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Ryder/Ribeiro Considered for Team Canada


Psycing

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Looks like Ryder is gonna get some consideration... Hope he makes it.

Here's the link:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=120620

Now that the Americans have named their roster for the World Championship, expect Canada to do the same in the next few days.

Team Canada general manager Steve Tambellini is in the process of finalizing his 23-man roster, although most of the spots are now confirmed and spoken for.

In goal, it will be the triumvirate of Marty Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco. Broduer and Luongo were on the World Cup championship team, although neither of them played competitively this season.

On defence, the first six spots are going to Ed Jovanovski, Robyn Regehr, Wade Redden, Scott Hannan, Sheldon Souray and Chris Phillips. There is only berth left to fill and it will go to a player from a group that includes Adrian Aucoin, Nick Schultz, Steve Staios, Dan Boyle or Jame Heward, who has played in Europe this season but was on Canada's gold-medal winner at the World Championship last year.

Up front, no fewer than 10 of the 13 positions have been determined.

World Cup veterans Ryan Smyth, Simon Gagne, Brenden Morrow, Kirk Maltby, Joe Thornton, Kris Draper, Dany Heatley and Shane Doan are returning to Team Canada. Brendan Morrison and Rick Nash are certainties and sources say Patrick Marleau, another World Cup vet, will likely be included as well.

That leaves just two forward vacancies.

In a perfect world, Team Canada would fill those from a group that includes Daniel Briere, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Shawn Horcoff and Todd Bertuzzi, but all five are varying degrees of long-shots to play.

Briere has an injured hip, but Team Canada may wait a while before ruling him out. He's excelled at the last two World Championships. Martin St. Louis recently became a father, but the baby was born premature so it's not expected he'll be in a position to leave home for the tournament. Bertuzzi's playing status is in limbo as he's currently under NHL suspension and it's not expected there will be a reinstatement hearing in time for him to be part of Team Canada. Richards is rehabbing from abdominal surgery and not likely to be ready in time. Horcoff and his wife are expecting a baby, so his status is also uncertain.

Other players under consideration for the final forward berths include: Mike Fisher, Michael Ryder, Jonathon Cheechoo, Justin Williams, Alex Tanguay, Mike Ribeiro and Jan Alston, who has been ripping it up in Europe and who played on last year's gold medal team at the World Championship.

The official roster announcement for Team Canada could come as early as Thursday or as late as the beginning of next week.

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It would be great for Ryder's career if he went. It'll help him gain alot of confidence. As for Souray, it'll be interesting to see how he does. Although it is quiet remarkable when you think about it. A few years ago you'd be laughed if you said Sheldon Souray was gonna play on the Canadian national team.

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Very true. Same for Ryder even getting consideration. Wasn't he a late draft pick?

It's great to see them doing good now though, and even sweeter that they're habs.

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This is perhaps my favorite NHL Draft Stat.

Who says international quality players need to be taken in the 1st round??? Heck, Brett Hull, taken by Calgary in the 6th round in 1984 was taken 2 full rounds after Tom Glavine, long time Atlanta Braves pitcher, was taken by the Kings!

Goes to show you just how lucky or unlucky you can get when it comes to drafting :)

Good luck Big Mike!

Go Canada Go!

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That is a great stat, but what many don't realize is that Glavine was a very good hockey player as well as baseball, and he chose to persue baseball. Too bad for the Kings, but Atlanta didn't seem to mind :)

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