No matter how many NHL stars a hockey team has, it can always be upset. Switzerland's 2-0 win over Team Canada in men's hockey at the 2006 Turin Olympics with a roster that featured a couple of NHL goalies, one bona fide NHL skater and a transplanted Canadian veteran proved that.
No matter how many NHL stars a hockey team has, it can always be upset.
Switzerland's 2-0 win over Team Canada in men's hockey at the 2006 Turin Olympics with a roster that featured a couple of NHL goalies, one bona fide NHL skater and a transplanted Canadian veteran proved that.
Just how much?
In its entire history, Norway has produced hockey players whose combined goal total in the NHL is less than Canada's Sidney Crosby has this season.
The Cole Harbour, N.S., native has 42 goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins this year while the five Norwegians ever to play in the NHL have a total of 40 goals.
Detroit defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen is the only player on Norway's roster who has seen NHL action this season (he is currently assigned to the Wings' AHL team). He owns four career goals.
Former Edmonton Oiler and Philadelphia Flyer Patrick Thoresen has six while now retired one-time Columbus Blue Jacket Espen Knutsen is the leader with 30.
Excluding goalies, only three members of Team Canada - defencemen Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook - have fewer NHL goals in their career than Norway as a whole.
Meanwhile, in addition to Crosby, Rick Nash, Jarome Iginla, Eric Staal and Dany Heatley have all enjoyed single seasons scoring more goals than Canada's opening opponents for the 2010 men's hockey tournament.
Jeremy Sandler, National Post
