Mens
Team Canada Mens
Current IIHF ranking: 2
The Canadian Men’s National ice hockey team (Team Canada) represents Canada in numerous IIHF International competitions including the Olympics (every 4 years), the World Championships (every year), and Spengler Cups (every year). Team Canada has a very interesting history which can be read on Wikipedia. People in Canada love their hockey and will even travel across the globe to watch their team play, which brings a sense of national unity and pride.
Olympics
As of 1998, the NHL (National Hockey League) began allowing its players to compete in the Olympics for their respective countries. Every 4 years, the NHL shuts down its schedule for two weeks for Olympic play meaning that the best players world wide can represent their respective countries. Team Canada took gold in 2002 on North American soil but has finished out of the medals in both 1998 and 2006 including a disappointing 7th place finish in 2006. With the Olympic games taking place on home soil, expectations are very high for this Canadian squad.
Team Canada Roster
Team Canada Schedule
World Championships
The World Ice Hockey Championships take place every year in the months of April and May, which coincides with the NHL playoffs. Canada is typically represented by players belonging to teams that did not make, or that are eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Some players will tend to take this period as a chance to rest as well in order to properly prepare for the following season. Team Canada last took gold in this event in 2007, but has come close the last two years with silver medals.
Spengler Cups
In the Spengler Cup, Team Canada competes against the top European club teams instead of national teams. The players representing Canada are usually made up of Canadian born players playing in various European hockey leagues. European teams can also have Canadian born players on their rosters.