is in the wild cards for the last goalie spots on the team.

Predicted Position: Not on team

Cam Ward

2008-2009 Regular Season Stats

GP: 68
W-L-OT: 39-23-5
GA: 160
SA: 1,901
SV: 1,741
SV %: .916
GAA: 2.44
SO: 6
PIM: 4
MIN: 3,928

Why Yes?

Saskatoon born, Cam Ward obviously makes it onto Team Canada's list. Cam Ward is obviously Carolina's starting goalie and is there another guy you would rather have? Sure you also got guys like Brodeur, Luongo, Tim Thomas, Miikka Kiprusoff, but Ward is up there, too.

He can keep you in those games you think are over. He can get you through those times where you believe all hope is gone. He can be the guy you look to help you bounce back by making a flashy save. He can be the guy.

Cam Ward may only be 25, but he plays like he is a veteran and that is a quality every young goalie should have.

Bottom line is that I believe Cam will get the third spot on this team. He is a premier goalie in the NHL and he will be able to step up to the plate if Roberto and Martin can't.

Predicted Position: Undressed Third Goalie on Team Canada

Steve Mason

2008-2009 Regular Season Stats

GP: 61
W-L-OT: 33-20-7
GA: 140
SA: 1,658
SV: 1,518
SV %: .916
GAA: 2.29
SO: 10
PIM: 2
MIN: 3,664

Despite being a rookie Steve Mason has already made an impact on the NHL. Last season he helped the Colombus Blue Jackets make it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Steve Mason gave them a great goaltending presence in net. Pascal Leclaire was a great start to help fix their goaltending issue, but he got injured.

Steve stepped right in and took that load on him. And guess what? He got the job done. Steve Mason also had a great impact on Team Canada in the world juniors a few years ago. If I remember correctly he got both Tournament MVP and Best Goalie as Canada took gold. So he got that call to 2010.

Bottom Line is that he will probably not make Team Canada, but he can prove me wrong. So we'll see.

Predicted Position: Not on Team.

Closing Notes

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 3: Members of Team Canada celebrate the goal by Patrice Cormier #28 of Team Canada during the game against Team Russia at the semifinals at the IIHF World Junior Championships at Scotiabank Place on January 03, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontari

Starting Goalie- Martin Brodeur
Backup Goalie- Roberto Luongo
Undressed Goalie- Cam Ward
The Rejects- Steve Mason and Marc-Andre Fleury

That is my take on the situation. Disagree? Comment below.

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written on September 01, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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Team Canada, Figuring Out the Goalies

Svyato Rovenchuk The Toronto Made Classic

Martin Brodeur

Roberto Luongo

Marc-Andre Fleury

Cam Ward

Steve Mason

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