Olympic Ice Hockey

The joint South Korea-North Korea women's hockey team suffered an 8-0 loss to Switzerland in its first group-play contest Saturday at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, South Korea.

Although NPR's Bill Chappell dubbed the Korean squad the "most interesting team in the world" given the potential thaw in tensions it can help provide to the oft-feuding neighbors, the result showcased the uphill battle the team faces to reach the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Sweden edged Japan 2-1 in the day's other Group B contest courtesy of a Sara Hjalmarsson third-period goal.

                    

Switzerland 8, Korea 0

Korea was highly engaged for the game's first 10 minutes, lending hope the team could be more competitive than expected, but the floodgates opened once Alina Muller started the scoring for the Swiss midway through the opening period.

Muller ended up tallying a natural hat trick in the first frame as part of a four-goal effort. Phoebe Staenz and Lara Stalder added two goals apiece for Switzerland.

Christine Brennan of USA Today provided sights from a game with a meaning that went beyond hockey:

What a scene it is here at the Korea-Switzerland women’s hockey game. South and North Koreans playing together. A packed media section. And the North Korean cheer squad...my goodness. They never stop. pic.twitter.com/YIzHG7Zub9

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) February 10, 2018

Sarah Murray, a Minnesota native serving as head coach for the Korean team, said before the tilt her squad had come together nicely despite the potential for a major divide, per Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.

"The chemistry is better than I could have expected," she said. "When I heard [the North Korean athletes] were joining our team I thought worst-case scenario: We are going to be separate, our players are not going to talk. But it is fantastic."

But the talent gap will likely be too much to overcome. Switzerland outshot Korea 52-8.

Both teams return to action Monday. The Swiss will battle Japan, while the Koreans face another monumental task in the form of Sweden.

                  

Sweden 2, Japan 1

Sweden is the only country aside from Canada and the United States to reach the gold-medal game in women's ice hockey since the sport debuted in 1998. It finished second to the Canadians in 2006.

The Swedes will need to improve to match or better that result after struggling to overcome Japan. Not only was it a one-goal game, but the Japanese side also won the shot battle 31-26. A strong performance from goalie Sara Grahn saved the day.

Fanny Rask joined Hjalmarsson on the score sheet for Sweden. Rui Ukita netted Japan's goal.

Seth Bennett‏ of BBC World TV discussed the hard-fought game:

Sweden win the opener against Japan 2-1, they found it very tough going and will need to play better to be medal contender but, credit Japan they played very well and deserved more out of the game. Next up Korea v Switzerland 1210pm face-off. #bbcolympics

— Seth Bennett (@Sethb45) February 10, 2018

Looking ahead, Sweden should have a golden opportunity to find its scoring touch against Korea on Monday. Japan will need to at least force Switzerland to overtime to keep its hopes of advancing alive.

Rarely do you see the best teams in an Olympic sport play each other from the start.

That's the case in women's hockey, as the United States, Canada, Olympic Athletes from Russia and Finland start round-robin play in Group A Sunday.

In the unusual eight-team Olympic format, all four teams from Group A will advance to the elimination round, with the two best teams from Group A earning positions in the semifinals.

The nations that finish third and fourth in Group A are slotted into quarterfinal matchups with the winner and runner-up from Group B.

What we will witness Sunday, and throughout most of Group A, are competitive games between nations that have plenty of history with each other and are expected to play again in the medal round.

                 

Sunday Women's Ice Hockey Schedule

All events will be live-streamed on NBCOlympics.com

Group A: Finland vs. United States (2:40 a.m. ET)

Group A: Canada vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (7:10 a.m. ET)

                  

Canada Hoping Experience Guides Younger Roster

The four-time defending women's hockey gold medalists experienced a notable turnover between Sochi and Pyeongchang.

Gone are the three Canadians with the most games played for the national team in Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, as well as Gillian Epps and Catherine Ward.

If any other nation lost that much experience in a short span, it would be seen as a deathblow to its chances of contending for the gold medal, but Canada just reloads with a wealth of talent at its disposal.

Seven players on the 23-woman roster are 25 years old or younger, including forward Sarah Nurse, who is the cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, while nine players overall will be making their Olympic debuts.

The young group will rely on the Olympic experience of captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who has scored the gold-medal clinching goal in the past two Olympics, 33-year-old defender Meaghan Mikkelson and goalie Shannon Szabados to get them used to the nature of the tournament, starting Sunday against the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Poulin talked to Dan Barnes of the National Post about how the retired group of players set her up to fill the leadership position.

"We had the chance to learn from the girls before us," Poulin said. "Those girls have been an amazing part of the team. Those are big shoes to fill, but we have that core group here."

