BEIJING, China — At every international men’s hockey tournament, Canada sees itself as the country to beat, though that sentiment isn’t always shared outside the four walls of the locker room.
No matter the level or the place, the team with the red jersey adorned with a maple leaf commands respect from its opponents.
Four years after the National Hockey League (NHL) withdrew from the PyeongChang Winter Olympics for financial reasons, Canadian fans expected to finally be able to watch stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon defend together the colors of their country, under the eyes of the whole world.
But COVID-19, of course, had another plan in mind.
Six weeks ago, the NHL opted out of the Beijing Games due to COVID-19 outbreaks that forced it to postpone nearly 100 games. The face of the national teams in the Olympic tournament has thus been transformed.
Even if the absence of the biggest stars of the sport represents an inevitable disappointment, the Olympic meeting which will begin on February 9 should nevertheless offer its share of moments of entertainment to the fans. The parity between the countries makes it difficult to predict who will come out with the honors.
“It’s a tough tournament to win,” said Team Canada captain Eric Staal.
The 37-year-old won gold in 2010 in Vancouver in the NHL’s fourth appearance at the Olympics – Sochi 2014 being the fifth and most recent.
“We have good players, but we have to be successful as a team. Everyone has to be on the same wavelength,” he added.
However, Canada was forced to change coaches twice before the tournament. Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was supposed to be at the helm of the team, but he was replaced by Claude Julien after the NHL retired. Julien also forfeited when he fractured his ribs during the team’s training camp in Switzerland.
It is therefore Jeremy Colliton, the former coach of the Chicago Blackhawks who was fired in November, who will lead the maple leaf.
“We faced challenges, but we will fight,” Colliton said. We know exactly what level we want to reach and how we want to play. It is up to us to put it into practice. »
“We’re expected to win gold and that’s our goal,” said 20-year-old defenseman Owen Power, who was drafted first overall in the NHL’s latest amateur auction by the Buffalo Sabers. .
“In every hockey tournament, that’s what we expect from Canada. »
Canada is certainly a powerhouse in hockey, but it is not the only one. The Canadian Press profiles the 12 teams – from old rivals to newcomers like Denmark and China – who will be chasing gold in Beijing.
THE FOUR FAVORITES
RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
Russia’s Olympians will compete in their second consecutive Olympic Games under the acronym “COR” in the wake of sanctions imposed on their country for failing to report accurate data from the Moscow laboratory responsible for doping tests.
However, this is not what will prevent their team from aiming for a second Olympic title in a row, taking advantage of the presence of the best players in their local league.
The Russians will be able to count on impact players from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), including its leading scorer Vadim Shipachev, as well as former NHL forwards like Artem Anisimov and Nikita Gusev. Vyacheslav Voynov and Nikita Nesterov will be their generals in defense.
Russia won gold in 2018, thanks in particular to Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk.
FINLAND
Finland always seems to perform above expectations at international tournaments. Beijing, Finland will be led by former NHLers Valteri Filpulla, Leo Komarov, Markus Granlund and Teemu Hartikainen in attack.
In defense, she can rely on Sami Vatanen and Mikko Lehtonen.
The country climbed to the third step of the podium in 2014, while winning two silver medals in 1988 and 2006.
CANADA
Canada will be represented by a team of rising stars and veterans. Staal will be one of its veterans, alongside David Desharnais, Jason Demers, Daniel Winnik and Adam Cracknell.
But the most interesting aspect will come from the presence of young people like Power, forward Mason McTavish and goalkeeper Devon Levi.
The Canadian team was upset by Germany in the semifinals four years ago, but managed to win bronze. The country hasn’t won an Olympic gold medal without NHL players since 1952.
SWEDEN
Marcus Kruger and Anton Lander are two names North American fans may recognize from their time in the NHL.
Former Montreal Canadiens Jacob de la Rose will also be part of the Swedish team, which should be fighting for a medal.
Sweden will be looking for a podium finish for the first time since 2014, when they finished second. She won gold in 1994 and 2006.
THE MIDDLE OF PELOTON
CZECH REPUBLIC
The biggest question mark for the Czechs is in net, as all three of their goalies have tested positive for COVID-19.
Former Boston Bruins forward David Krejci will be their most famous face in their quest for a first medal since bronze in 2006.
SWISS
Several former NHLers will also wear the Swiss jersey, including forwards Denis Malgin, Gaetan Haas and Sven Andrighetto, as well as defenders Raphael Diaz, Mirco Muller and Yannick Weber.
Reto Berra is expected to be the starting goaltender for this team looking to return home with a medal in men’s hockey for the first time since 1948.
UNITED STATES
Instead of seeing players like Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane on their first line, the Americans will have to fall back on a majority of players from the collegiate ranks of the NCAA.
Youngsters Matty Beniers, Brendan Brisson and Jake Sanderson will have the opportunity to offer their country a first medal since silver in 2010.
DENMARK
This will be Denmark’s first men’s Olympic hockey tournament appearance. Frans Nielsen, Mikkel Boedker, Nicklas Jensen and Peter Regin will be their headliners.
OTHERS
Slovakia, Germany, Latvia and China are the other nations entered in the competition.
The Slovak squad includes the names of Marko Dano and Martin Marincin, while Germany, who surprised in 2018 by taking silver, will be represented by Tobias Rieder, Tom Kuhnhackle, Dominik Kahun and Korbinian Holzer, among others.
The Latvian squad will be able to look to the likes of Kaspars Daugavins and Ronald Kenins, while goalkeeper Kristers Gudlevskis, who made 55 saves in a 2-1 loss to Canada at the 2014 Games, will return in front of his country’s net.
Host country of the event, China will participate for the first time in the Olympic tournament and will be able to count on 11 Canadians, seven Americans and six local players.
“We’re starting to realize that’s true,” said Brandon Yip, who was born in Vancouver, but whose family has Chinese ancestry.
“We are excited to finally be at this level. We want our country to be proud of us. »
