Staff report
Captain Jonathan Toews was one of three Blackhawks selected Wednesday to play for Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook also were named to play for Canada. It will be the first Olympic experience for all three players.
On Tuesday, Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky were chosen to play for the Slovakian Olympic team.
The U.S. team will be announced Friday during the Winter Classic game in Boston, with the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien among the candidates to be selected.
Captain Jonathan Toews was one of three Blackhawks selected Wednesday to play for Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook also were named to play for Canada. It will be the first Olympic experience for all three players.
On Tuesday, Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky were chosen to play for the Slovakian Olympic team.
The U.S. team will be announced Friday during the Winter Classic game in Boston, with the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien among the candidates to be selected.
Among the top selections were forward Sidney Crosy, goaltender Martin Brodeur, who recently set the NHL record with his 104th career shutout; defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger; forward Jarome Iginla, the star of Canada's 2002 gold-medal winning team; Joe Thornton, the NHL scoring leader; and Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, a pair of 24-year-old Anaheim Ducks teammates.
Niedermayer is the captain, with Pronger, Crosby and Iginla as alternate captains. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Crosby, at age 22, wasn't the youngest chosen -- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty just turned 20, and Toews is 21.
Joining Brodeur in goal will be 2006 holdover Roberto Luongo of Vancouver and Penguins Stanley Cup winner Marc-Andre Fleury.
Also chosen at forward were Rick Nash of Columbus; Thornton's San Jose teammates Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley; Philadelphia's Mike Richards; Patrice Bergeron of Boston; Eric Staal of Carolina; and Brenden Morrow of Dallas. Bergeron was the only player chosen to the 23-man team who wasn't picked for the pre-Olympic camp in August.
The other defensemen are Dan Boyle of San Jose and Nashville's Shea Weber.
As the team was announced at a news conference during the world junior championships in Saskatoon, large banners of each player were unfurled on a podium behind Team Canada's leaders. The midday announcement was carried on 13 Canadian TV networks and cable channels
Niedermayer is the captain, with Pronger, Crosby and Iginla as alternate captains. The Pittsburgh Penguins' Crosby, at age 22, wasn't the youngest chosen -- Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty just turned 20, and Toews is 21.
Joining Brodeur in goal will be 2006 holdover Roberto Luongo of Vancouver and Penguins Stanley Cup winner Marc-Andre Fleury.
Also chosen at forward were Rick Nash of Columbus; Thornton's San Jose teammates Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley; Philadelphia's Mike Richards; Patrice Bergeron of Boston; Eric Staal of Carolina; and Brenden Morrow of Dallas. Bergeron was the only player chosen to the 23-man team who wasn't picked for the pre-Olympic camp in August.
The other defensemen are Dan Boyle of San Jose and Nashville's Shea Weber.
As the team was announced at a news conference during the world junior championships in Saskatoon, large banners of each player were unfurled on a podium behind Team Canada's leaders. The midday announcement was carried on 13 Canadian TV networks and cable channels
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Is it unpatriotic to want a Team Canada Toews jersey instead of a Team USA Kane jersey?
So, do the olympians come back from the break sharp or tired? Do the non olympians come back looking like they missed pre-season? The beginning of March will be interesting.
Exactly, Rocket Man. And how many articles are there in today's paper about the Bears? 4? 5? 6? It's ridiculous.
Hey Jim H... look around the NHL and then look at the Olympic rosters. They do play against the BEST in the world everyday. DUH.
Concerned 82,
Sharp wouldn't make the team if they had 50 roster spots.
Toews will probably center the 3rd or 4th line so he's not going to be getting a huge amount of ice time. Should be a good learning experience practicing and playing against the best in the world.
This is BIG news and the tribune treats it like it is back-page stuff. Shows you how big of idiots this newspaper really is.
I wish none were going. What if Toews or Kane get hurt? Then say goodbye to our chances for a cup.
I don't care who wins as long as Team United States or Canada beat them F**king Russian commies
@ Concerned82 - First off the spelling is S-H-A-R-P. I don't think he came close in the process of the picking of this team. Canada is stacked with talent especially at the forward position. Seabrook experience with Keith makes him the perfect choice.
Hmmmmm... no Sharpe... would have taken Sharpe over Seabrook!
I might be an American that loves to tease canadians. But I cannot wait to hear O' Canada at GM place before Team Canada takes the ice.
Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews on the same line along with Rick Nash unstoppable
I would much rather have these guys home conditioning and practicing with their teammates than have them participate in the Olympics.
Congrats to all the Blackhawks representing their countries.