The first two games will be key for the Canadians to develop chemistry before the big-time clash with the United States.

                          

United States Gets 1st Test from Medal Contender

The United States' top target on its way to a potential gold is Canada, but first it has to get past Finland Sunday.

Finland is a two-time bronze medalist at the Olympics, and it has earned third place at two of the past three World Championships.

The United States defeated Finland 5-3 in group play at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Michigan, two days after Finland knocked off Canada by a goal.

The American defensive strategy should focus on limiting the impact of Finland captain Jenni Hiirikoski, who has won the best defender title at the past three World Championships.

Hiirikoski specializes at being involved in the attack, which is something she will try to do from the outset Sunday.

Expect Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan and Amanda Kessel to counteract any Finnish attack with an offensive outburst of their own.

Even though Finland has improved since Sochi, the United States is still seen as the favorite to pick up a victory, leaving the Finns with a fight to get into the top two in Group A.

              

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

The first Group A test against a medal contender for the United States women's hockey team comes Sunday, when it takes on Finland.

The Americans are one of the two gold-medal favorites, along with Canada, but their progress could be halted by Finland, which enters as a bronze-medal contender.

Ten months ago at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, the United States knocked off Finland 5-3 in pool play on its path to a championship.

In that game, each team's Olympic captain scored. Finland's Jenni Hiirikoski and Meghan Duggan of the United States will once again be at the forefront of the action inside Kwandong Hockey Center Sunday.

                   

Date: Sunday, February 11

Time: 2:40 a.m. ET

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Odds to Win Tournament (per OddsShark): U.S. (-120; Bet $120 to win $100); Finland (+1,600)

                    

How Finland Will Win

Just like every team in the loaded Group A, Finland has a chance to medal in Pyeongchang, but in order to earn anything other than bronze, it must prove it belongs with the United States and Canada.

Finland showed it was capable of hanging with the giants of women's hockey at last year's World Championship, as it defeated Canada in pool play before losing to the U.S.

The Finns got the best of Sweden in the quarterfinals, but they were unable to topple Canada for a second time in the semifinals. They finished the tournament strong with an 8-0 triumph over Germany in the bronze-medal game.

Captain and blueliner Hiirikoski is the best player in the world at her position, and she will be vital to shutting down the American attack and providing bursts from the blue line in Finland's attacking zone.

Anchoring the defense is goalie Noora Raty, who was named best goalkeeper at the 2017 World Championship for her shutouts against Sweden and Germany in the elimination phase.

If Raty limits the United States to two or three goals and Hiirikoski is able to create scoring opportunities without neglecting any of her defensive responsibilities, Finland stands a chance.

Also look for forward Susanna Tapani to feature in a key role. The 24-year-old was Finland's top scorer at the 2017 World Championship, with nine points, per the tournament website.

                

How United States Will Win

The easy answer when asked how the United States wins any of its games is to use its overwhelming attack to bludgeon opponents into submission.

While that may work Sunday, it's more likely the Americans are going to have to display patience in their offensive zone in order to pick apart Finland's defense and not leave breakaway opportunities for their opponents to capitalize on.

Keeping the puck in front of the Finnish goal will also help goalie Nicole Hensley ease into the Olympic stage.

Although she's won back-to-back World Championship gold medals, Hensley hasn't featured on an Olympic roster.

With the experience in front of her, the Americans should be able to keep Finland from firing a frenzy of shots at Hensley as she gets acclimated to a stage unlike any other in the sport.

While an early goal would be nice, look for the deep U.S. attack to feel out Finland's defense in the first period before going with an all-out assault on net once adjustments are made and gaps in Finland's game plan are found.

Kendall Coyne, Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight were the top three scorers at last year's World Championship, while Amanda Kessel and Monique Lamoureux also ended up in the top 10 in scoring.

Don't be surprised if a couple of those players find the back of the net on multiple occasions once the United States finds a rhythm.

                  

Prediction

United States 5, Finland 2

          

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

The opening of the Olympic women's hockey tournament on Saturday is about more than just the game itself.

Host South Korea is fielding a joint team with North Korea, and the team's first contest comes against 2014 bronze medalist Switzerland.

A dozen North Koreans will be on the unified Korean team, including Hwang Chang-gum, who will be one of two Korean flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, per USA Today's Aamer Madhani.

Before the much-anticipated appearance of the host nation at the Kwandong Hockey Center, Sweden faces Japan in the opening game of the tournament.

Saturday's hockey participants are jockeying for two positions in the knockout round, while the loaded Group A with the United States, Canada, Olympic Athletes of Russia and Finland are guaranteed four spots in the six-team elimination bracket that occurs after round-robin play.

