The line-ups for each country have now been announced. So, which countries do you think will take the gold, silver and bronze at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy? Here is a complete listing of the teams and their players (barring any replacements).

THIS IS THE REVISED VERSION WITH ITALY AND RUSSIA INCLUDED. PLEASE VOTE AGAIN IF YOU VOTED IN THE PREVIOUS POLL! I regret the previous errors.

CANADA:
Goalies: Martin Brodeur (NJ), Roberto Luongo (FLA), Marty Turco (DAL)
Defensemen: Rob Blake (COL), Adam Foote (CBJ), Ed Jovanovski (VAN), Scott Niedermayer (ANA), Chris Pronger (EDM), Wade Redden (OTT), Robyn Regehr (CGY)
Forwards: Todd Bertuzzi (VAN), Shane Doan (PHX), Kris Draper (DET), Simon Gagne (PHI), Dany Heatley (OTT), Jarome Iginla (CGY), Vincent Lecavalier (TB), Rick Nash (CBJ), Brad Richards (TB), Joe Sakic (COL), Ryan Smyth (EDM), Martin St. Louis (TB), Joe Thornton (SJ)

CZECH REPUBLIC:
Goalies: Domink Hasek (OTT), Milan Hnilicka (Bili Tygri Liberec), Tomas Vokoun (NSH)
Defensemen: Frantisek Kaberle (CAR), Tomas Kaberle (TOR), Filip Kuba (MIN), Pavel Kubina (TB), Marek Malik (NYR), Jaroslav Spacek (CHI), Marek Zidlicky (NSH)
Forwards: Jan Bulis (MTL), Petr Cajanek (STL), Martin Erat (NSH), Milan Hejduk (COL), Ales Hemsky (EDM), Jaromir Jagr (NYR), Robert Lang (DET), Rostislav Olesz (FLA), Vaclav Prospal (TB), Petr Prucha (NYR), Martin Rucinsky (NYR), Martin Straka (NYR), David Vyborny (CBJ)

FINLAND:
Goalies: Miikka Kiprusoff (CGY), Kari Lehtonen (ATL), Fredrik Norrena (Linköpings)
Defensemen: Teppo Numminen (BUF), Sami Salo (VAN), Kimmo Timonen (NSH), Joni Pitkänen (PHI), Toni Lydman (BUF), Aki-Petteri Berg (TOR), Ossi Väänänen (COL)
Forwards: Saku Koivu (MTL), Olli Jokinen (FLA), Niko Kapanen (DAL), Mikko Koivu (MIN), Jere Lehtinen (DAL), Teemu Selänne (ANA), Tuomo Ruutu (CHI), Ville Peltonen (Lugano), Sami Kapanen (PHI), Antti Laaksonen (COL), Antti Miettinen (DAL), Jarkko Ruutu (VAN), Jukka Hentunen (Lugano)

GERMANY:
Goalies: Olaf Kölzig (WSH), Robert Muller (Krefeld Pinguine), Thomas Greiss (Kölner Haie)
Defensemen: Sascha Goc (Adler Mannheim), Christian Ehrhoff (SJ), Christoph Schubert (OTT), Stefan Schauer (Nurnberg Ice Tigers), Andreas Renz (Kölner Haie), Alexander Sulzer (DEG Metro Stars), Lasse Kopitz (Kölner Haie), Dennis Seidenberg (PHI)
Forwards: Stefan Ustorf (Eisbären Berlin), Jochen Hecht (BUF), Marco Sturm (BOS), Daniel Kreutzer (DEG Metro Stars), Alexander Barta (Hamburg Freezers), Thomas Martinec (Nurnberg Ice Tigers), Eduard Lewandowski (Kölner Haie), Klaus Kathan (DEG Metro Stars), Marcel Goc (SJ), Michael Hackert (Frankfurt Lions), Petr Fical (Nurnberg Ice Tigers), Jan Benda (Litvinov)

