On the flip-side Hockey Canada...

We have heard many rumblings about players not being allowed to go to the 2010 Olympics because of their lack of loyalty to the program. What about the case of Matthew Lombardi playing in the 07 WHC, leading the team in scoring, yet no invite back this year? I know the team is more stacked this year, but where is Hockey Canada's loyalty? I dont agree with this either way, as I support ice the best team possible theory, but a valid argument none the less?

We have heard many rumblings about players not being allowed to go to the 2010 Olympics because of their lack of loyalty to the program. What about the case of Matthew Lombardi playing in the 07 WHC, leading the team in scoring, yet no invite back this year? I know the team is more stacked this year, but where is Hockey Canada's loyalty? I dont agree with this either way, as I support ice the best team possible theory, but a valid argument none the less?

I'm of the belief that you owe Hockey Canada everything, and it owes you nothing...

You play for your country, it's an honour...there should be no reciprocity there..

you get the invite you should go.
you dont get the invite, more time to practice your golf swing.

I'm of the belief that you owe Hockey Canada everything, and it owes you nothing...

You play for your country, it's an honour...there should be no reciprocity there..

That's what the Red Army used to say. Surely there must be give and take in this free society. Hockey Canada also makes money off the names of these players backs.

That's what the Red Army used to say. Surely there must be give and take in this free society. Hockey Canada also makes money off the names of these players backs.

What does a free society have to do with representing a country in international hockey?

These players also learned their skills and owe much of their current livelihood to the impact Hockey Canada had when they played as children..

What does a free society have to do with representing a country in international hockey?

These players also learned their skills and owe much of their current livelihood to the impact Hockey Canada had when they played as children..

I would say family has a much bigger stake in their current livelihood than hockey Canada. Free countries do not make there players do anything!

I would say family has a much bigger stake in their current livelihood than hockey Canada. Free countries do not make there players do anything!

Big Phaneuf fan eh?

It's an honor to play for your country, you go when you get the chance.

The only flip side is that our country owes it to us fans to ice the best team possible. If Lombardi isn't part of that this year, so be it.

Big Phaneuf fan eh?

It's an honor to play for your country, you go when you get the chance.

The only flip side is that our country owes it to us fans to ice the best team possible. If Lombardi isn't part of that this year, so be it.

Exactly. Lombardi is crap. I know it. You know it, and Hockey Canada knows it.

so the consensus is Hockey Canada should alway's ice the best team possible...I agree!

heh

I'm of the opinion that hockey players owe Hockey Canada nothing and Hockey Canada owes players nothing.

Each should do and does do what is best for themselves. Lombardi went because at the time it was probably best for him to go. He was not invited back because Hockey Canada thought it was best that he not go. Everyone is in it for their own purposes.

It's amazing how players like Koivu, Selanne and Nabokov play after tough rounds in the playoffs [Nabokov and Koivu played 2 rounds] and Phaneuf declines after 1 round and especially since the tournament being in Canada.

Those three are older and Phaneuf is a young guy. Just shows the passion for their country.

i think hockey Canada will choose the best team possible for 2010..i can't imagne it anyway else especially with it on our own soil. players rarely if ever decline invitations to best on best tournaments.

I would say family has a much bigger stake in their current livelihood than hockey Canada. Free countries do not make there players do anything!I thought Dion is single?

Or are you one of those who will simply apologize for Dion no matter what he does....

I don't think a player should turn down their country except for medical reasons.

I don't think a player should turn down their country except for medical reasons.

That is my basic feeling as well but it's not always the case.

The United States has a somewhat similar situation with basketball as Canada does with hockey and it INCENSES me when a qualified player who wants to continue playing is not invited back. Guys like Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury and Tim Duncan were not approached about returning to our team. In Iverson's case he said clearly that he would be honored to compete again and, despite being a top player on the 04 Bronze team in Athens and THE top player on the 03 FIBA Tourney of Americas Gold team he was not invited back. I hate to see that.

With Lombardi, well, I think that is borderline because even though he performed well I don't know that we could expect him to repeat. That said, they are rolling guys like Chimera and Mayers over the boards, it's not like they had to leave him off for Crosby and Phaneuf here.

Like all others, i would also argue that when the country calls you to represent it, it is an honour. You shouldn't turn it down.