        

Saturday Olympic Hockey Schedule

All games can be live-streamed on NBCOlympics.com

Women's Group B: Sweden vs. Japan (2:40 a.m. ET)

Women's Group B: Switzerland vs. Korea (7:10 a.m. ET)

        

Sweden Looking to Get Back into Medal Positions

After earning bronze in 2002 and silver in 2006, Sweden has come up just short in the medal round in each of the last two Olympics with a pair of fourth-place finishes.

Sweden's quest to get back on to the medal podium starts against Japan in the Group B opener in the wee hours of Saturday morning on the east coast.

Defender and captain Emilia Remboldt and forward Pernilla Winberg lead the back-to-back fourth-place finisher in the women's ice hockey tournament. 

Winberg, who is competing in her fourth Olympics, has the experience required to get Sweden back to the medal round, as she scored the game-winning goal in 2006 Olympic semifinal win over the United States, a victory that propelled Sweden to its best finish in the tournament.

Japan is participating in the Olympic tournament for the third time in its history. It was part of the competition in 1998 as host, and it qualified for the 2014 tournament and finished seventh.

This will be the second consecutive time Sweden and Japan are squaring off in their first game of Olympic pool play.

Sweden came away with a 1-0 victory in Sochi by way of a first-period goal from Jenni Asserholt.

         

Switzerland Trying to Capture Attention Away From Korea

Entering Saturday's second contest at Kwandong Hockey Center, all of the attention is on the unified Korea team, which will dress three of the North Korean players for each game.

While most of the eyes will be on Korea, and rightfully so, Switzerland has its own intriguing storyline.

The Swiss earned their first Olympic women's hockey medal in 2014, as they came out of the stacked Group A and knocked off Sweden in the third-place game to claim bronze.

Switzerland's squad boasts a mix of experience and youth, and it contains a few players who played college hockey in the United States, including captain Livia Altmann, who scored two goals and recorded four assists in 26 games this season for Colgate.

Forward Lara Stalder is the player to watch for the defending bronze medalist. The 23-year-old was a First-Team All-American at Minnesota-Duluth and a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is the women's college hockey equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, in her senior season before she joined Linkoping in Sweden.

In addition to having three North Koreans dress for each game, South Korea boasts a roster with a few North Americans with Korean heritage, including Caroline Park, who will return to medical school at Columbia after the Olympics.

Park talked to ESPN's Emily Kaplan about representing South Korea in Pyeongchang.

"I didn't really have any ties there until I played hockey," Park said. "Being part of their first Olympic team, I have a lot of pride for what I'm part of now, and where my parents are from."

Switzerland is expected to win the game with relative ease, but by the end of Saturday, that won't be a topic as important as the appearance of the unified Korean team.

    

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Russia is the favorite to capture the gold medal in men's ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The country's domestic league, the KHL, released players for the Games, unlike the NHL, whose decision to skip the event will significantly hurt the United States and Canada.

Meanwhile, Team USA and Hockey Canada are likely on another collision course in the women's tournament. Those teams have faced off in the championship match in four of the five competitions since women's hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

Let's check out the scheduled dates for both tournaments. For a complete listing of each game, visit Pyeongchang 2018's official website. All contests will be available for live stream via NBC Sports Live.

               

Men's Schedule

Group Stage: Feb. 14-Feb. 18

Quarterfinals: Feb. 21

Semifinals: Feb. 23

Bronze Medal: Feb. 24

Gold Medal: Feb. 25

                

Women's Schedule

Group Stage: Feb. 10-Feb. 15

Quarterfinals: Feb. 17

Semifinals: Feb. 19

Bronze Medal: Feb. 21

Gold Medal: Feb. 22

         

Gold Medal Predictions

Men: Olympic Athletes from Russia

Officially, Russia is banned from the 2018 Winter Games by the International Olympic Committee following a widespread doping scandal. Any athletes from the country cleared to compete will do so under the neutral distinction of Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Russian winger Ilya Kovalchuk, who played 11 years in the NHL before returning to his homeland to join SKA Saint Petersburg in 2013, isn't concerned with the wording. He said they'll still represent the country even though the flag won't fly and the anthem won't play in South Korea.

"Everyone knows where we're from. It doesn't matter," he told James Ellingworth of the Associated Press in December. "The flag is in our heart."

Kovalchuk also acknowledged the Russians' favorite status: "We always are."

The 34-year-old sniper and former Detroit Red Wings stalwart Pavel Datsyuk headline the group of notable names on the roster, and they also benefit from having played alongside each other in the KHL.

