Team Canada holds try-outs

Rose’s niece Taylor lives in the Toronto area and was able to sneak into Team Canada’s practice facility Friday where try-outs began for the nation’s World Cup team. Canada has to be considered one of the favorites for the trophy even after you take out all the players who are 25 or younger (those players will vie for spots on the Team North America squad).

Lisbon center John Tavares is one of many skilled forwards vying for spots on the Team Canada World Cup team.

Taylor reported that Martin Sayle, who will select and manage Team Canada looked “extremely, like, frazzled” during the practice. You would too if you had to decide which extremely talented Canadians will not be making the trip to Bern at the end of the season. Take the goalie position for example. Carey Price has name recognition, a EURO Cup and a calm demeanor that seems to help most of the teams on which he’s played. Andrew Hammond has been fantastic in his 3 seasons with Milan, and in fact, only American Jonathan Quick has a better career save percentage. Then there’s Brayden Holtby of Stockholm who has been north of 90 in save percentage in 5 of his 6 seasons, and London Saracen star Martin Jones and his 90.0 career save percentage.

Taylor said those four were the only goalies invited to tryouts and Sayle will have to pick two starters and an alternate.

The choices seem just as hair-pulling in the skating positions. Here is the list of players invited to Team Canada tryouts, according to Taylor, who said she tried to get an interview with Sayle but he would not acknowledge her, saying only, “Damn it, I’m trying to work here.”

Defensemen – Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, Kris Letang, Michael Del Zotto, Drew Doughty, Brent Seabrook, Jake Gardiner, Travis Hamonic.