Team Canade 2010: The True North Strong and Free!

With the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver around the corner, expectations are high as we look to reclaim gold on home soil, or ice if you will.

Here are my predictions as to who will be on that team.
Obviously this team is stacked.

I hope this group Of players will well represent Canada on the world stage!

Roberto Luongo

Luongo is arguably one of the best goaltenders in the world, and with the games being played at GM Place, on his own ice, the hometown hero may get the chance to shine.

Martin Brodeur

It's hard to imagine Canada not going with the man who led them to gold at both the 2002 Olympics and 2004 World Cup. He's the No. 1, no question about it.

Marc-Andre Fleury

He'll be 25 at the Olympics and he's a Stanley Cup champion. He's been good all season, despite a couple of injuries he's been very consistent; give him a chance.

Scott Niedermayer

Nothing changes, the veteran blue-liner still gets the opportunity to play for Team Canada.

Chris Pronger

When Canada needs a physical element they'll call on this shut-down defender.

Mike Green

He'll add the scoring touch from the blue line, and he'll be on the power play.

Shea Weber

He has the perfect mix of toughness, grit, power and skill, it would be an absolute shock to me if he didn't make this team.

Jay Bouwmeester

There's nothing exiting about Jay Bouwmeester, but he is good (very good) and he can play a good portion of the game.

Dan Boyle

Boyle deserves to be on the ice this time around. There aren't many who move the puck or join the rush better.

Drew Doughty

He's the future of the Canadian blue line. He's not going to be one of the best in the league; he already is.

Sidney Crosby

You can't make a Canada roster without Sid. Doing so is clearly a sign of one of two things: either a severe hate for him, or mental instability.

In either case, the young Stanley Cup-winning captain will be the centrepiece of the team's top line.

Dany Heatley

Hidden behind the strong start his teammate Joe Thornton is having is Dany. He'll be the top line left winger, regardless if his teammate centres him or not.

Jarome Iginla

Probably the most well-rounded player for Canada, Jarome will most certainly be on the top line, or second line, depending what type of forward pairings the coaches have in mind.

In any case, he will certainly be a huge piece of any offensive attack Canada has. He's my choice for captain.

Joe Thornton

The league's top scorer will likely take a back seat here and play second fiddle to Sid the Kid. Expect Joe Thornton to still be the set-up man on the PP though. Might be no better passer right now.

Corey Perry

A big body who eats up big minutes and is skilled offensively, Corey Perry will be a lock for the team along with his linemate and countryman Ryan Getzlaf.

Mike Richards

A penalty-killing specialist by description, Mike also has offensive capabilities. He will be out on almost every PK situation Canada may get.

Rick Nash

Forty goals last year, and on pace for more than that this year. A lock for their top two lines and PP units.

Patrick Marleau

Great in all sections of the game, Patrick can be used on the PP, ES and PK. He'll likely be logging a lot of minutes. On what line is still a question.

Mike Fisher

Yes, Canada needs checkers. So what's even better than a checking forward? One that has offensive flair as well.

Mike Fisher will likely get plenty of fourth line minutes, but expect him to do a a lot of PK too. Plus, who wouldn't like to see Carrie Underwood in a Canada jersey.

Dustin Penner

Great third-line presence and possible big body for the PP.

Ryan Getzlaf

You can't pick Perry and leave Getzlaf off. They are going to be paired together to see if they can mesh on the world stage as well as they do in the NHL.

Martin St Louis

All offense, Martin might get into the lineup if some more offensive spark is somehow required. For the most part, he is probably watching from the press box though.

Going For Gold

Canada will come in with enormous pressure on them to perform, not just by media who often act like a hockey championship should just be anointed to us, but more so the fans, especially the unknowing fans who don't realize how talented the other top-tier countries really are.