Meanwhile, the United States and Canada will feature mostly makeshift rosters that, while still possessing potential medal-level talent, don't possess nearly the amount of star power they would if the likes of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews were eligible.

It's much the same story for the other usual contenders, led by Sweden and Finland. Although those Nordic countries do have their own leagues, the SHL and FEL, most of their elite players call the NHL home, and thus they are not being freed for the Olympics.

All told, not only does the NHL's decision place the Russian squad in a favorable position, the quality of hockey will likely see a considerable drop-off from recent editions of the Olympics.

              

Women: United States

The women's tournament is weighted heavily toward the U.S. and Canada. Not only are they the two most talented teams in the event, but they are both in Group A, and the top two finishers there receive automatic entry to the semifinals, virtually guaranteeing they land on opposite sides of the bracket.

Although the Canadians are the four-time defending Olympic champions, the United States won the Four Nations Cup in November. The Americans' undefeated run through the tournament included 4-2 and 5-1 wins over their neighbors to the north.

Canada bounced back with four straight victories in head-to-head competition against Team USA during December warm-up games for the Olympics. Two of those games were decided in overtime and the others were mere two-goal differentials, though.

In addition, the U.S. and Canada dismantled their most common biggest threats, Sweden and Finland, in the Four Nations Cup. The Americans beat those two teams by a combined score of 13-2, while the Canadians posted a 13-0 edge in those tilts.

So all signs point toward another two-country race for gold.

Team USA star Hilary Knight said in November a change in approach, allowing for a more free-wheeling, offensive game plan, has the U.S. squad in a better place than four years ago, when the Canada won both meetings to take gold in Sochi.

"The playing style, it didn't feel like a burden anymore," she told TeamUSA.org. "And I think that was one of the biggest things that was weighing down on a lot of us was like, 'Oh my gosh, that was a really unpleasant journey that we just took. I don't know if I could do that again for four years.' So then having a clean slate, coming in and saying just go out, play hard, have fun, really removed a lot of that burden."

Ultimately, the only shock that could come out of the women's event is either the United States or Canada failing to reach the final. Once they do, it's a toss up.

Given the overall parity in the rivalry, the U.S. is probably due for a return to the Olympic mountaintop for the first time since 1998 after four straight Canadian triumphs.  

Hockey is always one of the highlights at the Winter Olympics, and the group that Team USA will put on the ice at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games will be a fascinating group, to say the least.

Below, we'll take a look at the roster, schedule, uniforms and preview of the team as the American men seek gold for the first time since the famed 1980s "Miracle on Ice" squad won the tournament.

                       

Roster

Introducing the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s, Women’s & Paralympic Sled rosters! #TeamUSA 🇺🇸

Details → https://t.co/JcdKE6nLsz pic.twitter.com/Kl774zltCX

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 1, 2018

In January, goalkeepers Brandon Maxwell and David Leggio were also added to the men's roster. 

                     

Schedule

Slovenia: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:10 a.m. ET

Slovakia: Friday, Feb. 16 at 10:10 a.m. ET

Olympic Athletes from Russia: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:10 a.m. ET

Additionally, the men's qualification playoffs will take place on Feb. 19-20, the quarterfinals on Feb. 20-21, the semifinals on Feb. 23, the bronze-medal game on Feb. 24 and the gold medal game on Feb. 25.

          

Uniforms

U.S. Olympic hockey jerseys: pic.twitter.com/sjMXE7zcPe

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) November 1, 2017

You can find more photos here.

                   

Preview

For the first time since 1998, there will be no NHL players competing in the Olympic hockey tournament. That means the United States roster will include a number of players that may be unfamiliar to many fans ready to support the team.

The biggest name is NHL veteran and 38-year-old team captain Brian Gionta, who is no longer in the NHL. He is one of several former NHL players on the team. Among those players, Mark Arcobello, Jim Slater, James Wisniewski and Matt Gilroy possess the most NHL experience.

Additionally, Chad Billins, Chris Bourque, Bobby Sanguinetti, Bobby Butler, Chad Kolarik, John McCarthy, Brian O’Neill, Jonathon Blum, Ryan Stoa and Noah Welch also appeared in the NHL.

In total, seven different leagues or levels of competition from around the world will be represented on Team USA, from Russia's KHL to the AHL and NCAA. Indeed, college players like Troy Terry, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Donato and Will Borgen will be expected to make major contributions for the side.

In those players, NHL fans will get the chance to take a longer look at a few players who could have long NHL careers in their future. And Greenway is making history as the first African-American to represent the United States in hockey.

