Canadian men's hockey team arrives in Vancouver
Late injuries still a concern
Last Updated: Sunday, February 14, 2010 | 9:45 PM ET
The Canadian Press
The status of Team Canada forward Ryan Getzlaf is still up in the air, but the Anaheim Ducks centre did play on Sunday in Edmonton. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)The Canadian men's hockey team has begun assembling for the Olympics as it prepares to go for what it hopes will be glittering gold.
Team Canada will practise at Canada Hockey Place on Monday before opening the tournament against Norway on Tuesday.
Still up in the air is whether injured Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf will be able to play in the Games or will have to be replaced by Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers.
The team also got a scare when Sidney Crosby sustained an injury in his last NHL game before the league's two-week Olympic break. But the Team Canada centrepiece finished the contest and even scored a goal, before he was scheduled to fly to the Olympics later Sunday.
Crosby aside, Team Canada's roster decision on Getzlaf, one of the NHL's emerging young players, is looming.
"I know Jeff Carter's on his way here so we'll work that out," head coach Mike Babcock said Sunday. "You have lots of different combinations, with or without Getzy.
"We'll just see what happens. Our own people, I think, are going to examine him here and then we'll know."
Getzlaf suits up in Edmonton
Getzlaf has been able to practice only lightly on his sprained left ankle and sat out Saturday night's game at Calgary, but was in the lineup when his team visited the Oilers on Sunday.
Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman was hopeful Getzlaf could play in Edmonton, and the big centre did not disappoint, notching two goals and two assists.
Roster changes for Team Canada aren't allowed once the 23-man list is handed to Olympic officials on Monday by 3 p.m. ET.
Babcock said the team is excited that the tournament is about to begin.
"We think we have an opportunity," he said. "I don't know what else you could ask for — the Olympics are in your home country, obviously Vancouver is a beautiful, beautiful city. We get to show off how proud Canadians are and what a great place we have. And we get to show off how good we are at hockey."
Doughty receives warm welcome
Los Angeles defenceman Drew Doughty touched down at Vancouver International Airport on Sunday morning and was the first of the 23 players to arrive.
Doughty, who was greeted by a relatively small group of reporters and a handful of fans, said the Games have always been in the back of his mind even though the Kings have been first and foremost in his thoughts.
"When I got on that flight this morning, it really started to set in and I got really excited to be here," he said.
Doughty said the high-flying Russians have to be considered favourites along with Canada.
"They're obviously a good team and have a lot of firepower up front there," he said. "It's definitely going to be a challenge for us if we have to play them at any point in time in the tournament. I know we're looking forward to that head-to-head matchup and hopefully it happens."
Iginla looks forward to challenge
Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla, who has played in two other Olympics, said this version "probably takes the cake.
"As I get here, the butterflies go and I'm looking forward to being a part of it, getting our first practice and the games," he said.
"The energy, I can't imagine how cool it's going to be playing right here in Canada, right in Vancouver here."
Iginla doesn't believe that having just one practice together before the Norway game will have much impact on Team Canada.
"It'll do," he said. "We've all played at different times together.... We've at least all met before. The biggest thing is just getting a practice and knowing what our lines are going to be, knowing what's expected of us, what our roles are and get down to work."
Crosby hit with slapshot
There was a scary moment for Team Canada on Sunday afternoon when Crosby took a slapshot off the shin just hours before heading to Vancouver for the Olympics.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star was seen wincing in pain and frustrated on the bench after blocking a shot during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators.
Crosby was scheduled to arrive in Vancouver later Sunday.
Crosby took a Kevin Klein slapshot off his right shin about seven minutes into the second period.
He continued through his shift on an offensive rush, but lifted his leg in pain, went to the bench and sat with his head down for several minutes. During the next television timeout, Crosby tested his leg, but appeared to do it gingerly and slammed his stick in apparent frustration.
Crosby played the rest of the game as the Penguins lost to Nashville 4-3 in a shootout. He scored his 42nd goal of the season in the first period and assisted on Brooks Orpik's third-period goal.
Crosby didn't score in the shootout.
