olympics 2010

I love watching skiing, speed skating, skeleton etc etc.

Toews and Richards named to Oly hockey team



By: Randy Turner


SASKATOON — Toews and Richards are in, Penner is out.
Winnipeg's Jonathon Toews and Kenora's Mike Richards were named yesterday to the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team, while darkhorse Dustin Penner, of Winkler, didn't make the cut.
Toews, the 21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks captain, who has 11 goals and 20 assists in his third NHL season to date, was widely considered on the bubble after a relatively slow start to the 2009-2010, combined with the wealth of competition for team headed to Vancouver next February. Richards, too, struggled early in the season, but has rebounded with 16 goals and 15 assist.
Working for both Richards, the Philadelphia Flyers captain, and Toews were their strong history with Hockey Canada's junior program. Toews won two junior golds in 2005 and 2006, the latter where he played a major role in Canada's victory. Richards also was a Team Canada junior member on the gold medal team in Grand Forks in 2005.
The 27-year-old Penner, meanwhile, worked his way onto the Team Canada radar with a career start to the season with the Edmonton Oilers, where Penner has amassed 19 goals and 19 assists. However, the late-blooming Penner, unlike every other Team Canada player named by executive director Steve Yzerman, has no international experience.

I'm not surprised Penner didn't make it. Speed will be a huge factor in the Olympics which we can't afford to sacrifice.