Team Canada

No. 11, Right Wing, Shoots right
Age: 37, Born: Feb. 12, 1972
Height: 6'1" Weight: 214 lbs.
Drafted first overall in the first round by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Strengths: Nolan is a leader by example with his established career on and off the ice. He's very gritty and still possesses an excellent and accurate shot despite his age. He can be put into most situations without problems and can be counted on to put up points when healthy.

Weaknesses: He's been considered injury-prone over the course of his career. His skating ability has started to decline over the past couple seasons. He also plays too aggressive at times and takes too many penalties.

NHL Regular Season Statistics:

NHL Playoff Statistics:
coming soon

Career Awards & Honors:
OHL - Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year), 88-89
OHL - Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring RW), 89-90
OHL - First All-Star Team, 1989-90
Olympic Gold Medal, 2002 (Team Canada)
Played in NHL All-Star game, 91-92, 95-96, 96-97, 99-00, 01-02

Building an Olympic Winner 101-
Class is in session...

Written By: Mark "The Hard Hitter" Ritter

“Nothing great in the World has ever been accomplished without passion”- A quote from G.W.F Hegel to start us off on the task of picking Canada’s 2010 Olympic Hockey Team. The journey will be long, tedious and extremely difficult. Canada has the deepest pool of talent to choose from of any Country, making it all the more difficult to pick the “Right” players. Every little move will be scrutinized, from the players chosen, to the ones left out, to the Coaching staff, all the way down to the color of the uniforms. Picking Canada’s Hockey team is an honor, but with it comes great responsibility. Let’s take a look at my early favorites to make the team. Keep this in mind, It would be easy to go down the NHL leader-board and pick the best performers at each position and set the team up based on stats alone, the reality is teams are not made that way, I will look at the best prospects for a great “Team”, Character, Accomplishments, Chemistry, health and the ability to fill the role they will be playing will all be taken into consideration. Also, I am not a fan of having 8 Centers on your team, thus some very talented Centers will be left on the outside looking in, don’t panic, you can have your say in the comment box.

Position: Center-

Sidney Crosby- The face of Canada’s hockey program, Crosby will be asked to take his game to yet another level at the Olympics. Crosby is the obvious choice for 1st line center. Even though Crosby will be under a lot of pressure, I think he is the obvious choice for Captain as well..
Joe Thornton- Thornton has a reputation for coming up small in the playoffs, but he is still one of the games best set-up men. Thornton is defensively responsible and has tremendous leadership qualities, if not Crosby, then Thornton is my pick for Captain of this team.
Jeff Carter- It’s a bit of a crap shoot here. Canada has so many suitable candidates at center, it is extremely difficult to pick just four. I will go with Carter here, he’s fast, brings youthful exuberance and has been amongst the leaders in Goals scored all season long. Expect Carter to be asked to D-up on occasion in this slot, I am confident he will be up for the challenge and should make the opposition take notice when he is on the ice against their third lines.
Mike Richards- Defensibly responsible, Richards has the ability to shut down anyone in the NHL. Look for Richards to be a valuable member of the Penalty Kill and be given the responsibility of shutting down the oppositions first line. He is also a lights-out face-off man, capable of making a big hit as well.

Players left out- Ok, I can hear the keyboards clicking already pounding out emails galore asking for my head to be examined. Remember, I am creating a Team, not an All-Star entry. Think of the lines and the situations they will be in and the players that will best perform that duty, only then can you start to understand why I picked the players I did. As I mentioned before, Canada is extremely deep at Center, you may not see your favorite players here, but they may end up at another position. Great consideration was given to- Vincent LeCavalier, Brad Richard's, Derek Roy, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Getzlaf, Marc Savard and Mike Ribeiro- all of these players are great candidates, but I felt the four players I slotted in were the best players for the rolls.

