Team Canada..Without The Deadbeats?

Over the weekend Team Canada won the World Championship,
And brought home the Gold.

It was Canada's 24th gold medal win at the World Championship
Games, making them world leaders as far as winning the
Most Championships.

They carried the hearts of 31 million people with them
As they flew halfway around the world to participate in
The games. Andy Murray said it best after they beat Finland
In the final game 4-2.

With tears in his eyes and two previous World Championship
Wins behind him, he addressed the team in the locker room
With these words;

"Life is all about making a difference," he said. "You guys made a difference in Canada today. . . . "We've got the deepest emotional well in the world for the game of hockey. I'll tell you, when Rick Nash was going in on that breakaway in the last minute or so, 31 million Canadians were carrying our emotions with him."


In the end, there's nothing else to say, there are no
Truer words.

All of that is old news by now, and not the sole intention
Of this blog.
As it happens, in one of the write ups about Canada's win
This year, and about the possible future of Andy Murray
As far as Team Canada, and the World Olympics etc..
Caught my eye.
Or rather..something in the writeup.

Murray knew just how tough it would be, which is why he was disappointed that several players had turned down invitations to join the team before the tournament began. "I think it's disappointing, especially some of the young players," said Murray. "The key for us is for me to focus on the guys that said yes. Those guys are feeling pretty good about themselves. "Their summer's going to be a little bit better than some of those guys that ended their season on a bit of a sour note. I'm so proud of the group that we had that I won't give it a second thought to the guys that aren't here."

I couldn't help but wonder about who the players are or
Were that turned down the invitation to play on Team Canada.
Not that it matters now, and I'm sure there are some every
Year who do.
I'm sure most of us can take a few educated guesses as to
Who they might have been.

But I guess what struck me most was the thought that..
Maybe that's just it, chances are..some of those that
Turned down the invitation were some of the older players,
Some of the stars of the NHL.
Those who have already been there, done that and have that
Gold medal around their neck, perhaps even a Stanley cup
Ring on their finger.
Maybe that was the key ingredient to the overwhelming success
Of this years team.
Because the players that WERE there, WANTED to be there.
They didn't accept out of a feeling of duty to their country,
But rather the desire to be there, to win, to turn around
what wasn't the greatest end to a hockey season for each
Of them. A chance to end on a positive note.

This was one of the youngest rosters to represent Canada
At the World championships, if not THE youngest.
And the energy, the passion, the desire to be there and win
Was more than evident.
The team did Canada proud.
The youngest of the players Jordan Staal and Jonathan Toews,
Both still only 18 years old, have a hell of a start
To their careers, as well..Eric Staal has added a Gold
Medal to his collection of wins in the NHL, starting
With a rookie season Stanley cup win.
Now all that's left so far as the triple crown club is
The world cup, for him to win.

If only every team could bring that kind of desire to Win
To every game....if only...if only...
How different might every game be?