SouthernHockeyChick
12-17-2005, 12:35 PM
TSN.ca Staff
12/17/2005 12:06:32 AM
The list of potential Olympians just got longer for Canada and every other team that will be participating in Turin.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has contacted the respective national federations, including Hockey Canada, to advise them of a new three-man taxi squad that will be permitted at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
This taxi squad can be named at anytime between now and 24 hours prior to the opening of the ice hockey events at the Olympics. But the three players designated on each country's taxi squad may only be used in the event of an injury that occurs during the Olympic Games.
Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson welcomed the expansion of the 23-man roster to 26 even though the taxi squad can only be used in emergency situations.
"Anything that gives us more flexibility is a good thing," Nicholson told TSN. "We will have to sit down as a group and decide how we're going to go about this."
Nicholson said he will be consulting with Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky to determine whether the three-man taxi squad will be named on December 21 in Vancouver, the same day Hockey Canada plans to announce the 23-man roster.
"Obviously, you will have to let the players (who will be on the taxi squad) know so to be ready and to understand what is involved," Nicholson said. "We're going to discuss how best to handle this."
According to the Olympic-IIHF rules, all teams must name a 23-man roster by no later than December 22. However, if any player on that 23-man roster were to be injured leading up to the Olympics and not a 100% for the tournament, the respective federations are permitted to name an injury replacement and that injury replacement only needed to be on the preliminary eligibility list that the federations submitted earlier this fall. Canada's preliminary list was 81 names long.
The IIHF in conjunction with the NHL and NHLPA, decided to allow for the three-man taxi squad to provide for additional flexibility in the event of an injury during the actual tournament in Turin.
Maybe this gives Staal a better chance? Or, maybe it gives Wayne an excuse to say we'll take him but then he'll never get to play while Spezza and Crosby make the team-proper. :-/
12/17/2005 12:06:32 AM
The list of potential Olympians just got longer for Canada and every other team that will be participating in Turin.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has contacted the respective national federations, including Hockey Canada, to advise them of a new three-man taxi squad that will be permitted at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
This taxi squad can be named at anytime between now and 24 hours prior to the opening of the ice hockey events at the Olympics. But the three players designated on each country's taxi squad may only be used in the event of an injury that occurs during the Olympic Games.
Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson welcomed the expansion of the 23-man roster to 26 even though the taxi squad can only be used in emergency situations.
"Anything that gives us more flexibility is a good thing," Nicholson told TSN. "We will have to sit down as a group and decide how we're going to go about this."
Nicholson said he will be consulting with Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky to determine whether the three-man taxi squad will be named on December 21 in Vancouver, the same day Hockey Canada plans to announce the 23-man roster.
"Obviously, you will have to let the players (who will be on the taxi squad) know so to be ready and to understand what is involved," Nicholson said. "We're going to discuss how best to handle this."
According to the Olympic-IIHF rules, all teams must name a 23-man roster by no later than December 22. However, if any player on that 23-man roster were to be injured leading up to the Olympics and not a 100% for the tournament, the respective federations are permitted to name an injury replacement and that injury replacement only needed to be on the preliminary eligibility list that the federations submitted earlier this fall. Canada's preliminary list was 81 names long.
The IIHF in conjunction with the NHL and NHLPA, decided to allow for the three-man taxi squad to provide for additional flexibility in the event of an injury during the actual tournament in Turin.
Maybe this gives Staal a better chance? Or, maybe it gives Wayne an excuse to say we'll take him but then he'll never get to play while Spezza and Crosby make the team-proper. :-/