• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log out
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
International Hockey
Olympics

Team Canada 2014: Chemistry Will Be Key In Sochi

By Ryan Pike August 28th, 2013

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In addition to balancing the various roles and needs of the 2014 Olympic hockey team’s roster, Hockey Canada’s management will be required to balance 25 individuals with various comfort levels with their new-found teammates. With the Olympic tournament featuring many games against high-level international opposition in a rapid-fire fashion, the challenge will be to select a roster of players that can gel right away.

Drew Doughty. (Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE)

Drew Doughty. (Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE)

While the Olympic rosters fielded by many other teams in the 2014 tournament will be close to identical to past World Championship entries, Team Canada’s roster will likely be cobbled together from several different recent events – including undoubtedly several hold-overs from the 2010 gold-medal-winning team. One such likely holder is Los Angeles Kings blueliner Drew Doughty, who noted that the fact that the tournament is overseas is going to be a hurdle for players to overcome.

“It’s going to be different, that’s for sure. We’re not going to have the same kind of food, the same kind of, just being in an English-speaking place. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a lot harder for the guys to be comfortable, but that’s just another aspect you’ve got to deal with,” said Doughty.

Doughty added that the location of the Olympics in Russia also means that players will be spending more time with teammates than they would in a North American tournament. As a result, creating chemistry with future teammates at the orientation camp goes a long way to creating some comfort zones for the team when they head to Sochi in February.

“I think so because, for the most part, when we’re in Sochi we’re not going to have anybody else there. In Vancouver, a lot of guys had many people from their families coming down because it’s in Canada. It’s just going to be us, so creating that chemistry now and getting to know guys now is going to make it a more enjoyable time over there in Sochi,” said Doughty.

The expected youth movement at the 2014 Olympics for Canada may actually be fueled by newfound chemistry, particularly in fairly recent international competitions. Several prospective members of Team Canada played together at the 2008 World Junior Championships (including Doughty, Karl Alzner, P.K. Subban, Claude Giroux, Brad Marchand, Steven Stamkos and John Tavares), the 2009 World Hockey Championships (Doughty, Stamkos, Shea Weber, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Martin St. Louis and James Neal) and the 2010 Olympics. Weber wasn’t sure if it’s more difficult to adapt to different ice surfaces or different teammates, but noted that everyone at camp seemed up to the challenge.

“That’s a good question. Guys have done it before in World Juniors and World Championships and they’ve succeeded, so it’s a good thing they have these camps so everyone’s pretty familiar with each other and we’ve all played with each other at one time or another, so I think it’s going to be a fun experience if I get the chance,” said Weber

On the final day of the orientation camp, Team Canada architect Steve Yzerman held court with the throng of media and mentioned, among other things, that player performances in the NHL will definitely play a part in cementing roster positions for the Olympics. No matter what the decisions are based on, Hockey Canada has a lot of tough calls to make in the near future.

“These are all really good players. You have to make decisions based on something. Watching guys and they’re not playing well, but other guys for the same role that are really playing well? You’ve got to base your decision on something.” said Yzerman, noting that every decision will be scrutinized. “In 2010 we won. Could you have put six or seven different guys on that team and won? Probably. Maybe. I don’t know. We’ll beat [the decisions] to death and talk about it and try to put the best team together. There will be a logic behind our decisions, whether it looks like it or not.”

Team Canada’s roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics is expected to be finalized in late December. The Olympic men’s hockey competition runs February 12-23, 2014.

  • Tags
  • Drew Doughty
  • Shea Weber
  • Steve Yzerman
  • Team Canada
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 11:37 AM
Archives

50 in 50 for Mike Bossy

Jan 22nd 11:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Caufield, Dobes, Power & More

Jan 22nd 11:15 AM
Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Road Schedule Ravaged By COVID-19

Jan 22nd 10:55 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Riley vs. Riley, Family Members Faceoff Behind the Bench

Jan 22nd 10:45 AM
Nashville Predators

Predators: 3 Early Observations From the Young Season

Jan 22nd 10:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Backstrom Is Most Underrated Player in the NHL

Jan 22nd 10:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Kings Turn Tables On Avalanche For 4-2 Win

Jan 22nd 10:15 AM
Dallas Stars

3 Focuses for the Dallas Stars on Opening Night

Jan 22nd 10:05 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Top Devils as Mat Barzal Continues to Grow

Jan 22nd 9:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Will Never Replace Joe Thornton in the Locker Room

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information