ITALY:
Goalies: René Baur (Valpusteria), Günther Hell (Bolzano Foxes), Jason Muzzatti (Bolzano Foxes)
Defensemen: Christian Borgatello (Milano Vipers), Armin Helfer (ANA), Robert Nardella (Rockford IceHogs), Florian Ramoser (Bolzano Foxes), André Signoretti (SG Cortina), Michele Strazzabosco (Milano Vipers), Carter Trevisani (Asiago)
Forwards: Luca Ansoldi (Ritten), Joe Busillo (Milano Vipers), Mario Chitarroni (Milano Vipers), Jason Cirone (Asiago), Giorgio De Bettin (SG Cortina), Manuel De Toni (Alleghe), Anthony Iob (KAC Klagenfurt), Stefano Margoni (Bolzano), John Parco (Asiago), Giulio Scandella (Asiago), Lucio Topatigh (Asiago), Anthony Tuzzolini (SG Cortina), Stefan Zisser (Bolzano)

KAZAKHSTAN:
Goalies: Vitaliy Yeremeyev (Dynamo Moscow), Vitaliy Kolesnik (COL), Sergey Ogureshnikov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog)
Defensemen: Oleg Kovalenko (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Artyom Argokov (Sibir Novosibirsk), Denis Shemelin (Neftekhimik Nizhnek), Alexey Koledayev (Sibir Novosibirsk), Yevgeniy Pupkov (SKA St. Petersburg), Alexey Troshchinskiy (Avangard Omsk), Alexey Vassilchenko (Neftekhimik Nizhnek), Vitaliy Tregubov (Barys Astana)
Forwards: Fedor Polishchuk (SKA St. Petersburg), Sergey Alexandrov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Andrey Ogorodnikov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Andrey Troshchinskiy (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Andrey Samokhvalov (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod), Dmitriy Upper (CSKA Moscow), Andrey Pchelyakov (Krylia Sovetov), Dmitriy Dudarev (AK Bars Kazan), Alexander Koreshkov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Yevgeniy Koreshkov (Torpedo Ust-Kamenog), Konstantin Shafranov (Krylia Sovetov), Nikolay Antropov (TOR)

LATVIA:
Goalies: Arturs Irbe (Salzburg Red Bulls), Edgars Masalskis (Neftyanik Almetyevsk), Sergejs Naumovs (Khimik Voskresensk)
Defensemen: Viktors Ignatjevs (EHC Linz), Rodrigo Lavins (Brynas IF, Gävle), Sandis Ozolins (ANA), Georgijs Pujacs (Riga 2000), Arvids Rekis (Augsburg Panthers), Agris Saviels (Torpedo Nizhnynovgorod), Karlis Skrastins (COL), Atvars Tribuncovs (Mora IK)
Forwards: Girts Ankipans (Riga 2000), Armands Berzins (Riga 2000), Aigars Cipruss (Riga 2000), Vladimirs Mamonovs (Liepajas Metalurgs), Aleksanders Nizijvs (Torpedo Nizhnynovgorod), Grigorijs Pantelejevs (Dmitrov), Mikelis Redlihs (IF Björklöven, Umea), Aleks Semjonovs (Malmö Red Hawks), Janis Sprukts (HPK Hameenlinna), Leonids Tambijevs (EHC Basel), Herberts Vasiljevs (Krefeld Pinguine), Maris Ziedins (Stockton Thunder)

RUSSIA:
Goalies: Ilya Bryzgalov (ANA), Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI), Evgeni Nabokov (SJ)
Defensemen: Dmitri Bykov (Dynamo Moscow), Sergei Gonchar (PIT), Darius Kasparaitis (NYR), Andrei Markov (MTL), Daniil Markov (NSH), Fedor Tyutin (NYR), Anton Volchenkov (OTT), Alexei Zhitnik (NYI)
Forwards: Maxim Afinogenov (BUF), Pavel Datsyuk (DET), Alexander Frolov (LA), Alexander Kharitonov (Dynamo Moscow), Viktor Kozlov (NJ), Ilya Kovalchuk (ATL), Alexei Kovalev (MTL), Evgeni Malkin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Alexander Ovechkin (WSH), Maxim Sushinsky (Dynamo Moscow) Alexei Yashin (NYI), Alexei Zhamnov (BOS)

