Crosby, Fleury named to Team Canada

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.