As expected goaltender Marc Andre Fleury and Sidney Crosby were named to Team Canada today. Canada goes into the 2010 Winter Olympics as the favorites to win gold.
Sidney Crosby was named an alternate captain. Penguins center Jordan Staal was not named to the team.
“This is a pretty special honor. I’m pretty proud to be apart of it, ” Sidney Crosby said today on being selected to Team Canada.
Team Canada Roster

Goalies
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Marc-Andre Fleury
*As expected, Brodeur, Fleury and Luongo were named to the team. Martin Brodeur will go in as Canada’s No.1. Marc Andre Fleury has made a strong argument to be Canada’s No. 2 goaltender, however, all indications are Luongo will be the primary backup.
Defensemen
Dan Boyle
Drew Doughty
Duncan Keith
Scott Niedermayer – Named Captain
Chris Pronger – Alternate Captain
Brent Seabrook
Shea Weber
*No big surprises on the backend. Brent Seabrooke may be a surprise to some but there’s been a lot of talk in recent weeks that Seabrook was a lock to the make the team.
Drew Doughty is believed to have earned the final spot over Jay Bouwmeester who was left off the squad.
Scott Niedermayer has been named captain with Chris Pronger being named an alternate captain.
Team Canada reps went with more of a defensive squad, leaving high scoring defenseman Mike Green off the team.
Forwards
Patrice Bergeron
Sidney Crosby
Ryan Getzlaf
Dany Heatley
Jarome Iginla
Patrick Marleau
Brenden Morrow
Rick Nash
Mike Richards
Corey Perry
Eric Staal
Joe Thornton
Jonathan Toews
*Crosby headlines a group of dynamic forwards as the franchise center is expected to play alongside Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. That will be a sight to see in itself.
However, there were a few somewhat surprising selections as Patrice Bergeron, Brenden Morrow, Eric Staal and Mike Richards were all on the bubble coming into the final week of evaluations.
Among the players left off the roster; Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Mike Fisher, Jordan Staal, Ryan Smyth, and Vincent Lecavalier. Lecavalier was a no brainer while Staal, Stamkos, St. Louis and Fisher were believed to have been in the mix until the end. Injuries cost Ryan Smyth a spot on the team as Smyth was on pace for a breakout year.
A players versatility to play all forward positions, played a strong factor in a player like Patrice Bergeron making the team over others.