SLOVAKIA:
Goalies: Peter Budaj (COL), Karol Krizan (MoDo, Örnsköldsvik), Jan Lasak (Moeller-Pardubice)
Defensemen: Zdeno Chara (OTT), Ivan Majesky (WSH), Andrej Meszaros (OTT), Martin Strbak (CSKA Moscow), Radoslav Suchy (CBJ), Lubomir Visnovsky (LA), Milan Jurcina (BOS)
Forwards: Lubos Bartecko (Lulea HF), Peter Bondra (ATL), Pavol Demitra (LA), Marian Gaborik (MIN), Michal Handzus (PHI), Marcel Hossa (NYR), Marian Hossa (ATL), Richard Kapus (Metallurg Novokuznetsk), Ladislav Nagy (PHX), Miroslav Satan (NYI), Jozef Stupel (FLA), Marek Svatos (COL), Richard Zednik (MTL)

SWEDEN:
Goalies: Stefan Liv (HV 71 Jönköping), Henrik Lundqvist (NYR), Mikael Tellqvist (TOR) Defensemen: Christian Bäckman (STL), Kim Johnsson (PHI), Kenny Jönsson (Rögle BK), Nicklas Lidström (DET), Niklas Kronwall (DET), Mattias Norström (LA), Mattias Öhlund (VAN)
Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson (OTT), Per-Johan Axelsson (BOS), Peter Forsberg (PHI), Mika Hannula (HV 71 Jönköping), Jörgen Jönsson (Färjestad, Karlstad), Fredrik Modin (TB), Markus Näslund (VAN), Samuel Pahlsson (ANA), Mikael Samuelsson (DET), Daniel Sedin (VAN), Henrik Sedin (VAN), Mats Sundin (TOR), Henrik Zetterberg (DET)

SWITZERLAND:
Goalies: David Aebischer (COL), Marco Buhrer (SC Bern), Martin Gerber (CAR)
Defensemen: Goran Bezina (Genève-Servette), Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions, Zuriuch), Olivier Keller (EHC Basel), Mathias Seger (ZSC Lions, Zurich), Martin Steinegger (SC Bern), Mark Streit (MTL), Julien Vauclair (Lugano)
Forwards: Flavien Conne (Lugano), Patric Della Rossa (EV Zug), Paul DiPietro (EV Zug), Patrick Fischer (EV Zug), Sandy Jeannin (Lugano), Marcel Jenni (Kloten Flyers), Romano Lemm (Kloten Flyers), Thierry Paterlini (ZSC Lions, Zurich), Martin Pluss (Frölunda Indians), Ivo Ruthemann (SC Bern), Adrian Wichser (ZSC Lions, Zurich), Thomas Ziegler (SC Bern), Kevin Romy (Lugano)

UNITED STATES:
Goalies: Rick DiPietro (NYI), Robert Esche (PHI), John Grahame (TB)
Defensemen: Chris Chelios (DET), Derian Hatcher (PHI), Jordan Leopold (CGY), John-Michael Liles (COL), Aaron Miller (LA), Brian Rafalski (NJ), Mathieu Schneider (DET),
Forwards: Jason Blake (NYI), Erik Cole (CAR), Craig Conroy (LA), Chris Drury (BUF), Brian Gionta (NJ), Scott Gomez (NJ), Bill Guerin (DAL), Mike Knuble (PHI), Mike Modano (DAL), Mark Parrish (NYI), Brian Rolston (MIN), Keith Tkachuk (STL), Doug Weight (STL)

[ December 23, 2005, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

I voted Canada, Russia and the Czechs.

I do think Russia will rebound this time and show that they are still one of the top 2 nations in Hockey. The Czechs are excellent in every position, but i feel that they sometimes just look excellent and sometimes AWFUL. They are not always consistent, and it can cost them.
Last time there was a tournament, they looked terrible in the start.

Finland will unfortunately not make the top 3 because Kiprusoff is out.. and even with him there, they could have been close, but not enough.

