More youth, few surprises in Canada Olympic camp

Sidney Crosby, left off the team as an 18-year-old in 2006, was among 46 players invited Thursday to the Canada Olympic hockey orientation camp next month.

Also chosen were the NHL's three Staal brothers, five goaltenders and Colorado forward Joe Sakic, who turns 40 next week and would be the team's oldest player if selected.

Executive director Steve Yzerman said the 23-man team won't necessarily be chosen from those attending, although all the 2002 and 2006 Olympians were in camp.

Among those not selected for the Aug. 24-27 camp in Calgary are forwards Steven Stamkos, Marc Savard and Jason Spezza, goaltenders Chris Osgood, Carey Price and Marty Turco and defenseman Brian Campbell.

"We spent a lot of time, had a lot of discussion," Yzerman said. "What we've tried to do is build a list and cover all of the aspects that this team will be made up of."

The 19-year-old Stamkos had 23 goals and 46 points as a rookie for Tampa Bay last season, then had seven goals and four assists in nine games during the world championships.

"Stamkos was a guy we debated down to the last minute," Yzerman said during a conference call. "He'll be a player I'll watch this fall."

The 2006 team that did not medal in Turin was composed largely of players who returned from the gold medal-winning team in Salt Lake City four years before. Wayne Gretzky, the executive director of both teams, was criticized for leaning too heavily on older players in Italy and not including younger stars such as Crosby, one of the NHL's leading scorers as a rookie that season, and defenseman Dion Phaneuf of Calgary.

There will be numerous younger players in Calgary, including Crosby, Chicago forward Jonathan Toews, Columbus goalie Steve Mason, Boston forward Milan Lucic and Jordan Staal. Nineteen players are 25 or younger.

Among those invited are four players each from the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are represented by Crosby, forward Jordan Staal and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Staal's brothers, forward Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Marc Staal of the New York Rangers, also are going.

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The players invited are:

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver; Cam Ward, Carolina; Fleury and Mason.

Defensemen: Francois Beauchemin, Anaheim; Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary; Dan Boyle, San Jose; Brent Burns, Minnesota; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles; Mike Green, Washington; Dan Hamhuis, Nashville; Duncan Keith, Chicago; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim; Chris Pronger, Philadelphia; Robyn Regehr, Calgary; Stephane Robidas, Dallas; Brent Seabrook, Chicago; Shea Weber, Nashville, Phaneuf and Marc Staal.

Forwards: Jeff Carter, Philadelphia; Dan Cleary, Detroit; Shane Doan, Phoenix; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Vinny Lecavalier, Tampa Bay; Patrick Marleau, San Jose; Andy McDonald, St. Louis; Brenden Morrow, Dallas; Rick Nash, Columbus; Corey Perry, Anaheim; Mike Richards, Philadelphia; Derek Roy, Buffalo; Patrick Sharp, Chicago; Ryan Smyth, Colorado; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay; Joe Thornton, San Jose; Crosby, Lucic, Sakic, Eric and Jordan Staal and Toews.