Team Canada names McCabe to Olympic list
Among 60 players on early roster ‘Will be looking at him seriously’
It’s official: Bryan McCabe will be one of 60 players on Team, Canada’s preliminary roster for the Olympic hockey tournament next February in Turin, Italy. The confirmation came yesterday from Hockey Canada. Just hours earlier, after the Leafs had practised, McCabe brushed off questions about the potential honour.
“It’s not even on my mind, that’s such a long way away,” said McCabe, who just may have been playing coy. McCabe is being acknowledged for what has been a very strong start to the 2005- 06 season.
“ He’s played very, very well so far this year,” Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson told the Canadian Press yesterday, confirming McCabe was on the list.
For McCabe, being on the preliminary list — which can be as large as Hockey Canada likes — is a long way from being named to the final 23- man roster. The roster must be submitted by Dec. 22. It may, however, include some surprises, McCabe being one of them. So far, expected shoo- ins on the blue line — Rob Blake, Scott Niedermayer, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr and Eric Brewer — are either injured or off to slow starts. McCabe, fresh off an eightpoint week in which he earned defensive player of the week honours, leads the Leafs in scoring. McCabe’s inclusion on the list shouldn’t come as a surprise, said Maple Leaf and Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn. “He always has been,” said Quinn, when asked yesterday whether McCabe was part of the team’s plans.
“ He didn’t get named to the ( 2004 World Cup team) but his name’s always been on that list. I think the Team Canada management will be looking at him seriously, I know he’ll be looked at.” McCabe yesterday admitted Canada’s depth for international competition is such that “ probably six teams” could be named and do well.
For the time being, his first official inclusion on a Team Canada roster, albeit preliminary, marks a career milestone that many observers feel has been a long time coming.
It also reflects how swiftly and effectively McCabe has adapted to the NHL’s new vigilance on obstruction.
Before the season, McCabe expressed concern over how he would perform under the new rules. Gone would be his signature “ can opener” check, as well as countless other ways to impede the progress of forwards
“ By now, you know,” McCabe said about what a defenceman can and cannot get away with. McCabe credited defensive partner Tomas Kaberle with “ making my life easy.” The chemistry between the two is reflected in the Leafs’ power play, which leads the league in goals scored.
Virtually all of McCabe’s points last week came on the power play. With Kaberle picking up eight assists so far this season, the two are the main reason why the Leafs lead the NHL with 15 power- play goals.
“ When you get like 30 power plays, you’re going to put points on the board . . . but I can tell you Tommy ( Kaberle) is one of the best defencemen in the league,” McCabe said.
Kaberle has been paired with McCabe for much of the past three seasons, a fact McCabe underlines as part of the reason for his mounting success.
“ I think we had a year apart when Robert Svehla came in . . . and I suffered, I definitely had an off year,” McCabe said.
“ Then last year, we got Brian Leetch in and we were split up again. But when you play with Tomas, he’s unbelievable, you just know he’s going to get the puck down the ice.”