Position: Left Wing-

Dany Heatley- Say what you will about Heater, the reality is the guy can score, that’s why he will be in this slot. Joe Thornton is the NHL’s best set up man in the business, putting one of the NHL’s best triggermen on his wing just makes sense.
Rick Nash- Another great triggerman, Nash has size, speed and an ability to intimidate the opposition. He should get great consideration for Power play time and be a valuable asset along the boards where his creativity and grit will be welcomed.
Simon Gagne- There is a question of health here, hopefully Gagne can stay away from the concussions long enough to make a contribution to this team. Gagne, when he is “On”, has the ability to takeover a game by himself, Canada would consider themselves lucky to have a player of this calibre on the third line! Alternate choice? If Gagne is injured (And he may very well be) I would insert Ryan Smith here. He has a knack for the big goal and is as gritty as they come, sure he brings the exact opposite of what Gagne brings, but he would be a great addition nonetheless. Captain Canada might squeak in at another position, he has been a warrior for Canada in the past and would bring great character and experience to this team, sadly, in the end, I think he stays home this time...Unless Canada opts to bring 6 defenseman??? Then he may get the nod....
Scott Hartnell- Canada is going to need some grit, Hartnell can supply plenty of that and throw in the odd goal too! Hartnell may not be the popular choice, but he is the right player for the job.

Notable absences- Mike Cammalleri, Ray Whitney, Ryane Clowe. (Ryan Smith/Simon Gagne- depending on injury).

Position: Right Wing-

Jarome Iginla- If not Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla will be the Captain of this team. Iginla is very relaxed on the ice, he is a fighter, someone who goes all-out every single shift, he also makes players accountable, that alone is reason enough to have him on the ice as much as possible. That makes the First Line- Jarome Iginla at Right Wing, Joe Thornton at Center and Dany Heatley at Left Wing...Good luck stopping that one!
Martin St. Louis- He’s fast, he’s skilled around the net and he’s won a Cup, everything you want in a second line Winger. St. Louis will get lot’s of room on the ice, seeing as they will be so worried about Sid the Kid and Rick Nash. Look for St. Louis to put up serious numbers and for Crosby to rack up major points feeding St. Louis the puck all day long. That makes the Second Line- Martin St. Louis at Right Wing, Sidney Crosby at Center and Rick Nash at Left Wing...Not bad for your second unit, the opposition is shaking in their skates!
Marc Savard- Three years ago teams questioned this guys character, 2009 has been his coming out party and the Boston Bruins are reaping the rewards. I know Savard is a Center, but his play-making abilities are quickly becoming legendary. Look for the Coaching staff to rotate Jeff Carter and Savard from Center to the wing as they see fit, either one is capable of playing the wing and they should feed off each-other's strengths. That makes the third line- Marc Savard on the Right side, Jeff Carter at Center and Simon Gagne or Ryan Smith at Left Wing.
Shane Doan- Doan has been a good soldier for Team Canada, this should help give him the nod as Canada’s top shut-down man. Just ask Wayne Gretzky who is MVP is on the Phoenix Coyote’s, I’ll bet Shane Doan has been the hands down favorite season after season. Doan is gritty, has decent hands and brings a leadership element to the team, something you can never have enough of. That makes the fourth line- Shane Doan at Right Wing, Mike Richard's at center and Scott Hartnell at Left Wing- This line will be a Beast to compete against, and they just might throw a few goals in too.

Notable Absences- Corey Perry, Devon Setoguchi, Brad Boyes, Patrick Sharp.

Possible Extras- Vincent Lecavalier, Corey Perry, Ryan Smith

Team Canada 2010- Stopping the opposition…

Canada’s hockey teams have always been known for having skilled, hard-nosed Defense, they have also been known for having unbelievable Goaltending, the Canada’s 2010 Olympic Team will have to mirror the past; fortunately Canada has a plethora of talent of which to find the ultimate Goalie and a very intimidating Defense. Team Canada will need Goaltenders that are skilled, mentally tough, and agile, Canada will also need defensemen with speed, agility, power, skating ability and toughness; with that in mind, which players have the best shot at landing on Team Canada’s Defense?

