The makeup Canada's Olympic men's hockey team has been unveiled – and Vancouver Canuck forward Todd Bertuzzi will be playing for Canada at the Torino Winter Games in February.



Vancouver Canuck forward Todd Bertuzzi
will play for Canada at the Olympics
(CP Photo/Jeff McIntosh)
Bertuzzi has been under a cloud since his 17-month suspension for on ice-ttack on Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore almost two years ago.

He hasn't been playing like the Bertuzzi of old for much of this season. But Kevin Lowe, Team Canada's executive director, argues the rugged forward is starting to turn his game around.

"I think we've seen him in the last few weeks, that's certainly at the level that he last played." Lowe said. "In 2003-04, no question, Todd Bertuzzi was one of the top forwards in the world.

"When he's on his game, he is one of the most – if not the most – difficult forwards to contain."

And Lowe says it's time for people to forgive Bertuzzi and move on.

"I think a big part of being Canadian is being able to forgive. And this is a big step for Todd Bertuzzi. He's had a number of steps to this point, and this is a real opportunity for him and for the country. So we wish him all the best."

Defenceman Ed Jovanovksi is the other Canuck named to the 23-man roster.

The squad is stacked with veterans of the international hockey wars.

They include Joe Sakic, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche; Iginla, the captain of the Flames; Philadelphia Flyer sniper Simon Gagne; Shane Doan; a two-way star for the Phoenix Coyotes; and Detroit Red Wings defensive specialist Kris Draper.

All skated for Canada at the last Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Edmonton Oilers winger Ryan Smyth, who's been a fixture on Canadian teams for the past decade, is heading to another Olympics.

Lecavalier, Thornton, Dany Heatley, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash formed the backbone Canada's 2004 World Cup roster. They are all Turin-bound.

Nash is a bit of a risky pick for the Canadian braintrust. Although he's demonstrated he can score goals in bunches, the 21-year-old has been battling injuries all season, tallying just two goals in five games for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The defence corps is familiar to fans of Canadian hockey. Manning the blueline with Jovanovski will be stalwarts Rob Blake of the Avalanche, Adam Foote of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Scott Niedermayer of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Chris Pronger of the Oilers, Wade Redden of the Senators and Robyn Regehr, of the Flames.

Martin Brodeur backstopped Canada to victory in Salt Lake City and he'll see the bulk of the goaltending duties in Turin in February. Backing up the New Jersey Devils netminder will be Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars and Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers.

Turco leads the NHL in wins this season and is a big reason why the Stars have been one of hockey's surprising success stories. Luongo has made a league-high 1,065 saves for the lowly Panthers.

Crosby being left at home

Pittsburgh Penguin rookie Sidney Crosby was not named to the team. As an 18-year-old, Crosby would have been the youngest player on Team Canada. >He has 33 points in 33 games and last week was named an assistant captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mario Lemieux, the Canadian captain at the last Winter Games, was openly campaigning for Crosby be included on the team.

"There's a good chance Sidney could possibly be the leader of the team in 2010," said Lowe when asked why Crosby isn't on the team. "But this team we felt that we wanted to go with proven veterans who have won at the World Championship, World Cup and Olympic levels."

Crosby isn't only young, highly-touted player forced to stay home. Neither Jason Spezza nor Eric Staal earned spots on the squad. Most pundits predicted at least one would be heading to Turin, Italy.

Staal leads the NHL with 24 goals and Spezza has been a catalyst for the high-scoring Ottawa Senators. Both, along with Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Bryan McCabe, will be the team's alternates in case of injury.

The Olympics begin on Feb 10. Canada's first game is on Feb 15 against Italy.