The squad includes three goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 14 forwards, with 11 returners from the team that sealed gold in Vancouver four years ago.

"I would like to congratulate the 25 players nominated today to Canada's Olympic Team," said executive director Steve Yzerman (pictured, top).

"With the depth of talent in Canada, these players should be very proud of their nomination today and excited about the opportunity that we all have to represent our country in Sochi in February."

Returning Olympian Sidney Crosby, who scored the golden goal in the Vancouver 2010 final, will lead the team's forward line as the National Hockey League's (NHL) top point scorer in the current 2013-2014 season.

Sidney Crosby scored the match-winning goal during overtime in Canada's victory over the United States in the Vancouver 2010 gold medal match ©AFP/Getty images

He joins the likes of goaltender Roberto Luongo, forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Marleau, Rick Nash and Corey Perry, and defencemen Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith and Shea Weber, who all return to the squad after their victory in 2010.

While some players such as Crosby and Toews, who captains the Chicago Blackhawks, were unanimous selections, others will be the subject of fiery debate in the hockey-obsessed nation right up to the opening faceoff in Sochi.

"We recognise the very difficult decisions we had to make," Yzerman told a news conference that was broadcast live on Canadian television.

"The hockey world is getting more and more competitive.

"We won a gut-wrenching gold medal on home ice four years ago and the competition is even harder today.

"Our goal is to go to Sochi and come home with the gold medal but by no means do we consider that an easy task."

Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos, who has not played since suffering a broken leg nearly two months ago, was included on the initial roster but the two-time NHL goal-scoring champion may not be fit to play.

Steven Stamkos was named in the squad despite having not played a match for two months following an injury in November ©Boston Globe/Getty Images


Despite the injury, Peter Chiarelli, part of Yzerman's staffing team, described the decision to pick the forward as "quite easy" due to the player's obvious skill in front of the net, with any injury woes alleviated by the opportunity to replace injured players right up until they day before the teams first game.

"If he's healthy he is one of the 25 best players obviously in Canada and should be on the team," Yzerman said.

"We're not allowed to name 24 today and wait and see and name a 25th.

"He will have his eight week X-ray later this week, all I can tell you is his rehab and recovery are going well."

Some surprises in the team have evoked reaction across Canada, with the likes of Tampa Bay Lighting sharpshooter Martin St Louis and Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux missing out on spots, but with such a vast wealth of quality players in the country any decisions from Yzerman and his team were likely to bring about speculation and disagreement.

Some questions have been raised over the snub of 2012-2013 NHL top point scorer Martin St Louis ©NHLI/Getty Images


Canada's biggest strength will be down the middle with Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf, John Tavares and Bergeron, the NHL's top faceoff man.

At the time of the announcement, Crosby, Tavares and Getzlaf ranked first, third and fourth in NHL scoring, with Chris Kunitz, Crosby's Pittsburgh wingman, who is tied for fourth in goal scoring with 23, also making the squad.

Canada have been placed in group B for the preliminary rounds of the Games alongside Austria, Finland and Norway and will begin their title defence on February 13 against the Norwegians.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2013: Olympic gold medallists lead Canadian women's ice hockey squad for Sochi 2014
December 2013: Olympic champions Humphries and Moyse lead Canadian Sochi 2014 bobsleigh team
December 2013: Komak the moose unveiled as Canada's official mascot for Sochi 2014
November 2013: Canada reveals comprehensive broadcast coverage deal for Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games
October 2013: Hockey Canada launch jerseys for Sochi 2014