The Goalies-

Martin Brodeur- Nobody has been as consistent as Martin Brodeur; year after year he leads the NHL in almost every category. 2008/09 saw Brodeur go down early in the season with an injury, causing him to miss most of the season, that said, if Brodeur is healthy, he has to be your number one Goaltender. All the Vesina Trophies, his All-Star appearances, Stanley Cup Victories, an Olympic Gold Medal and the ability to respond in pressure situations, and the ability to move the puck, all combine to make Brodeur my choice as Canada’s number one Goaltender.
Roberto Luongo- Robbie-Lou has had an up and down year in 2008/09; he too has been injured, he too was expected to have better stats, that said, Canada will bring Luongo along in hopes that he can come up just as big as Brodeur when the chips are down. The reality is, Canada is likely to go with whichever Goalie is hottest, if Luongo is standing on his head, he will be the number one Goalie, if Brodeur outshines Luongo, Brodeur will be the number one Goalie, either way, Canada can’t lose, they are both very good Goaltenders.
Marc-Andre Fleury- Canada always likes to bring along a young stud to observe and feel the pressure of the games, in my mind Fleury will be that guy in 2010. Fleury has won a Stanley Cup, he is solid under pressure, clearly he is a great 2nd or third option.
Noticeable absences-  Steve Mason, J.S. Giguere, Marty Turco, Carey Price.

The Defensemen-

Defense is almost always underestimated; team Canada will not make that mistake in 2010. Look for Canada to put an emphasis on puck movement, leadership, experience and toughness. The opposition will be full of young stars, many of which have great speed and quick releases, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Sharp, Zach Parise, Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Zetterberg, and a plethora of others all have tremendous skill, Canada will need to be prepared to deal with that speed and skill, good defense will go a long way in controlling these players.

Dion Phaneuf- Phaneuf has had his ups and downs this season, but nobody is questioning his overall talent. Tough, driven, competitive and a decent shot, all adds up to Phaneuf solidifying himself a spot on Canada’s blue line. Canada will look for Phaneuf to take the body and shut down the opposition’s number one line.
Rob Blake- Wouldn’t you love to see Phaneuf and Blake play as a pair? The opposition sure as heck doesn’t, that’s why I think they would make an intimidating pair. Blake is a beast to play against; he makes life miserable for opposing forwards and brings great Veteran leadership qualities. Blake has tons of International experience, he has been a warrior for Canada, he has won a Stanley Cup before, and he is respected throughout the League. I feel it is important for Canada to have some Veteran presence in the locker room, they need a voice and the younger players need a Veteran to lean on, Blake will fill this role nicely. Blake is a winner; he will be an integral part of Team Canada’s success.
Mike Green- No need to look up his credentials, how about leading the League in Goals for and points by a defenseman? Green is a solid player, he will bring youthful exuberance, one of the best point shots in the League, the ability to move the puck up the ice and a bit of grit. Green has scored 14 of his 18 goals on the Power Play, averages 25:30 a night in ice time and has the best shooting percentage (13.6) amongst Defensemen, Green, as they say, is a no-brainer...
Shea Weber- Weber has had an outstanding season thus far in 2008/09. With 6 of his 14 Goals coming on the Power Play, Weber is another guy that can “Bring it” offensively. Known for his physical game and his tremendous hockey sense, Weber will be a valuable addition to Team Canada's Defense.
Dan Boyle- Think the Tampa Bay Lightening would like this guy back? Boyle has had a career year in 2008/09, to date he is fourth in scoring amongst Defenseman with 39 points, 13 of them goals, is regarded as one of the best puck-movers, and averages over 24 minutes a game. Boyle will be 34 next year, which will make him one of the Veterans on this defense corps.
Jay Bouwmeester- Leads the League in ice-time with 27:16 minutes per game. If you are listening to the trade rumors it would seem as if every team in the NHL would love to have Bouwmeester, he’s tough, agile, one of the best skaters in the entire game, and while prone to the odd mistake, he is able to make up for that in recovery speed. Bouwmeester might just be the best defenseman at catching the opposition after he’s made a mistake, possibly the best back-checker in the game. Bouwmeester will be here, book it!
Chris Pronger- The 7th Defenseman is a tough call, depending on the way canada wants to go, I see them selecting either Chris Pronger or Scott Niedermayer. If they figure they need more toughness Pronger will prevail, if they want more leadership and puck-moving, and IF Niedermayer is willing to play, they will go with Niedermayer, either way, it’s a great pick for Canada, they are both tremendous talents, capable of playing heavy minutes and capable of performing in any role.