He's not the only great story on the team. Bourque is the son of NHL legend Ray Bourque, but unlike his father, he never made a splash in the NHL, instead plying his trade in the AHL. A chance at Olympic gold would leave Bourque with a legacy all his own, however. 

And if nothing else, the change away from the NHL players has resulted in some heartwarming moments for the players selected, such as this exchange between Bobby Butler and his father:

Making the Team: Heartwarming video shows hockey player Bobby Butler telling his dad that he made the U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team for the 2018 Winter Olympics. https://t.co/cUsOKH7zzu pic.twitter.com/EGcAq1MB0T

— ABC News (@ABC) January 3, 2018

After finishing 0-3 at October's Deutschland Cup, the United States won't be one of the favorites for this tournament.

Canada is probably still the favorite, with the Olympic Athletes from Russia—Russia has been banned from the Games, but its athletes can still compete under the OAR banner—also a heavy favorite, considering former NHL stars like Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk are expected to headline the team. Sweden is also a top contender.

So it's an uphill climb for the Americans. But they'll take their chances.

"We really like our roster," general manager Jim Johannson said in December, per the Associated Press. "It's a group that brings versatility and experience and includes players who have a lot of passion about representing our country."

Even without NHL players involved, ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics should be filled with plenty of drama.

While fans have gotten used to seeing big stars like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin representing their countries every four years, the upcoming games in Pyeongchang might allow some younger players to shine on the big stage.

There might even be a new Mike Eruzione or Jim Craig ready to break out in these Olympics.

Here is a look at the top teams hoping to bring home a medal in 2018.

                   

Odds to Win Gold (via OddsShark)

Olympic Athletes of Russia +105

Canada +450

Sweden +450

Finland +800

Czech Republic +900

USA +1000

              

Top Contenders

Olympic Athletes of Russia

Russia won't be able to compete under its own flag after a doping scandal, but there are enough hockey players still eligible to participate under the Olympic flag.

This is bad news for the rest of the field, because this squad is clearly the most experienced in the competition.

Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk are among the several former NHL players on this roster, and many of them are still capable of competing at a high level while participating in the KHL.

Datsyuk will captain the team as one of the best two-way players in hockey over the past two decades. The 39-year-old is a three-time Frank Selke Trophy winner as the best defensive forward in the NHL, with 918 points in his 15-year career with the Detroit Red Wings.

Meanwhile, Kovalchuk and others will benefit from his experience and passing ability as the group tries to compete with mostly younger opponents. This could be the necessary ingredient for Russia to win its first Olympic gold medal since competing as the Unified Team in 1992.

"There have been scandals. This tournament will be remembered because of them," Datsyuk said, per the Russian Federation website. "However, I hope the competition will be special because of a different reason."

             

Canada

Canada has been the big name in international hockey in recent years, winning two golds and a silver in the last three world championships, as well as two straight gold medals in the Olympics.

ESPN Stats & Info broke down the team's overall success:

9 days to the Winter Olympics.

Canada has won 9 men's hockey gold medals (including two straight), the most by any nation. pic.twitter.com/O1AfhXKoJT

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 31, 2018

While this will be a much different roster, there is still enough talent to bring home the gold once again in 2018.

The strength of this team is its defense, featuring multiple goalies capable of shutting down everyone in this competition. Ben Scrivens and Kevin Poulin have each led their teams to victories in the Spengler Cup and could each play a major role in net.

Offensively, there are a handful of former NHL veterans like Derek Roy and Rene Bourque, with the latter currently playing in Sweden after a successful year with the Colorado Avalanche.

These players have also spent a good amount of time together, developing chemistry that could make a positive impact in South Korea.

                  

Sweden

Group C might be the most competitive in the tournament, with Sweden and Finland coming in as the favorites, followed by Germany and Norway. Unlike in Group A with hosts South Korea, there are no gimme matchups in this group.

Still, Sweden should be the favorite thanks to a quality roster of players both young and old.

The most intriguing name on the list is 17-year-old defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NHL draft, per Chris Peters of ESPN:

It's that time of year when everyone's putting out their mid-season rankings. Here is my top 50 at this point. Rasmus Dahlin vs. nobody for No. 1, but plenty of intrigue after that https://t.co/JEIsil5q66 [In]

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) January 30, 2018

Although he is young, he has as much skill as anyone in this tournament and could make an impact on both ends of the ice.

Veterans Viktor Stalberg and Anton Lander will anchor the offense, making this a complete team that won't be easy for anyone to beat.

After earning silver in Sochi, Sweden should be a top contender for gold in Pyeongchang.