And in the case of Canada with the NHL, that has as consequence varying the availability of top players, some are called, who would normaly not be called.
I imagine for the player it is a tragedy (personal).

Yet he must accept that, he know his situation ... every thing must be clear.

it still hurts. But this is how it is. Sometimes we are victimes of circumstances and ... their is nothing you can do about.

Except :

have a realistic look at it, thinking that normaly you wouldn't have a spot in this team. Now thanks to the NHL ... team canada schedule mismatch ... a spot is open where the player can try to show how good he is. It is an opportunity. A "try and hire" principle. which includes "try and hire", it isn't a "hire". + odds are against you because sydney crosby is still playing ... so he has his spot, yet if sydney is free, it is normal that sydney plays and that the player B is benched.

I think form has to count for something, the soccer world pays closer attention to form in many countries. Hockey Canada can often be guilty of picking on reputation ( Turin 06). Lombardi was not in form so there is no way I could back taking him.

That is my basic feeling as well but it's not always the case.

The United States has a somewhat similar situation with basketball as Canada does with hockey and it INCENSES me when a qualified player who wants to continue playing is not invited back. Guys like Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury and Tim Duncan were not approached about returning to our team. In Iverson's case he said clearly that he would be honored to compete again and, despite being a top player on the 04 Bronze team in Athens and THE top player on the 03 FIBA Tourney of Americas Gold team he was not invited back. I hate to see that.

With Lombardi, well, I think that is borderline because even though he performed well I don't know that we could expect him to repeat. That said, they are rolling guys like Chimera and Mayers over the boards, it's not like they had to leave him off for Crosby and Phaneuf here.

Iverson just doesn't deserve a spot anymore. Not the type of PG a team full of stars needs.....and not good enough as a SG to make it.

I'm of the belief that you owe Hockey Canada everything, and it owes you nothing...

You play for your country, it's an honour...there should be no reciprocity there..

Exactly my sentiment. It always amazes me the excuses some of these players have to turn down playing for your country. Speaks to their character I think.

I thought Dion is single?

Or are you one of those who will simply apologize for Dion no matter what he does....

Dion is single, not sure what you are getting at, since I didnt mention him at all in that post? I was reffering to parents,siblings, grandparents etc.. of minor hockey league players taking a bigger role in their child's development as a hockey player than hockey Canada does. I also cannot forget the countless volunteers that develop minor hockey players, who have absolutely zero ties with hockey Canada. Good try though!

Exactly. Lombardi is crap. I know it. You know it, and Hockey Canada knows it.

Lombardi is a very good player, and in my opinion he would have been just as good as a Derrick Roy, he's a very defensively responsible player with some offensive upside that we saw last year.

That being said, Team Canada is a tough line up to crack and just because you were there one year doesn't mean you're in automatically the next.

A guy like Dion owes Canada nothing but the roughly 12 million dollars he'll pay in taxes over the next six years.
I could see questioning a guys patriotism for turning down playing in the Olympics, but the WCs? Please. Patriotism isn't necessarily a positive trait anyway.

I really didnt want to make this a Dion owes this or that thread, I was speaking of all Canadian players.

What about other 3rd line players that are loyal to their country, should we give them a spot because of their loyalty?

Shane Doan was asked in a radio interview why he keeps accepting Hockey Canada's invitations year after year, his response: "Well, one year they will not ask me"

Hockey Canada is all politics *sigh* I'm sick of their antics

If your healthy enough to play in the playoffs your healthy enough to play for your country.
Injuries should not be an excuse.

Personally, I think it is an honour to play for your country and it is pretty weak to take a pass to hit the beaches in Hawaii with a starlet. However, if you are a lock to make the Olympic team the rules are different.

Hockey Canada is going to take the best team they can to the Olympics. But they also have a memory. If you are on the bubble to make the Olympic team, you probably don't want to turn them down for the WCs. Ed Jovanovski, an Olympic alumni with a fading reputation, and Mike Green may have earned themselves an invite to the Olympics based on their performance at the WCs. But if you add Phaneuf, Pronger, Nedermeyer and Weber to the team that went to the WCs, someone has to get left off.

Likewise, if you add Crosby, Iginla, Lecavelier, Briere, Richards and Thornton, guys like Roy and Chimera are less likely to make it. But with inevitable injuries, if these guys want a chance at all they have to accept the invite to the WCs.