- Sources say Ron Wilson will be the American Olympic coach. No surprise given his close connections with Brian Burke. I expect Peter Lavioloette will get a high ranking coaching job, too. If he remains unemployed by the NHL next season, he could play a key role.
- Eric Duhatschek takes a close look at Team Sweden. "The Hat" makes an excellent point - with so many long time Canucks and Red Wings likely to make the roster, Team Sweden might be the closest-knit team entering the Olympics. That is a decided advantage.
- Alex Burrows is on Team Canada's watch list. Steve Yzerman has admitted he's closely watching Burrows. He's a long shot given Canada's depth, but if Canada opted to bring a role player or two instead of all superstars as they have in the past, he'd be an excellent choice.He is having a career year, and he would have to continue that next year. Good skater, penalty killer and energy guy capable of playing on any line.
- Team Canada's Olympic jersey dispute has been settled. It's just a shame the IOC and COC wanted not just a piece but a huge portion of Hockey Canada's lucrative pie. I still say if Canada makes the gold medal game, they should come out in their real jerseys.
- Russia will rely heavily on the Washington Capitals core group. Did you know there are only 31 Russians in the NHL this year? Yet they are an impressive group - Ovechkin, Semin, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, Nabokov, Malkin and Markov....the Russians look scary already.
- Rene Fasel and Gary Bettman are at odds about the future of NHL Olympic participation. There is a lot in play here, from NHL-NHLPA relations, the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, and, with the next Olympics in Russia, the continuing NHL-Russian spat over transfer agreements. This will be interesting.
- Donna Spencer offers a scouting report of the Canadian women's world championship team. The WC's start April 4th. This WC team will basically make up the Olympic team. The capsules are brief but it is good to familiarize ourselves with the Canadian team. Apparently the team is especially impressed with newcomer Marie-Philip Poulin, who just turned 18 last week.
- There is uncertainty in Canada's crease. One of veteran Kim St. Pierre, Charline Labonte and Shannon Szabados needs to emerge as the difference maker by the Olympics.
- The Sporting News offers team by team previews for the worlds
- Katie Weatherston is not happy she is not at the Worlds and won't be at the 2010 Olympics. A mostly-lost season due to injuries this year cost her her spot, not her play or potential. Canada has too many women worthy of making the team. Weatherston was the easiest cut due to her missed time.
- USA's Jenny Potter is America's ultimate hockey mom. Nice article by the USA Today's Vicki Michaelis
- USA disabled hockey festival was a huge success. Good to hear.
- USA coach Ray Miluta is inspired by his team. A little sledge hockey history in this article.
- Meet Team Canada's players -Billy Bridges, Todd Nicholson, Matt Cook, Benoît St-Amand, Marc Dorion, Greg Westlake, Shawn Matheson, Paul Rosen, Brad Bowden, Ray Grassi, Adam Dixon, Hervé Lord - more to come
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