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2006 Turin Olympic Coverage
From the author of Legends of Team Canada and creator of 1972 Summit Series.com

Crosby Could Make Olympic Team Canadian Press 8/11/2005 3:04:54 PM WHISTLER, B.C. (CP) - Sidney Crosby could still wear a Team Canada jersey in 2006, but at the Turin Winter Olympics not the world junior championship, Hockey Canada's president said Thursday. "There could be a chance (of playing at the Olympics) if he's one of the best 23 players," Bob Nicholson said at the national junior team development camp this weekend at the Meadow Park Arena. Crosby, chosen first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in last month's NHL draft, isn't one of the 44 players attending the junior development camp, which wraps up Monday. About 45 NHL players who could be on Canada's Olympic team will attend a camp in Vancouver and Kelowna, B.C., beginning Monday. Nicholson said that is an orientation camp, and the final decision on the Olympic team won't be made until after the NHL season begins. "The evaluation of who will play in Turin will really happen October through December," said Nicholson. "If Sidney Crosby is in the top 23 players he'll be on the team." Pat Quinn be will head coach of the Olympic team. Marc Habscheid, who coached Canada to a silver medal at this spring's world championships, will be associate coach, Nicholson said. "Marc will have a pretty big job of making sure all the preparation is there," he said. "We don't have any other breaks. Once we leave Kelowna, the next time we will be getting together it will be Turin." Traditionally a player must attend the summer development camp to be eligible for Canada's team at the world juniors. Most people expect Crosby to stay with the Penguins all season. But if he comes available Nicholson wouldn't hesitate including him on the roster for the world junior tournament to be held in Vancouver. "No question we'd put him on the team," said Nicholson. "We're not counting on Sidney Crosby but Sidney Crosby will definitely wear a Canadian jersey in the future." Returning coach Brent Sutter, who guided the junior team to a gold medal in January, said he's not bothered that Crosby isn't attending the Whistler camp. "He's played on two world junior teams already," said Sutter. "I certainly would expect if Sidney Crosby was here at Christmas we would be bringing him on our hockey team." Defenceman Cam Barker, the only returning member of the gold medal team, doesn't resent the fact Crosby could miss the development camp and still play at Christmas. "I think he's the exception to the rule," said Barker, a Winnipeg native who plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers. "He's got a lot on his plate right now. There's a lot expected of him. His goal at this point is to be as ready as he can come September playing for Pittsburgh. He needed to do what he needed to do."

GO CANADA GO!

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