There are officially 25 men on the Team Canada hockey roster but most people would be hard pressed to name one of them.
With no NHL players taking part in the this year’s Winter Olympics, Canada and many other countries, are being forced to look way down the depth charts to field a team. So who are these guys and where do they come from? Glad you asked.
Ben Scrivens – Goalie – Spruce Grove, Alta. – The most seasoned of Canada’s three potential netminders, Scrivens played a total of 144 games in the NHL. The 31-year-old has spent the past two seasons playing in the Russian KHL league.
Kevin Poulin – Goalie – Montreal, QC – The 27-year-old played 50 games in NHL and has since had stints in the KHL, and the top Austrian and Swiss leagues. He also helped Canada win the Spengler Cup, earning a win in the championship final.
Justin Peters – Goalie – Blyth, ON – Peters is 31 years old and played 83 games in the NHL. He currently plays in the German elite league.
Rene Bourque – Forward – Bourque has extensive NHL experience. The 36 year old played 725 games in the NHL, earning 50 points in the 2010-2011 season with the Calgary Flames. He now plays for Djurgardens in the Swedish elite league.
Gilbert Brule – Forward – Edmonton, Alta. – Brule played a total of 299 games in the NHL, after being draft sixth overall by Columbus in 2005. He currently plays in China.
Andrew Ebbett – Forward – Vernon, B.C. – Ebbett played 224 games in the NHL for five different teams. He now plays in the Swiss elite league.
Quinton Howden – Forward – Oakbank, Man. – Drafted 25th overall by the Florida Panthers, Howden spent most of his 97 NHL games with the club. He now plays in the KHL.
Chris Kelly – Forward – Toronto, ON – The 37-year-old is the captain of Team Canada and the only player on the roster with a Stanley Cup ring (Boston Bruins – 2011).
Rob Klinkhammer – Forward – Lethbridge, Alta. – Klinkhammer played 193 NHL games and currently plays in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan.
Brandon Kozun – Forward – Calgary, Alta. – Only played 20 games in the NHL but scored over 100 points with the Calgary Hitmen in 2009-10, when they won the WHL championship.
Maxim Lapierre – Forward – Brossard, QC – The 32-year-old logged 614 games in the NHL and won the Calder Cup in 2007 with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Eric O’Dell – Forward – Ottawa, ON – Played 41 games in the NHL and is now playing in the KHL for Sochi, where he has 31 points in 46 games this season.
Mason Raymond – Forward – Cochrane, Alta. – Raymond played 546 games in the NHL and now plays in the Swiss elite league, where he’s averaging nearly a point per game.
Derek Roy – Forward – Rockland, ON – Roy had an 11 year NHL career, including 81 points in 78 games with the Buffalo Sabres in 2010-2011.
Christian Thomas – Forward – Toronto, ON – The 27 year old is the youngest player on the team. He’s played just 24 NHL games and now plays in the AHL.
Linden Vey – Forward – Wakaw, Sask. – Played 138 NHL games and now plays in the Swiss elite league.
Wojtek Wolski – Forward – Toronto, ON – Drafted 21st overall, Wolski played 451 NHL games and now plays in the KHL.
Stefan Elliott – Defenseman – Vancouver, BC – Played 84, NHL games and now plays in the Swedish elite league.
Chay Genoway – Defenseman – Morden, Man – Played just a single game in the NHL and currently plays in the KHL, as does his brother Colby.
Cody Goloubef – Defenseman – Oakville, ON – The 28 year old spent some time playing with the Colorado Avalanche last season and now plays in the AHL.
Marc-Andre Gragnani – Defenseman – L’ile Blizzard, QC – Played 78 NHL games and was the AHL defenseman of the year in 201-11. He now plays in the KHL.
Chris Lee – Defenseman – Mactier, ON – At 37, he’s the oldest player on the team and has never played in an NHL game. Currently plays in the KHL where he set the record for most points by a defenseman (65) last season.
Maxim Noreau – Defenseman – Montreal, QC – Played just six NHL games and now plays for Bern in the Swiss elite league.
Mat Robinson – Defenseman – Calgary, Alta. – Has never played in the NHL but has played in four different top level European leagues, including the KHL, where he now plays for CSKA Moscow.
Karl Stollery – Defenseman – Camrose, Alta. – The 30 year old played 23 NHL games and started up with the KHL this season.
