Team Ontario: Part Four of Eight

As Canada’s largest province, it is no surprise that Ontario has produced a team loaded with skill and depth.  Almost every player has been selected to an all-star team and Team Ontario would certainly be the favorite going into the tournament.  Some difficult decisions were made, as Steven Stamkos was selected over Jason Arnott and Jordan Staal and Dennis Wideman was chosen instead of Rob Blake.

Coach: Claude Julien

Goalies:

1. Steve Mason

2. Marty Turco

3. Manny Legace

Defence:

1. Chris Pronger

2. Bryan McCabe

3. Ed Jovanovski

4. Kevin Bieksa

5. Dan Boyle

6. Brian Campbell

7. Dennis Wideman

Forwards:

1. Rick Nash

2. Mike Richards

3. Marc Savard

4. Brad Boyes

5. Steven Stamkos

6. Andy McDonald

7. Mike Cammalleri

8. Eric Staal

9. Jeff Carter

10. Jason Spezza

11. Derek Roy

12. Nathan Horton

13. Joe Thornton

A tough decision will need to be made between the pipes, as Steve Mason was a Vezina nominee last year but Marty Turco has been great for many years.  I have Mason ahead of Turco, with Legace a distant third.

Defensive Pairings:

Pronger-McCabe

Boyle-Campbell

Bieksa-Wideman

Jovanovski

All seven of these defencemen are in the top pairing on their NHL team and provide team Ontario with formidable depth.  All can play on the power play, move the puck, and be responsible defensively (except maybe Campbell).

Cammalleri-Thornton-Nash

Carter-Richards-Boyes

Staal-Savard-Spezza

McDonald-Horton-Stamkos

Roy

The forwards are center heavy but use your imagination.  All will provide difficult match-ups for opponents, especially the big boys Thornton and Nash being paired with the speedy, skilled Cammalleri.  The biggest concern of the forward group is their defensive responsibility.  Spezza and Stamkos will both be on short leashes.