Noticeable absences- Brian Campbell, Dennis Wideman, Sheldon Souray, Brent Burns...

There you have it, my picks for Canada’s last defense. In all likelihood, my picks will not be perfect, but there is definitely a great template to work from here. Disagree with my picks? Got something to say? Hit the comment box and get your two cents in....

Until Next time,

Peace!

Marc smash! (Reuters)

Today, Team Canada released their roster of invitees to tryout for the national team.  On the list was Rangers defenseman Marc Staal.  In fact, all three Staal brothers were invited.

From Andrew Gross:

“Based on the competition among the 16 defensemen, I’m not saying Staal is a lock to make the team. But this does speak to Staal’s rapidly rising game and reputation within the hockey world.”

Their parents must be so incredibly proud. So far they’re batting .750!  I wonder what holiday dinner is like at that house.  Jared must sit there glaring at the other three as they go play in the NHL.  Hey, at least he doesn’t have to help his parents make up their own highlights anymore.

Good luck Marc!

Related posts:

1. Why Do I Watch This Team Again?
2. Weekend (sort of) Wrap Up
3. 5-hole.com Pick ‘em – Marc sucks – 12/18/08

"And Jacques Jock finishes a respectable eighth place … a valiant effort and Jock's time is a new personal best. He's got to be pleased about this!" a CBC sportscaster exclaims.

We hear this time and time again during the Olympics. The celebration of mediocre results is as Canadian as beaver pelts.

Canucks have a longstanding reputation for pulling off gutsy performances that fall just short of the real glory. Unfortunately the reputation is deserved. While Barrick and Goldcorp mine tons of the precious metal, Canada's top athletes seem predisposed toward the lower steps on the podium.

Canada is the only country not to win a gold medal when they've hosted the Olympics, shutout in both Montreal 1976 and Calgary 1988. In the Summer Olympics, Canada's all-time haul is 260 medals—58 golds, 94 silvers, and 108 bronzes*. Of countries that have won over 100 medals only Poland has a higher proportion of bronzes at 47.1 percent (Canada's bronze medal haul is 40.9 percent).

However Canada's favourite sports are played on snow and ice and the Winter Games provide a more accurate barometer of the country's athletic achievements. 37.5 percent of Canada's 96 Winter Olympic medals have been bronzes. While this ratio is nothing to hoot and holler about, France, which has roughly double Canada's population to draw on has a poorer record and has somehow avoided the "bronze medal nation" sobriquet.

The home of the Arc De Triomphe has took home 24 fewer medals at the Winter Games than Canada and 38.8 percent of their take have been bronzes. Then there is Japan which has amassed 31 medals in Winter Olympic competition, 13 or 41.9 percent of them being bronze.

At the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Canada finished fourth overall in the medal standings racking up six gold, three silver and eight bronze medals. Yes bronzes still accounted for the lion's share of the loot but on the plus side it was Canada's best ever Olympic showing and signs are pointing to an even richer bounty in Torino where a double-digit gold tally is a possibility.

Perhaps Canada will show that it isn't just a bronze medal country anymore.

Addendum: an abridged version of this article ran in the now defunct Bell T.V. magazine right before the winter Olympics in Italy.  At Torino, Canada picked up seven golds, 10 silvers and seven bronzes.

Part Eight in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2009 Los Angeles Sol.

There is an adage in the lexicon of the English vocabulary: "Better late than never."

One of Canada's best late blooming woman footballers to play in the Great White North is a forward/midfielder from Northern California by the name of Martina Franko. 

An acquisition of the Los Angeles Sol during the 2009 season, she brings a championship-winning mentality to a club in the hunt for a championship of their own.

But not only is she a proven athlete, but also a proven coach. It's true students of the game like Franko—who calls Squamish, British Columbia her home—that make the Los Angeles Sol a special team full of special players.

Maybe that explains why she is a late bloomer professionally.

Franko was born on Jan. 13, 1976 in Los Altos, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Not far from Los Altos lies Cupertino, the home of Apple Incorporated; Mountain View, the home of Google; Palo Alto, the home of Stanford University, HP, Faceboook and VMWare; and Los Altos Hills, where former 49er quarterback Steve Young and Yahoo! founder Jerry Yang reside.

