It is a good article. But I don\'t think that the US squad will come anywhere close to compare to what the Canadians will be able to ice. IMO

fantasyjunkie08, I agree with you 100%. Canada could probably field two teams that would both be medal contenders.

I wouldn\'t be so quick to write off the US team, less talented teams have won major events. Anything can happen if you have a hot goalie and you\'re playing one game elimination matches.

A determined group of players who gel quickly and play as a team (hot goalie is essential) can knock off a more talented team. Look at the last winter Olympics for Team Canada, ouch!

Canada is definitely going to be the favourite in 2010, especially playing at home, but in reality, Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, USA and Finland have a chance to win it all.

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12 Team "Experts" Roto representing Dobberhockey 2nd
G,A,PPP,+/-,SOG,Hits,Blocks,Wins,GAA,SV% - Keep 4
4C-Kopitar,M.Koivu,Stepan,Matthias,Prospal
4L-Marleau,Steen,M.Foligno,N.Foligno,Morrow,Umberger
4R-Hossa,Hornqvist,Little,Alfredsson,Oshie
6D-Byfuglien,Phaneuf,Doughty,J.Johnson,Burns,Wideman, Kostka,Methot
2G-M.Smith,Backstrom,Reimer

12 Team Salary Cap Roto Dynasty 3rd (G,A,Pts,FPts,DPts,Pim,SOG,H,BS,W+OTL+SO,GAA,SV%)
12F-Ovechkin,Kopitar,P&E Kane,Kessel,Ryan,M&N Foligno,Ennis,Hodgson,Killorn,Horton,Wolski,Morrow ,Bonino
6D-Subban,J.Johnson,Carle,Wizniewski,Franson,Spurgeon ,Kostka,M.Fraser
2G-Rask,Anderson,Emery
Farm-Markstrom,Scrivens,Brunner,Nyquist,G.Bourque,B.Con nolly,T.Barrie,Brennan,Barberio,Orlov

Coaching seems to be a bigger part of the WJHC then in other tournaments. I think because a team has such a small amount of time to come together, work on their systems and become a team that a great coach becomes all the more important in a situation like this.

Along these lines, I\'m a Canadian but one of my favorite movies of all time is Miracle. Not sure how entirely accurate it is, but as someone who coaches sport and loves the game of hockey I think it\'s one of those movies that just really motivates me. But there\'s an example of how huge a difference a great coach and team unity and freaking hard work can make such a monumental difference.

Don\'t be ashamed to say Miracle is a great motivational movie - it is! It\'s also one of my favourite movies, what a great story. I believe that it is almost 100% accurate, but I don\'t know for sure.

I would agree that coaching is a big part of any short tournament where you bring players in from different teams and only have a short period to pull it all together.

By that I mean, the coaches need to be instrumental in team building and doing the things necessary to help the players form a bond in a very short period of time. Of course having the players buy into the system the coach is selling is pretty important as well.

I still think that choosing the players with the right attitudes instead of only based on talent is the way to win these type of tournaments.

Every team needs players who sacrifice their bodies in order to get possession or take a hit to make a play. You can\'t have a team of prima donnas (I didn\'t say anything about the Russian teams!), someone\'s got to do the dirty work.

Canada has many talented players, but over and above the talent, it\'s the passion and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team that set them apart.

__________________
12 Team "Experts" Roto representing Dobberhockey 2nd
G,A,PPP,+/-,SOG,Hits,Blocks,Wins,GAA,SV% - Keep 4
4C-Kopitar,M.Koivu,Stepan,Matthias,Prospal
4L-Marleau,Steen,M.Foligno,N.Foligno,Morrow,Umberger
4R-Hossa,Hornqvist,Little,Alfredsson,Oshie
6D-Byfuglien,Phaneuf,Doughty,J.Johnson,Burns,Wideman, Kostka,Methot
2G-M.Smith,Backstrom,Reimer

12 Team Salary Cap Roto Dynasty 3rd (G,A,Pts,FPts,DPts,Pim,SOG,H,BS,W+OTL+SO,GAA,SV%)
12F-Ovechkin,Kopitar,P&E Kane,Kessel,Ryan,M&N Foligno,Ennis,Hodgson,Killorn,Horton,Wolski,Morrow ,Bonino
6D-Subban,J.Johnson,Carle,Wizniewski,Franson,Spurgeon ,Kostka,M.Fraser
2G-Rask,Anderson,Emery
Farm-Markstrom,Scrivens,Brunner,Nyquist,G.Bourque,B.Con nolly,T.Barrie,Brennan,Barberio,Orlov

Yeah I fully agree. I actually love watching teams like Switzerland and Germany because they have competely undermatched teams at international tournaments but often they will completely outwork other teams and play a perfect defensive system and make games interesting.