Canada has long been the world's biggest power in both men's and women's hockey, but that will be put to the test at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

On the men's side, NHL players are not competing this year, which means Team Canada will be comprised of mostly former NHL players who are playing in the AHL and Europe.

Canada has won gold in the women's hockey at four consecutive Winter Games, but Team USA is stacked with star power, and it may finally be ready to out-duel Canada for the gold medal for the first time since the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Ahead of the men's and women's hockey tournaments in Pyeongchang, here is a look at the Team Canada rosters, as well as a deeper dive regarding some of the top players to watch.

             

Canadian Olympic Men's Hockey Roster

Ben Scrivens, goalie, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

Kevin Poulin, goalie, Medvescak Zagreb (EBEL)

Justin Peters, goalie, Kolner Haie (DEL)

Stefan Elliott, defenseman, HV71 (SHL)

Chay Genoway, defenseman, Lada Togliatti (KHL)

Cody Goloubef, defenseman, Stockton Heat (AHL)

Marc-Andre Gragnani, defenseman, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

Chris Lee, defenseman, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Maxim Noreau, defenseman, SC Bern (NLA)

Mat Robinson, defenseman, CSKA Moskva (KHL)

Karl Stollery, defenseman, Dinamo Riga (KHL)

Rene Bourque, forward, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

Gilbert Brule, forward, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)

Andrew Ebbett, forward, SC Bern (NLA)

Quinton Howden, forward, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

Chris Kelly, forward, Belleville Senators (AHL)

Rob Klinkhammer, forward, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

Brandon Kozun, forward, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Maxim Lapierre, forward, HC Lugano (NLA)

Eric O'Dell, forward, HK Sochi (KHL)

Mason Raymond, forward, SC Bern (NLA)

Derek Roy, forward, Linkopings HC (SHL)

Christian Thomas, forward, Wilkes-Barre Penguins (AHL)

Linden Vey, forward, Barys Astana (KHL)

Wojtek Wolski, forward, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

        

Projected Men's Lineup

G: Ben Scrivens

D: Marc-Andre Gragnani

D: Chris Lee

LW: Mason Raymond

C: Derek Roy

RW: Rene Bourque

Top Subs: Gilbert Brule, Chris Kelly, Wojtek Wolski

        

Canadian Olympic Women's Hockey Roster

Shannon Szabados (goalie)

Ann-Renee Desbiens (goalie)

Genevieve Lacasse (goalie)

Renata Fast (defenseman)

Laura Fortino (defenseman)

Brigette Lacquette (defenseman)

Jocelyne Larocque (defenseman)

Meaghan Mikkelson (defenseman)

Lauriane Rougeau (defenseman)

Meghan Agosta (forward)

Bailey Bram (forward)

Emily Clark (forward)

Melodie Daoust (forward)

Haley Irwin (forward)

Brianne Jenner (forward)

Rebecca Johnston (forward)

Sarah Nurse (forward)

Marie-Philip Poulin (forward)

Jillian Saulnier (forward)

Natalie Spooner (forward)

Laura Stacey (forward)

Blayre Turnbull (forward)

Jennifer Wakefield (forward)

        

Projected Women's Lineup

G: Shannon Szabados

D: Jocelyne Larocque

D: Meaghan Mikkelson 

LW: Natalie Spooner

C: Marie-Philip Poulin

RW: Meghan Agosta

Top Subs: Melodie Daoust, Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse

         

Breaking Down Top Canadian Players

Derek Roy

Among the players on the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team, it can be argued nobody enjoyed more success than forward Derek Roy.

The 34-year-old veteran was a second-round draft pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2001, and he went on to have an 11-year career in the NHL.

In 738 regular-season games, Roy finished with 189 goals and 335 assists for 524 points. He also had 27 points in 49 playoff games.

Roy's most productive seasons were during an eight-year run in Buffalo. He scored at least 63 points in four straight seasons from 2006-07 through 2009-10. His best year came in 2007-08 when he set career highs with 32 goals and 49 assists for 81 points.

After departing Buffalo at the conclusion of the 2011-12 campaign, Roy had short stints with the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers.

Since the end of his NHL career, Roy has spent time in the Swiss and Swedish professional leagues, as well as Russia's KHL.

Roy plays for Linkopings HC in Sweden, and he is having a solid year with 10 goals and 20 assists in 38 games to go along with a plus-17 rating.

Due to his NHL experience and proven ability to put up points against the world's best players, Roy figures to be Canada's go-to guy offensively, and his performance could go a long way toward determining whether the Canadian men win gold for the third straight Olympics.

           

Marie-Philip Poulin

After being the hero for Canada in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Marie-Philip Poulin will be counted on as the primary offensive producer for the women's team in Pyeongchang.

