Shane Doan Named Team Canada Captain for 2008 IIHF World Championship

[VodkaFish]

QUEBEC CITY - Phoenix Coyotes’ forward Shane Doan, who is representing Canada for the eighth time in international play, was named captain of Team Canada on Saturday for the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship, which opens on May 2nd in Halifax and Quebec City.

Doan, a native of Halkirk, AB, was Canada’s team captain for Canada’s 2007 World Championship team, leading his team to a gold medal in Moscow, Russia. Doan has been the Coyotes captain for four straight seasons. Doan has just completed his 12th NHL season, recording his eighth consecutive season with 20 or more goals, as well as setting a career high 78 points in the 2007-08 campaign. Doan has played for Canada at five World Championships, capturing three gold medals (2003, 2004, 2007) and one silver in 2005, where he served as an alternate captain. He also played for Canada at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, winning gold, and at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

“We know that Shane will do a great job in leading our team, as he did last year in Moscow where we won gold,” said Steve Yzerman, Canada’s General Manager. “We are very pleased with the leadership group named today, and we are confident that Shane, Martin and Steve will utilize their vast international and winning experiences in leading our team in Quebec City and Halifax.”

Team Canada also announced that Martin St. Louis (Laval, QC / Tampa Bay Lightning) and Steve Staios (Hamilton, ON / Edmonton Oilers) will serve as Canada’s alternate captains for the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship.

St. Louis has represented Canada on two previous occasions – the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey where Canada finished 1st. St. Louis won the NHL’s Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer in 2003-04, and was recently named as a finalist for the Lady Byng trophy in 2007-08. He won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2003-04, and has just completed his ninth NHL season.

Staios is playing in his fourth World Hockey Championship for Canada, winning gold in 2003 and 2004, where he served as an alternate captain. Staios, an alternate captain with the Oilers, has just completed his 12th NHL season.

Canada will play two exhibition games in Quebec City – Saturday, April 26 vs. Finland and Monday, April 28 vs. Russia, prior to the start of the 2008 IIHF World Championship. Canada will play its first game of the Championship on May 2nd in Halifax versus Slovenia, which will be broadcast LIVE on TSN/RDS.

[BGDDYKWL]

Awesome.

[ScottRasner]

Great choice here. Does what he does best.

[mike56]

congrats doaner!

[Killah_punk]

Not a bad choice.

[canuckfan]

Doan has taken over Ryan Smyth's title as "Captain Canada"

Great choice - and he'll be a big part of the 2010 team too. Got no problems at all with Doan as my country's captain.

[Snauen]

Doug Murray of the swedish NTeam says to the media that he respects Doan, mostly for his willingness to fight him, although he's a 'crappy fighter'. Murray also calls Jason Chimera 'a bitch' and says that he will run Canadians all night long in the semifinals today. Great game coming up.

[ScottRasner]

Originally Posted by Snauen

Doug Murray of the swedish NTeam says to the media that he respects Doan, mostly for his willingness to fight him, although he's a 'crappy fighter'. Murray also calls Jason Chimera 'a bitch' and says that he will run Canadians all night long in the semifinals today. Great game coming up.

Wow, some pretty dark words from someone who blows donkey as a fighter. I beleive Doan was the one who challenged him and took out the bigger Murray.

[BGDDYKWL]

Originally Posted by Snauen

Doug Murray of the swedish NTeam says to the media that he respects Doan, mostly for his willingness to fight him, although he's a 'crappy fighter'. Murray also calls Jason Chimera 'a bitch' and says that he will run Canadians all night long in the semifinals today. Great game coming up.

This is coming from someone who likes the Sharks, but he sure as hell didn't run anyone in the playoffs, so if he does go out there and do that now then my first question would be why the HELL he didn't do it for the team paying his salary.

[Snauen]

He led the entire Sharks team in hits 07-08, just check the statistics..

He (Murray) Also got the goofy question of '-If there were only five people left on earth and you had to fight evil mars-aliens together to stay alive, wich five would you choose?' -Ryan Clowe, Jody Shelly, Craig Rivet, Joe Thornton and JR, Murray then replyed.

[BGDDYKWL]

Originally Posted by Snauen

He led the entire Sharks team in hits 07-08, just check the statistics...

You're right, and I'm aware of that. And that is precisely why his glaring lack of physical play in the PLAYOFFS was so disappointing. He was seventh on the team in hits, and was only 1 and 2 ahead of Roenick and Rissimiler (who both played far less minutes), so in terms of hits per minute played he was near the bottom. That is unacceptable for a guy who could be a tremendous force if he wanted to.

[Snauen]

I think you should ask coach Wilson about that.
He threw the hit of the game in Can-Swe anyways, levelling Sharp behind the net.

Sweden showed caracter and made it close scoringwise. But the Canadians were bigger and stronger. Not thougher tho, whit big strong Rick Nash diving, acting, around like a lousy figureskater and Spezza throwing himself to the ice screaming like he was near death from a little scratch of an accidental highstick that of course drew 4pim.. Sweden had the doubble amount of pim's. than Canada, it cost them the game.

[BGDDYKWL]

Originally Posted by Snauen

I think you should ask coach Wilson about that...

I wouldn't doubt it. Very unfortunate if Wilson pulled in the reigns.

[Unforgiven]

around like a lousy figureskater and Spezza throwing himself to the ice screaming like he was near death from a little scratch of an accidental highstick that of course drew 4pim..

That 'little scratch' was 4 stitches.

As for Sweden out-hitting Canada... I'd strongly disagree. Bouwmeester and Burns were lighting up the Swedes all game long. Unfortunatley, the IIHF doesn't seem to track hits, so there's no way of knowing for sure.

[pbag]

Sweden lost, not that i'm to sad about that. I usually don't pay much attention to the Hockey WC anyways. But one positive thing has come out of this championship though..

The Swedish people and media has finally discovered Doug Murray. He has drawn alot of positive reactions from his physical style of play, wich is not that common in Sweden. A guy like him is more than often frowned upon. Finally a "tough guy" gets some recognition when it's warranted. His hit on Morozov was something that could be described as a break through for harder play. It seems like Doug has lowered the bar of acceptance for physical play amongst the Swedish crowd and Euro hockey loving Journalists.

Thats how i see it anyways. Any thoughts from the rest of the Swedes that post here?