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MY 2004 WORLD CUP TEAM
November 18, 2003
Story by: Kevin Yearwood
For me the announcement of Wayne Gretzky,
Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini heading
up the management team for Team Canada at
the 2004 World Cup of Hockey was very exciting.
Maybe because I know that Team Canada is
a good bet to win the tournament and that's
probably as close as I'll get to a major
international hockey event while living
here in Toronto.
Or maybe the excitement comes from trying
to guess just who Gretzky, Lowe and Tambellini
will recruit to represent our country.
I did some thinking and here's who I'd
select to wear the Canadian National Team
jersey at next summer's World Cup.
GOALIES:
Martin Brodeur- New Jersey Devils; Roberto
Luongo- Florida Panthers; Jose Theodore-
Montreal Canadiens.
Brodeur is a no-brainer. Now that Patrick
Roy has retired he is easily the best goaltender
in the NHL. I like Luongo because of his
play in last springs' World Championships
and his commitment to the National Team
program. And Theodore because the bigger
the game the better he plays.
DEFENCE:
Rob Blake- Colorado Avalanche; Adam Foote-
Colorado Avalanche; Scott Niedermayer- New
Jersey Devils; Ed Jovanovski-Vancouver Canucks;
Chris Pronger- St. Louis Blues; Eric Brewer-
Edmonton Oilers; Wade Redden- Ottawa Senators.
These first six names won gold for Canada
at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano
and all deserve to be back. Wade Redden,
some say, should have made the team in 2002.
Now it seems likely he will take the place
of Al MacInnis, who will be 41 at the time
of the tournament.
Others to consider: Jay Bouwmeester- Florida
Panthers; Derek Morris- Colorado Avalanche;
Chris Phillips- Ottawa Senators, Bryan McCabe-
Toronto Maple Leafs, and Barret Jackman-
St. Louis Blues. If the team carries a taxi
squad any one of these players could be
a member.
OFFENCE:
Mario Lemieux- Pittsburgh Penguins; Joe
Sackic- Colorado Avalanche; Paul Kariya-Colorado
Avalanche; Jarome Iginla- Calgary Flames;
Todd Bertuzzi- Vancouver Canucks; Joe Thornton-
Boston Bruins; Brendan Shanahan- Detroit
Red Wings; Ryan Smyth- Edmonton Oilers;
Simon Gagne- Philadelphia Flyers; Dany Heatley-
Atlanta Thrashers.
Others to consider: Anson Carter- NY Rangers;
Jason Williams- Philadelphia Flyers; Mike
Peca- NY Islanders; Vincent Lacavalier-
Tampa Bay Lightning; Alex Tanguay-Colorado
Avalanche; John Madden- New Jersey Devils;
Eric Lindros- NY Rangers.
There is a real possibility that both Mario
and Dany Heatley won't be available for
health reasons; and there's an outside chance
that a veteran like Brendan Shanahan might
opt out. If that's the case, look for Gretzky
and his coaching staff to take a long, hard
look at Tanguay, Lecavalier and Madden to
fill those spots. The Wayner has already
said that Bertuzzi and Thornton are shoo-ins.
As for coaches, who knows. I love the job
that Pat Quinn, Jacques Martin and Ken Hitchcock
did in Nagano, but perhaps it's time for
some new faces. How about Kings coach Andy
Murray assisted by Devils' Pat Burns and
Bob Hartley of the Thrashers?
Related Articles:
A Ridiculously Early Guess at Canada's
World Cup Team[ Click
Here ]
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