Poulin became a legendary figure in Canadian hockey history four years ago when she netted a pair of goals in Canada's 3-2 win over the United States in the gold-medal game.

She tied the contest at 2-2 with less than one minute remaining in regulation, then scored the overtime winner to cement the gold medal.

Now 26, Poulin has continued to thrive in the four years since Sochi with stints at Boston University and with the Canadiennes de Montreal in the Canadian Women's Hockey League.

Poulin helped guide the Canadiennes to the 2016-17 league championship, and she tied for the league lead with 37 points.

Both the Canadian and American women's hockey Olympic teams are stacked from top to bottom, but it can be argued Poulin is the biggest star of them all.

Her ability to come through in the clutch is her greatest asset, and with Team USA looking like a juggernaut, Canada may need more heroics from Poulin to keep its gold-medal streak alive.

      

Ben Scrivens

While the Olympic Athletes from Russia have the most talented all-around team in the men's tournament, their goaltending has some question marks, and it could turn out to be the great equalizer.

Canada has three netminders with extensive NHL experience, and chief among them is former Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ben Scrivens.

The 31-year-old Scrivens appeared in 144 NHL games, going 47-64-17 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

While those numbers leave plenty to be desired, Scrivens has found new life playing in the KHL.

He went 28-18-8 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .918 save percentage for Dinamo Minsk last season, and has been just as good in 2017-18 with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, as he is 19-11-2 with a 2.29 GAA and .917 save percentage.

Scrivens figures to be Canada's primary starter in goal, and there will be a lot of pressure on him to be one of the premier goalies in the tournament.

One thing working in his favor is he has shown in brief spurts that he can be a top performer against elite competition.

In 19 games for the Kings in 2013-14, Scrivens went 7-5-4 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.

If Scrivens can perform anywhere near that level, then it will be a big help for Canada in terms of bridging the talent gap with the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Although Russia is banned from the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, by the International Olympic Committee, its hockey players will contend for a championship in men's ice hockey while playing under the neutral designation of Olympic Athletes from Russia.

The Russians' status as favorites is mostly due to the NHL's decision not to release players for the 2018 Olympics. So fans won't see Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid (Canada), Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews (United States) or stars from Sweden, Finland and the tournament's other usual contenders.

While most of the world's top players won't be in attendance, which will diminish the quality of play in Pyeongchang, the prize remains the same: an Olympic gold medal.

             

Top Jersey Photos

Complete Nike set:

Nike has unveiled the remaining hockey jerseys for the 2018 Olympic Games.https://t.co/TXtoBzsEmP pic.twitter.com/8phyEyjaw8

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 2, 2017

Russian replacement:

А вот и свитеры, в которых сборная России будет выходить на олимпийский лёд Пхенчхана! Изучаем и рассматриваем со всех сторон: pic.twitter.com/phyXshXJ3Z

— Хоккей России (@russiahockey) January 25, 2018

            

Players To Watch

Ilya Kovalchuk (Russia)

Kovalchuk was an offensive force across 11 years in the NHL. He averaged exactly a point per game (417 goals and 399 assists in 816 appearances) with the Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils before returning to Russia to sign with the KHL's SKA Saint Petersburg in 2013.

The 34-year-old winger has continued to score at an elite pace since the move, highlighted by 78 points in 60 games last season, and he should take on a first-line role with the Russians. So it would be a surprise if he doesn't land in the MVP conversation at tournament's end.

Meanwhile, the first overall pick in the 2001 NHL draft said the team isn't concerned about not officially representing Russia at the Games, per James Ellingworth of the Associated Press.

"Everyone knows where we're from. It doesn't matter," Kovalchuk said. "The flag is in our heart."

The celebration back home likely won't be any different if the Russians win gold under the OAR moniker, and he'll need to play a crucial role to make it happen.

              

Rasmus Dahlin (Sweden)

Dahlin isn't in the NHL yet, but it be much longer until he is. The 17-year-old Swedish rising star is a potential first pick in the 2018 draft, and, barring an injury that slows his development, he'll likely make the immediate jump stateside next fall.

For now, however, he's playing for Frolunda HC in the SHL, and that makes him eligible to play for Sweden in the Olympics. The defenseman could get plenty of playing time, too, thanks to his two-way ability, elite skating and the lack of big-name pros on the roster.

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl skills coach Ted Suihkonen provided a glimpse of what makes the teenager special:

https://twitter.com/suihkonenhockey/status/952889377419595776

Longtime NHL center Ray Ferraro told TSN Radio Vancouver in January that Dahlin is the "Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid of defense."

