Hockey fans have waited over a decade for NHL players to return to the Olympic Games, and that anticipation is now nearing its end.
This week, 42 hockey players convened in Calgary for an orientation camp, hoping to secure a spot on the Canadian team heading to Milan, Italy, in February. For Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar, there`s no need for hope – their places are already guaranteed. Other players, including some who represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, have yet to solidify their spots.
The door remains open even for those players not initially invited to the camp, offering them a chance to earn a place on the roster. The odds are slim, and anyone currently outside the selection pool will need an exceptionally strong start to the NHL season to catch attention, but stranger things have occurred in sports.
Injuries could significantly widen the competition for certain positions, and we`ve witnessed players rise rapidly in the past. Few anticipated Thomas Harley would be a significant factor at the 4 Nations, but an injury to Shea Theodore propelled the Dallas Stars defenseman into action, and he ultimately became a crucial component of the team.
