Monday, August 24, 2009

Team Canada camp out


The calendar may say August, but for 46 prospective Olympians it may as well be a frosty night in February.

Team Canada opened up its orientation camp on Monday, a chance for the invited to get their first look at the four day adventure that could result in a place on Canada's Olympic Hockey team come next years Olympic games in Vancouver.

The 46 were almost on the ice as soon as they had finished their introductions at the rink, such was the pace that Head Coach Mike Babcock introduced to the four day sessions.

Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman and his management group will be watching with interest to see how the 46 mesh together, trying to divine which members will have the most impact for a February roster position, of the 46 gathered in Calgary on Monday some twenty of them will find disappointment in the end, as Yzerman puts together the combination of 23 that he feels will best deliver Gold to Canada at GM Place.

It's an interesting mix of veterans and rising stars, scoring specialists and hard nosed pluggers that made the invitation list, some there to provide the competitive spirit and game face atmosphere, others hoping that somehow they provide a spark that catches the eyes of Yzerman et al and make for that surprise announcement that may make hockey history.

It being hockey and Olympic hockey at that, the simple process of an opening skate seems to have been covered as if it were game seven of the Stanley Cup final.

Some of the reviews, previews and prognostications as to who will survive this stay on the Babcock Ice flow can be found below.

Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- Day One: Opportunity for all!
Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- Team Canada: Who's on the bubble?
Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- King knows all about home-ice pressure on hockey team
Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- Lucic a longshot for Olympic team at Canada's camp
Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- Not just hockey, it's the newest episode of the national drama
Aug 24-- Globe and Mail-- Canada's hockey stars start arriving in Calgary
Aug 22-- Globe and Mail-- Team Canada covers its assets
Aug 21-- Globe and Mail-- High Expectations: There is hockey and there is everything else
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Aug 24-- National Post-- Olympic hopefuls take to the ice
Aug 24-- National Post-- Ward knows he’s in tough to make Canadian roster
Aug 24-- National Post-- Let debate begin over 2010 squad
Aug 24-- National Post-- Disappointing playoff exit motivation for Luongo
Aug 24-- National Post-- Smyth feels fortunate to get Olympic camp invite
Aug 24-- National Post-- Calgarians greet Heatley at airport
Aug 23-- National Post-- Olympic camp marks new start for Phaneuf
Aug 20-- National Post-- Iginla for captain, and that's no joke
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Aug 24-- Toronto Star-- Team Canada's Cam Ward injured
Aug 24-- Toronto Star-- Let the analysis begin
Aug 23-- Toronto Star-- Olympic hockey camp opens with visions of gold
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Aug 25-- Sun Newspapers-- Sid set to lead the gold rush
Aug 25-- Sun Newspapers-- Goalies share pipe dreams
Aug 25-- Sun Newspapers-- Morrow's tomorrow finally arrives after injury
Aug 25-- Sun Newspapers-- Sharks snipers won't lose sleep over having letters stripped
Aug 22-- Sun Newspapers-- All-star cast battles for Team Canada spots
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Aug 25-- CBC Sports-- Sore back keeps Ward out 1st practice
Aug 25-- CBC Sports-- Breaking down Canada's Olympic camp invitees
Aug 24-- CBC Sports-- Big Canuck hockey camps: a history
Aug 24-- CBC Sports-- No shortage of storylines for Olympic orientation camp
Aug 21-- CBC Sports-- Nicholson: camp crucial to Olympic success
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Aug 24-- TSN-- Iginla, Crosby, Nash work together at camp
Aug 24-- TSN/CTV-- Team Canada/Hockey website
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Aug 24-- Sportsnet-- Spector: Productivity over loyalty
Aug 23-- Sportsnet-- The C-hoice is clear

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