Down the Foothill and Central Expressways is Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium, where FC Gold Pride and Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes play as well as Santa Clara University's men's and women's teams.

Franko's parents have sport in their blood as they formed a powerful ice dancing pair in the former Czechoslovakia in the 1960's.

It's not a surprise that Franko, then known as Martina Holan, decided to make a name for herself just like Mom and Dad did.

In 1994, Franko signed with the Colorado College Tigers. During her playing career in Colorado Springs, she scored 45 goals to go with 17 assists to finish second on the all-time career scoring list (as of the conclusion of the 2008 season).

In 2003, she married John Franko in Squamish, British Columbia, and her life would change.

A stint with Surrey United of the local Metro Women's Soccer League gave way to five seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps Women.

Playing alongside accomplished stars like FC Gold Pride's Tiffeny Milbrett and Christine Sinclair as well as Kara Lang (who is now playing for defending W-League champion Pali Blues), Franko led the Caps to W-League championships in 2004 and 2006.

The Caps also finished first in the Western Division from 2004 to 2006 with Franko on the pitch at Swangard Stadium.

At the ripe old age of 29, Franko earned her first cap for the Canadian national team with her first goal scored in a 4-3 defeat to Germany on her second cap. At the 2007 Pan American Games, she helped Big Red earn big bronze. 

Franko also competed with the national team at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In all, Franko has made 54 appearances internationally for Canada.

Like Karina LeBlanc, coaching the game has been in Franko's blood. In fact, coaching soccer has lingered longer than playing as a professional.

From 1990-1994, she was a coach for World Soccer Inc., a youth club in California. She teamed up with her sister to create the Girls Soccer Academy, a training ground for aspiring women footballers aged six to 18, while earning her stripes at Colorago College.

After graduating from the college, she became an assistant coach for the 1998 season and in 2001, she created the International School of Soccer (ISOS) in Squamish which also develops soccer skills for adults and children alike.

A proud Canadian "B" coaching license holder, Franko was hired by Squamish's Quest University Canada as the head coach of the Kermodes women's soccer team in 2008. 

A kermode, for all of you wondering, is a type of bear. Actually, it's a subspecies of the American Black Bear, but its cream-colored coat is due to a recessive trait in their genes.

The Kermode, named after Canadian zoologist Francis Kermode and also referred to as the Spirit Bear, is the provincial mammal of BC.

Outside of football, Franko has been on many adventures around the world from cycling and hiking in the mountains outside Squamish, to surfing the beaches of the Philippines, telemark skiing in France, and rock climbing in Thailand.

In 2009, she signed with the Los Angeles Sol as a free agent and began a new journey playing in Women's Professional Soccer.

But for this journeywoman, it has already been one heck of a journey.

It's a journey that has seen her earn her stripes in Colorado Springs, win W-League hardware in Vancouver, create soccer academies on both sides of the border, and earn a head coaching position for a new university in her adopted home town.

The time Martina Franko spends with the Los Angeles Sol is just a small section of a path less traveled. 

A trail blazed by a lifelong learner of the game of soccer.

Part 5 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2009 Los Angeles Sol.


A save. Another save.

A routine scoop, followed by a throw to a defender.

The sound of a kicked ball going upwards toward midfield, where a blend of players clad in orange and blue clamor to receive it.

15 minutes passes. 45. 60. 90. And stoppage time.

And then the final whistle.

She walks to the center of the pitch, grabs a microphone, and acknowledges 6,000-plus supporters who came for a Friday night contest between the Los Angeles Sol and Sky Blue FC.

Such is the nature of Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, one of Canada's most celebrated players guarding the net.

A member of the Canadian national team for more than a decade, and a proud product of John Walker's Nebraska Lady Cornhusker women's soccer program, the beautiful game flows through LeBlanc's veins like her uncanny knack for big stops and on-the-field leadership.

Interestingly, LeBlanc was not born in Canada. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 30, 1980.

