Say hello to the B-Team
Canada has plenty of options beyond NHL for Pyeongchang Olympics
Zachary Fucale is a 21-year-old goalie who has spent most of this season in the ECHL, a minor-pro team that is two rungs beneath the National Hockey League. He has a 3.17 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage, numbers that put him outside the top 20.
But with less than a year until the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the Montreal Canadiens prospect represents Canada’s best hope of leading the country to a third straight gold medal.
“We’ll see what happens,” Fucale said in a phone interview in February. “You know what, if I’m ever asked, you’ll never hear me say no. I’ll say yes in a heartbeat. Representing Canada at the Olympics? One-hundred percent I would and it would be an unbelievable honour.”
A couple of months ago, when it still looked like the NHL would be heading to the Olympics, there was no chance Fucale would get asked. But with the NHL deciding on Monday that it will not suspend the regular season and allow its players to go to South Korea — “the matter (is) closed,” read a statement from the league’s office — Hockey Canada will now turn its attention to minor-leaguers like Fucale, as well as European-based professionals and prospects from the Canadian major junior ranks and NCAA.
In other words, say goodbye to the A-Team and hello to the B-Team.
Instead of Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, Canada could have KHL forwards Brandon Kozun and Max Talbot. No Drew Doughty or Duncan Keith? That’s fine. The team would still have Maxim Noreau and Jonathan Sigalet, who are playing in Switzerland and Sweden, respectively. And while Carey Price has been a rock in the net, Fucale was sort of drafted by the Habs as Price’s long-term replacement.
“Today’s statement by the NHL is not what we were hoping for because, ultimately, we want beston-best at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games which, for us at Hockey Canada, includes the participation of NHL players,” Tom Renney, Hockey Canada president and CEO, said in a statement on Monday. “This does not change our preparation for the Games — we have developed both a Plan A and a Plan B, and will be ready to move forward.”
Despite his lack of NHL experience, Fucale is no stranger to representing Canada. The native of Laval, Que., has twice played at the world junior championship, where he won gold in 2015, and this year also won gold at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
It is that Spengler Cup team, which included former NHLers Cory Conacher, Daniel Paille and Nick Spaling, which could serve as a starting point for Canada’s Olympic roster. Talented prospects, such as 2018 projected first-round picks Nolan Patrick and Gabe Vilardi, could also be options. And then there are veteran players on the last year of their contract and who might be contemplating retirement, such as Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan.
“In my opinion, there are a lot of good players that don’t play in the NHL,” said defenceman Nick Plastino, who last year won a Finnish league championship with Patrik Laine before spending this season in the KHL. “But having said that, I think everyone wants to see NHL players at the Olympics. Of course there’s talent playing in the KHL and other leagues, but I don’t think it will be as exciting. I don’t think the ratings will be as high.
“I really can’t picture the Olympics without NHL players and I still think something will get done eventually.”
Plastino laughed if he had been heard from Hockey Canada yet — “even if they did call me, I don’t think I could go because I played in the past for Italy at the world championship in 2010 and 2012” — but said he was obviously open to the idea. For players like him, it would be the only opportunity to represent Canada.
It’s that reason why Plastino believes Canada could have a good roster, all things considered.
“If they called me, which they never would, of course I’d play. It would be an amazing opportunity,” said Plastino. “These guys are good hockey players. A guy like Kozun played in Lokomotiv and he’s a really good player. Don’t get me wrong, I would take nothing away from guys like Kozun or Talbot, but they’re playing in the KHL — not the NHL — for a reason.”
Still, the expectations would be the same. As Fucale joked, it doesn’t matter what the tournament is. Whether it’s the Olympics or the Spengler Cup or a game of street hockey, Canada is supposed to win the gold.
Anything less — even with lesser players — would be considered a disappointment.
“No matter what, Canada has good players all over the world, whether it’s in the NHL or in any other league,” said Fucale. “It would be hard to bet against Canada either way. I believe Canada has good players everywhere.”