Expectations Breed Controversy in Selections
Canada, Russia, and the United States all have notable omissions from their Olympic rosters.
Each country is expected to compete for a medal.
Russia has not won a gold since 1992, when it competed as part of the Unified Team, and has not medaled since 2002 .
NHL superstar Alex Semin was the main omission from the roster, he was widely expected to be on the team due to his strong play last season, and his participation at the Vancouver Games. The team will be led by Evgeni Malkin, and Sochi Ambassador Alexander Ovechkin.
The most notable omission from Team Canada is Joe Thornton.He was part of the 2010 gold medal-winning team in Vancouver and had appeared in the last two Olympics.
Canada are the defending Olympic champions.
The selection for the United States was mired by controversy after ESPN journalist Scott Burnside was given unprecedented access to the selection process and scorer Bobby Ryan was left off the Olympic team.
Ryan then issued a comment calling some of the comments made in the article "gutless," sparking the controversy.
From the 2010 roster 13 players will return to represent the United States in Sochi, with the team hoping to improve upon their 2010 silver medal.
Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia and Sweden Bring Medal Hopes as Well
The four other teams most likely to compete for an Olympic gold will all rely on Olympic veterans and a heavy NHL presence.
Finland’s Teemu Selanne will be the second ice hockey player to appear in six Winter Olympics.
Selanne joins countrymen Raimo Helminen as the sport's only six-time Olympians. Selanne’s first Olympic appearance was in Albertville in 1992.
Finland’s team consists of 16 NHLers.
IOC member Saku Koivu asked to be withdrawn from the team after he felt he could not overcome symptoms from the concussion he suffered in October.
Neighbor Sweden will have six members of their 2006 gold medal squad in Sochi.
Henrik Lundqvist, Niklas Kronwall, Daneil Alfredsson, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and Henrik Zetterberg will look to secure their second Olympic Gold medals.Sweden will send 23 NHLers to Sochi.
Jaromir Jagr will appear in his fifth Olympics for the Czech Republic. The Czechs will send 17 NHL players to Sochi, looking for their first medal since 2006.
Zdeno Chara will lead the Slovak team in Sochi. Chara, the tallest player in the NHL, helped Slovakia to a surprise 4th place finish in Vancouver. 14 Slovak NHL stars made the team.
Small Countries Get NHL Representation
Every country competing in Sochi will have an NHL player on their roster.
Slovenia, making its Olympic ice hockey debut, will be represented by superstar Anze Kopitar. Kopitar was the first Slovene to play in the NHL.
Latvia will be represented by Zemgus Girgensons, who plays for Buffalo in the NHL, while Austria will send two NHLers to Sochi: Michael Grabner and Thomas Vanek, both play for the New York Islanders.
Norway will send Mats Zucarello of the New York Rangers to Sochi. Zucarello represented Norway in Vancouver.
Eight Swiss NHL players were named for Team Switzerland.
Homepage photo from Getty Images
Written by Aaron Bauer.
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