That's high praise and illustrates the expectations the young Swede will face following the draft. His play in the Olympics will determine whether the hype train continues to pick up steam in the coming months.

          

Derek Roy (Canada)

Roy had a strong case for inclusion on the Canadians' 2010 Olympic roster. He'd scored 214 points in 235 games across the previous three seasons for the Buffalo Sabres and was in the midst of a campaign where he added 69 points in 80 contests to that tally.

The speedy center wasn't selected and his career faded, which figured to end his dreams of representing his country at the Olympics. The NHL's decision to skip this year's Games provided a glimmer of hope for the forward, who now suits up for Linkopings HC in the SHL.

He talked about the situation with John Vogl of the Buffalo News in late October.

"It means a great deal," Roy said. "Climbing the ranks of world juniors and world championships and under-17s, under-18s and all that stuff with Canada, the ultimate challenge or goal would be to win a gold medal for the Olympic team. I get a chance to do that maybe, and I've just got to make sure I work hard and prove myself. Hopefully, we can go to South Korea and win a gold medal."

Sure enough, he made Canada's final roster. Now the two-time reigning gold medalists will hope he can turn back the clock to his Sabres days to help push for an Olympic three-peat.

Sidney Crosby will not score the gold-medal winning goal for the Canada hockey team in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Stars like Crosby, Patrice Bergeron and Steven Stamkos are not even playing this time around since the NHL elected not to let its players participate.

Instead, Canada will go with former NHL players who are competing overseas or in the minor leagues to make up the bulk of the roster.

      

Team Canada roster 

Forwards
Rene Bourque, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
Gilbert Brule, Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)
Andrew Ebbett, SC Bern (NLA)
Quinton Howden, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
Chris Kelly, Belleville Senators (AHL)
Rob Klinkhammer, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
Brandon Kozun, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Maxim Lapierre, HC Lugano (NLA)
Eric O’Dell, HK Sochi (KHL)
Mason Raymond, SC Bern (NLA)
Derek Roy, Linkoping HC (SHL)
Christian Thomas, Wilkes-Barre Penguins (AHL)
Linden Vey, Barys Astana (KHL)
Wojtek Wolski, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Defensemen
Stefan Elliott, HV71 (SHL)
Chay Genoway, Lada Togliatti (KHL)
Cody Goloubef, Stockton Heat (AHL)
Marc-Andre Gragnani, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
Chris Lee, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Maxim Noreau, SC Bern (NLA)
Mat Robinson, CSKA Moskva (KHL)
Karl Stollery, Dinamo Riga (KHL)

Goaltenders
Ben Scrivens, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Kevin Poulin, Medvescak Zagreb (EBEL)
Justin Peters, Kolner Haie (DEL)

It's here! #TeamCanada's hockey teams will be wearing this jersey in #PyeongChang2018. 🇨🇦🏒 pic.twitter.com/EfmUacQnYP

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) November 1, 2017

Derek Roy played the majority of his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres before moving on to the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers.

Roy has not played in the NHL since the 2014-15 season, but he was able to put together four straight seasons with 60 or more points. He scored 81 points in the 2007-08 season.

Roy has been playing with Linkoping in Sweden, and he has scored 10 goals and 20 assists in 37 games thus far. Roy has the ability to attack quickly in the offensive zone and send tape-to-tape passes to his teammates when he is on his game.

Linden Vey will likely play a key role if the Canadians are going to be in the running for a medal. Vey played with the Canucks and Los Angeles Kings during his NHL career, and while he never became an NHL star, he is having an excellent year in the KHL. He is third in the league in scoring with 52 point in 50 games.

Rene Bourque last played in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, and he scored 27 goals in back-to-back seasons earlier in his career with the Calgary Flames.

Bourque is playing in Sweden this year, and he has scored 21 points in 33 games. While he is not a superstar, Bourque will take advantage of his scoring opportunities, and he also brings a 6'2", 216-pound frame to the battle.

Goalie Ben Scrivens spent several years in the NHL, and he divided his time between the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens.

He has been a hot and cold goalie throughout the majority of his career, and he once had a 59-save shutout for the Oilers. Scriven has a .917 save percentage in the KHL this season.

"It has been an exciting journey to arrive at this 25-player roster," said general manager Sean Burke in a statement released by Hockey Canada (h/t Doug Harrison of cbc.ca). "We have a very special group of talented players and staff who are ready to compete in South Korea."

"This team proves the depth of Canadian hockey," said Team Canada chef de mission Isabelle Charest, per Harrison. "All of Canada will rally behind this team as it sets out to show the world that we will always be a force to be reckoned with on the ice."