Therefore, one can say that LeBlanc is one of North America's well-known goalkeepers, alongside other WPS keepers like St. Louis's Hope Solo, Washington's Brianna Scurry and Erin McLeod, and FC Gold Pride's Nicole Barnhart.

As a town full of talent for the round ball, one should start with the Atlanta Silverbacks, who had a successful run in the USL First Division from 1995 up until 2008, their final season. Atlanta also has a team in the Premier Development League, the Atlanta Blackhawks, who play their home games in nearby Alpharetta.

And with A-Town's WPS club beginning play next season, you can sense that the possibility of LeBlanc returning to the city she was born is on everyone's minds.

In 1997, LeBlanc began making a name for herself with the Cornhuskers, playing alongside the Boston Breakers' Christine Latham and winning Big XII championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

In a recent interview with Nebraska Cornhusker Athletics, LeBlanc recalled the atmosphere at the Nebraska Soccer Stadium.

"The environment was amazing," LeBlanc said. "For a college game, we had amazing fans. That stands out for me. We had the best teammates. Some of the people I went to school with are the best friends I have.

"We played hard for each other. The combination of the environment and fans at Nebraska were irreplaceable.”

To this day, LeBlanc owes a great deal of her success to Coach Walker.

“John has taught me so much," she said. "One thing was his ability to prepare you for the next level with his intensity in the training sessions. He always had expectations for you to push yourself. I haven’t met anyone who knows the little details and remembers them so well.

"He paid such close attention to the little details. He had an ability to make you understand the little things are what make the big things great.”

Individually, LeBlanc tallied 196 saves, to go with a 0.59 goal average and a 60-5-3 record.

After completing her storied college career, which also saw her earn All-Big XII honors in 2000, LeBlanc began her club career with the Boston Breakers, who were a part of the Women's United Soccer Association at the time. As the starting keeper for the WUSA incarnation of the team, she saw Boston finish 1st in the 2003 season to go with a semifinal appearance.

During 2005-2006, LeBlanc also played for the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League. During those two seasons, the Wildcats finished 1st in the Northeast Division twice, and won a championship in 2005.

In 2009, LeBlanc signed with the Los Angeles Sol, and from the get-go, she put her skills to work with a 2-0 shutout of the Washington Freedom.

In 1998, LeBlanc began another new journey: playing for Big Red, managed at the time by Norway's Even Pellerud.

LeBlanc earned the first cap of her international career on July 21, 1998 against China in Montreal. Nearly a year later, LeBlanc posted her first shutout on May 24, 1999 with a 2-0 victory over Mexico.

As a part of the Canadian national team, LeBlanc can tack three FIFA World Cup appearances, an Olympic Games appearance, and top four finishes at three Pan American Games to her football curriculum vitae.

LeBlanc helped lead Canada to its best-ever finish (4th place) in 2003, an appearance in the knockout stages at Beijing 2008, a silver medal at the 2003 Pan Am Games and a bronze at the 2007 Pan Am Games. She also led the Canadian development team to a first-place finish at the 2007 International Soccer Festival in Alabama.

In 69 appearances, LeBlanc has a 35-26-8 record, with 6,033 minutes guarding the net as keeper.

Talk about being on the watch for a hundred hours. Okay, a hundred and a half, give or take a few maple leaves floating in the wind.

After the WPS 2009 season—as well as other international commitments—passes, Karina LeBlanc puts on a different hat.

When Ian Sawyers' club isn't doing New York and New Jersey proud, the Scarlet Knights take over Joe Yurcak Field. On the sidelines you can see LeBlanc as an assistant coach to Glenn Crooks women's soccer program in Piscataway, teaching the next generation of women players the same lessons she learned as a Cornhusker.

Karina LeBlanc is a goalkeeper, who, like many on the Los Angeles Sol, has built a legacy for herself and for the game she loves.

She has achieved success as a college player. She has achieved success as a member of the WUSA, W-League, and now the WPS. She is one of the most decorated goalkeepers to play for Canada. And she is teaching the next generation of WPS talent the same precepts that got her to where she is right now.

When you have a one-of-a-kind player like Karina LeBlanc leaving her mark, the future of women's soccer is pretty bright.

Better get your shades ready.