Sweden are very strong. If any team can beat out one of the top 3 i put on here, it's them. Even though Lundqvist has been great this year, i still feel they are behind the other teams in terms of goaltending. But they do have 1 great thing going for them: Belarus is not in the tournament!

The US is also good, but i fear that their goaltending is not enough to bring them to top 3, and they have a few dmen that shouldn't be there. (Chelios and Hatcher)

I look forward to this tournament! I won't be cheering for any team, but will enjoy watching some excellent hockey.

Incidentally, Leph, thanks for noticing that I left out Russia. While I doubt any of us would have picked Italy, it wouldn't have been a legitimate poll without Russia.

hey, you can't forget those russians I love watching some of those guys play. I was glad to see that Afinogenov made the team.. he's usually very good in international play and has had killer goals vs Canada in past championships (junior for example).

I remember him beating Luongo in OT in the world juniors.. it was a heartbreaker for Canada.

It should be a great tournament, i'm looking forward to it.

GOLD: Canada
SILVER: Sweden
BRONZE: Czech Republic

But only because Jamaica has no team. wink

~Adam

They had better not have a team because I am not revising this thread again!

GOLD: Czech Republic
SILVER: Canada
BRONZE: Sweden

[ December 23, 2005, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

I chose Canada, the Czechs, and Finland. I think the Finns will surprise this tournament, and I have low expectations for the Americans this Olympics.

Don't be too down on Italy...host countries sometimes benefit from the friendly environment. Like a team at Lake Placid long ago.

My choice was Sweden, Canada, and Russia. Best I think US will do is probably 4th. Italy I don't see as a threat to any other team. They'll be blasted multiple times by scores of 10-0 and 7-0. Although in a lower tier of nations I hope they put up a fight and don't just roll over and give up after two periods. I guess it just depends on the division they end up in once the olympics roll around.

ON OLN's website they have a poll asking who was the biggest surprise in not being picked for the US Team. Brian Leetch is far and away at #1, with J.R. right behind him.

Right now all of us either think that Canada will win silver or gold, with Czech Republic, Russia or Sweden taking the bronze.

That's just because Jamaica isn't fielding a team (can one say that a country fields a team when the sport isn't played on a field? wink ) And by the way, have you seen the medals that will be bestowed in Turin?? They look like bagels!

~Adam

Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Sweden

I am sort of glad that Czechoslovakia is no longer... I believe that a unified Czech Republic/Slovakia team would be the favourite for gold.

Adam, are you saying the atheletes will be receiving edible medals???? eek! :confused: wink

can you imagine adding Chara and a few of the Slovakian snipers to the Czech team?!? definite contender.

Edible medals.....(We need a drool emoticon!) The medals are a ring with a hole in the center, designed to resemble a piazza (not the self-admitted heterosexual baseball catcher but rather "a public square in an Italian town") but look a lot more like a bagel to me!

~Adam

A picture of Homer Simpson will do. Mmmmmmm...edible medals...
wink

There are still 2 weeks left to vote in this poll.

[ February 01, 2006, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

GOLD: Canada
SILVER: Czech Republic
BRONZE: Finland

Finland is my darkhorse, I like Miikka Kiprusoff to steal a couple of games.

Kiprusoff decided not to play in the Olympics, and Atlanta's Lehtonen won't be there either. Antero Niittymaki is now on the roster and is widely expected to be named the starter for Finland.

Does anyone want to change their ballots now that Markus Naslund has opted out of Sweden's team in the Olympics due to a lingering groin injury?

A lingering groin sounds particularly painful. wink

~Adam

I've offered to help Nazzy with his recovery, but my emails to him seem to bounce back. :confused:

Ok, with players dropping like flies by opting out on a daily basis how can anyone pick which team will win. Hey if Miikka doesn't play why should Antero? The Flyers already have too many people playing in the Olympics.

Another player has opted out. Ranger rookie Petr Prucha will not play for the Czech Republic due to a knee injury.

