Team Canada's Camp- Quagmire for Coaches

Will the Canadian flag be raised higher than all others at the end of the Hockey portion of the Olympics? Canada is hoping so, as the players begin to assemble.

Choosing from so many great Canadian hockey players, whether it be for the World Championships or the Olympics, is always going to be tough for whomever is making the first or final cut.

The list of 46 players was printed in the sports section of the Toronto Star today. While looking it over, I couldn’t help but realize how extremely difficult the job of choosing who is going to make the final roster of this team really is. I would be happy to have any of these guys on our National Team.

The 2010 Olympic team is going to be a very special team, and Rick Nash told NHL.com something that really stuck out and was the reason I decided to write this: 

“There will not be another Winter Olympics in Canada that any of us will be able to play in...[i]t’s never going to happen in anyone’s career ever again."

This fact makes this team all the more special for the guys that make the final roster.

To be able to represent your country in the sport they're known for at the Olympics in your country has to be one of the dreams of any kid who plays any sport, period! This will be very exciting for the players, our country, and everyone involved on the Canadian front.

I can smell gold, can you smell it?!

I know, I know, they haven’t even chosen the damn team.

The hopefuls, five goalies, 16 defensemen, and 25 forwards will vie for a position on the National Olympic team beginning Monday.  

I can’t wait to watch highlights and read the analysis of this training camp, not to mention seeing the final roster. Thankfully, we have the NHL season to tide us over until the Olympics, but I’ll be drooling all the way!

The List:

Goalies

Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo, Steve Mason, and Cam Ward.

Defense

Francois Beauchemin (the only Leaf), Jay Bouwmeester, Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Drew Doughty, Mike Green, Dan Hamhuis, Duncan Keith, Scott Niedermayer, Dion Phaneuf, Chris Pronger, Robyn Regehr, Stephan Robidas, Marc Staal, Breant Seabrook, and Shea Weber.

Forwards

Jeff Carter, Dan Cleary, Sidney Crosby (projected Captain?), Shane Doan, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lacavalier, Milan Lucic, Partick Marleau, Andy McDonald, Brendan Morrow, Rick Nash (perhaps who should be Captain), Corey Perry, Mike Richards, Derek Roy, Martin St.Louis, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Ryan Smith (Captain Canada as he’s referred to as), Joe Thorton, Johnathan Toews.

WOW! Again tough decision eh!

Anyone you think shouldn’t be there?

If not them, then who? Leave a comment!