By Mike Dennis, Hockey Alberta /
While most people crack open the bubbly on December 31st, eight of Hockey Alberta’s finest alumni will be waiting anxiously, with the hope of ringing in more than just the New Year. On New Years Eve, Hockey Canada will announce the 23 player roster (20 skaters and 3 goalies) that will represent Team Canada Men’s Hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver this coming February.
Cam Ward (Sherwood Park, Alta), Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton, Alta), Mike Green (Calgary, Alta), Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton, Alta), Ryan Smyth (Banff, Alta), Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta), Jarome Iginla (St. Albert, Alta) and Dany Heatley (Calgary, Alta) attended the Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp in Calgary at the end of August looking to catch the eyes of Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Hockey Canada entourage. Depending on which critic you listen to, the majority of the eight Alberta boys crack the Team Canada fantasy lineups compiled by media outlets and hockey panels across the country – a true testament of the home grown hockey talent from our province.
For Cam Ward, it appears a mid season injury will keep him on the outside looking in as he has been sidelined and placed on the NHL’s long term injury reserve with a leg laceration sustained on November 7. Iginla and Heatley would probably be pegged the “sure things,” currently sitting amongst the NHL leaders in goals and points. Many also consider Iginla a candidate to wear the “C”. Doan and Smyth both have long international competition resumes but may be left off the roster due to the young gun talent such as Sidney Crosby and Jonathon Toews. On the point, most hockey critics would consider Phaneuf, Bouwmeester and Green to be probable.
The Alberta roots extend deeper than the 23 player roster and branch out to Team Canada’s coaching staff. Head Coach, Mike Babcock (coached at both Red Deer College and the University of Lethbridge in the 80’s and 90’s), and Associate Coaches, Ken Hitchcock (Edmonton, Alta), and Lindy Ruff (Warburg, Alta) all have strong ties to the province, firmly planting Alberta’s seed in Olympic history.
Cam Ward
Position: Goaltender
Jersey No.: 30
Height: 6’ 1 /1.85 m
Weight: 200 lbs /90 kg
Catches: Left
Hometown: Sherwood Park
MHA: Sherwood Park MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Ward played in the 1999 Alberta Cup in Medicine Hat manning the net for the Northeast Panthers. He grew up and played the majority of his minor hockey in Sherwood Park. Ward played for the Sherwood Park Kings (Midget AAA) from 1999-2001. He was named the Kings’ most valuable player and the AMHL goaltender of the year in 2001.
Mike Green
Position: Defence
Jersey No.: 52
Height: 6’ 2 /1.87 m
Weight: 208 lbs /94 kg
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Calgary
Born: October 12, 1985
MHA: Hockey Calgary
Hockey Alberta History: Green competed in the 2000 Alberta Cup as a member of the Calgary North Stars before cracking the Team Pacific lineup in 2002 to play at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Green grew up playing his minor hockey in Calgary.
Jarome Iginla
Position: Forward
Jersey No.: 12
Height: 6’ 1 /1.85 m
Weight: 203 lbs /92 kg
Shoots: Left
Hometown: St. Albert
Born: August 1, 1977
MHA: St. Albert MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Iginla played for Team Pacific in 1993 when the tournament was hosted in Amos, Quebec. He played his minor hockey in St. Albert before moving on to the WHL where he won 2 Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers.
Shane Doan
Position: Forward
Jersey No.: 15
Height: 6’ 3 /1.9 m
Weight: 216 lbs /98 kg
Shoots: Right
Hometown: Halkirk
Born: October 10, 1976
MHA: Castor MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Doan participated in Hockey Alberta development camps in his teenage years. He played his minor hockey in Castor, Stettler and Killam, Alberta before playing three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.
Jay Bouwmeester
Position: Defence
Jersey No.: 4
Height: 6’ 4 /1.93 m
Weight: 218 lbs /98 kg
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Edmonton
Born: September 27, 1983
MHA: Edmonton MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Bouwmeester is one of Hockey Alberta’s most decorated alumni. He played in the 1998 Alberta Cup for Edmonton South posting 3 goals, 6 assists and 9 points in five games before winning a Gold Medal with Team Alberta at the 1999 Canada Winter Games. Bouwmeester started playing minor hockey with Millwoods in Edmonton moving up to play bantam AAA and midget AAA with Edmonton SSAC. He captured the Alberta Bantam Championship with Edmonton SSAC in 1997-98.
Dion Phaneuf
Position: Defence
Jersey No.: 3
Height: 6’ 3 /1.9 m
Weight: 214 lbs /97 kg
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Edmonton
Born: April 10, 1985
MHA: Edmonton MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Phaneuf played in the 2000 Alberta Cup as a member of Edmonton South. He then went on to play for Team Pacific in 2002. Phaneuf played for the Southside Athletic Club Lions (Bantam AAA) from 1999-2001, reaching the Alberta Bantam championship in both years. He set a scoring record for defenceman in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in 2000-01 with 65 points.
Dany Heatley
Position: Forward
Jersey No.: 15
Height: 6’ 3 /1.9 m
Weight: 216 lbs /98 kg
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Calgary
Born: January 21, 1981
MHA: Hockey Calgary
Hockey Alberta History: Heatley played for Calgary South at the 1996 Alberta Cup. He played for the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks in 1998-99, reaching the regional championship. During his minor hockey career in Calgary, Heatley was named most valuable player at the 1997 Air Canada Cup, Canada’s National Midget Championship, as a member of the Calgary Buffaloes.
Ryan Smyth
Position: Forward
Jersey No.: 94
Height: 6’ 1 /1.85 m
Weight: 190 lbs /86 kg
Shoots: Left
Hometown: Banff
Born: February 21, 1976
MHA: Banff MHA
Hockey Alberta History: Smyth grew up playing for the Banff Minor Hockey Association before breaking into the WHL where he played for the Moose Jaw Warriors from 1992-1995. |