~Adam

I don't think this is a question of opting out for Petr Prucha, Adam. Prucha was banged up pretty badly by Turner Stevenson in the Rangers win over the Flyers on Saturday. He suffered a second degree sprain of the MCL of his right knee. Prucha will be out for 3 to 4 weeks. He had no choice due to this injury while playing against the second place Flyers. Fortunately there will be no surgery.

Scott Niedermayer has made it official: he has pulled out of the Games to help the recuperation of his knee injury.

Gee, you think there are any other Canadian hockey players to take his place on the roster?

~Adam

Since the Olympics uses one referee while the NHL uses two, four NHL refs who are headed to Torino -- Don VanMassenhoven, Paul Devorski, Dennis LaRue and Dan Marouelli -- all worked AHL games tonight to get reacquainted with working a game solo.

Here's an updated list--in no way meant to be exhaustive--of changes in team personnel:

Jay Bouwmeester added to team Canada to replace Scott Niedermayer; Patrick Elias replaces Petr Prucha (Czech Republic); Anti Jussi Niemi replaces Joni Pitkanen & Niklas Backstrom replaces Kari Lehtonen (Finland).

Alex Zhitnik has confirmed that he will not paricipate in the Olympics because of an ankle injury

~Adam

Two days left to vote... Men's hockey competition begins soon!

Marco Sturm will not be playing for Germany's Olympic team. An upper body injury has kept him out of the game since February 4.

Mattias Norstrom, suffering from post-concussion symptoms, may not participate in the Olympics. He says he'll he's made no decision whether to play for Sweden but did not play in the third period of my Kings' game against the Stars and offered this: "I wish I could say it's a tough decision but I'm not helping anyone. I'm not helping the Kings and I'm not helping Sweden. First and foremost is my health. This situation could get much worse. I cannot play well for either team right now and my first priority has to be my health."

~Adam

It's been a difficult season for Marco Sturm, physically and emotionally. He lost his mother right before the beginning of the season.

Germany will also be without the services of Jochen Hecht, who injured himself during the Sabres/Habs game Thursday night.

I mentioned in the Flyers thread that Peter Forsberg is flying to Torino to join Team Sweden, but it's still questionable as to when he'll try and play.

From Yahoo's website, the schedule for the men's games on Wednesday (the times are Eastern):

5:35 am Sweden vs. Kazakhstan
7:05 am Canada vs. Italy
9:35 am Finland vs. Switzerland
11:05 am Czech Republic vs. Germany
2:05 pm Slovakia vs. Russia
3:05 pm United States vs. Latvia

The USA game is on USA Network. wink The other games will be on MSNBC, though obviously there will be some overlap based on the start times.

Flyers' goalie Robert Esche told the Phila. Daily News that he considered dropping out of the Olympics after USA coach Peter Laviolette informed him that John Grahame would be the starter and Rick DiPietro would be backup, but decided against it.

Also, the Flyers' Michal Handzus withdrew from the Slovakian team due to a shoulder injury suffered Friday night.

A Peter Forsberg update from Philly.com...

In addition to Foppa (and a thank you to Joe for his continuing posts about the state of Peter's groin,) it appears that Sweden will be without Mattias Norstrom, suffering from post-concussion symptoms. Though he's still hopeful of participating, he met with Sweden's team officials to discuss his status.

~Adam

here's a useless fact about today's hockey games.

Finland defeats Switzerland 5-0.

Buffalo's Teppo Numminen scores a goal in the second period. Unusual? Doesn't seem like it......


then again the guy has 31 assists and ZERO goals for the Sabres this season.

All 25 OutSporters that voted, believed that Canada would win a medal (16 gold, 8 silver, 1 bronze). After that, 19 said that the Czech Republic would medal (6 gold, 7 silver, 6 bronze). 12 of us said that Sweden would medal (2 gold, 2 silver, 8 bronze).

Based on the number of medal votes, it looks like this would be the order of finish according to the OutSports voters:

GOLD: Canada
SILVER: Czech Republic
BRONZE: Sweden
4TH: Russia
5TH (TIE): Finland, United States
7TH: Slovakia
No other countries (Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Switzerland) received a vote.

It will be interesting to see how we do!