Canada reveals Olympic men's hockey roster
Hockey Canada unveiled its men's roster for the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing on Tuesday.
Canada's squad is considerably older than the United States' entry and boasts fewer players with current NHL ties, but the Canadians do have a top prospect in each of the three positional groups.
Here's Team Canada's full 25-man roster:
Forwards
| Player | Age | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Carr | 30 | Lugano (Swiss National League) |
| Adam Cracknell | 36 | Bakersfield Condors (AHL) |
| David Desharnais | 35 | Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss National League) |
| Landon Ferraro | 30 | Cologne Sharks (German DEL) |
| Josh Ho-Sang | 26 | Toronto Marlies (AHL) |
| Corban Knight | 31 | Avangard Omsk (KHL) |
| Jack McBain | 22 | Boston College (NCAA) |
| Mason McTavish | 18 | Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) |
| Eric O'Dell | 31 | Dynamo Moscow (KHL) |
| Eric Staal | 37 | Iowa Wild (AHL) |
| Ben Street | 34 | Munich (German DEL) |
| Adam Tambellini | 27 | Rogle (Swedish SHL) |
| Jordan Weal | 29 | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) |
| Daniel Winnik | 36 | Geneve-Servette (Swiss National League) |
Staal cracked the roster after signing on with the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate earlier this month. McBain is a Wild prospect who's produced 13 goals and 11 assists over 18 games in his senior year at Boston College.
The Anaheim Ducks drafted McTavish third overall last year. The center, who'll turn 19 on Sunday, played nine NHL games earlier this season but has split the rest of the campaign between the AHL and the OHL.
Defensemen
| Player | Age | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Barberio | 31 | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) |
| Jason Demers | 33 | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) |
| Brandon Gormley | 29 | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) |
| Alex Grant | 33 | Jokerit Helsinki (KHL) |
| Maxim Noreau | 34 | Zurich Lions (Swiss National League) |
| Owen Power | 19 | Michigan (NCAA) |
| Mat Robinson | 35 | SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL) |
| Tyler Wotherspoon | 28 | Utica Comets (AHL) |
The Buffalo Sabres chose Power first overall in 2021. He starred for Canada at the World Junior Championship in December before the remainder of the tournament was canceled. Power became the first Canadian defenseman to notch a hat trick in the tourney when he did so in the opener.
Goaltenders
| Player | Age | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Levi | 20 | Northeastern (NCAA) |
| Edward Pasquale | 31 | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) |
| Matt Tomkins | 27 | Frolunda (Swedish SHL) |
Levi is another Sabres prospect. Buffalo acquired his rights from the Florida Panthers in the Sam Reinhart trade. The netminder is excelling in his first college season, posting a .948 save percentage and 16 wins in 24 games.
Reserves
| Player | Position | Age | Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris DiDomenico | F | 32 | Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss National League) |
| Kent Johnson | F | 19 | Michigan (NCAA) |
| Max Veronneau | F | 26 | Leksands (Swedish SHL) |
| Morgan Ellis | D | 29 | Berlin Polar Bears (German DEL) |
| John Gilmour | D | 28 | CSKA Moscow (KHL) |
| Justin Pogge | G | 35 | Cologne Sharks (German DEL) |
On Monday, the IIHF allowed every team to add six reserve players in case of injuries or COVID-19 protocol.
The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Johnson fifth overall last year. They took him three picks after the Seattle Kraken nabbed fellow Michigan Wolverine forward Matty Beniers, who's on Team USA's Olympic squad. Pogge is a journeyman who the Toronto Maple Leafs took 90th overall in 2004. He played only seven games for the club before toiling in the minors and then heading overseas.
Only three players - Noreau, O'Dell, and Robinson - return from the Canadian roster that finished third in the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.
The team will hold its training camp in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, when it will play a tune-up game against the Swiss side before departing for China. Canada will have another exhibition matchup against the United States on Feb. 7 in Beijing before the tournament begins two days later.