Canada’s Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Squad Selection
The selection period for Canada’s men’s Olympic ice hockey squad is currently underway, with a spotlight on several players from the Colorado Avalanche. Stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are expected to secure their spots, but the choice of goaltenders presents a more complex decision for Team Canada’s general manager Doug Armstrong.
Goaltender Selection Speculation
Speculation surrounds whether he will select Mackenzie Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood, or both, with a final decision anticipated at 10 a.m. local time in Colorado. At this juncture, Blackwood seems to lead the race for the goaltending position, bolstered by head coach Jared Bednar‘s consistent support and faith in his capabilities throughout the season.
Blackwood’s Performance and Potential
Blackwood has demonstrated his potential to excel as a top-tier goalie. The 29-year-old, who was picked 42nd overall by the New Jersey Devils during the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, recently celebrated a significant milestone with his 250th start during a 5-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena, where he recorded 23 saves out of 25 shots faced.
Despite experiencing a challenging start to the season due to recovery from offseason lower-body surgery that delayed his participation in both training camp and the initial games, he has shown impressive resilience.
Coaching Support and Statistics
His early performances led to some critiques from Bednar, who voiced his displeasure but maintained confidence in Blackwood’s ability to improve.
“It’s not a problem for me; I have lots of confidence in Blacky,”
Bednar noted on November 13 after a game against the Buffalo Sabers. He acknowledged Wedgewood’s strong performance but emphasized that Blackwood would earn his chances through dedication in practice.
Statistics reinforce Bednar’s belief in Blackwood, who stands out with a remarkable 13-1-1 record across 15 games, a goals-against average of 2.15, and a stellar save percentage of .924 — the best in the NHL. Wedgewood, his teammate, also shines with equal merit, sharing the league lead in wins with the Florida Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky, maintaining a 2.13 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
Conclusion and Anticipation
The Avalanche’s unique situation of having two goalies performing at peak levels is a rarity in the league and speaks volumes about their strength in that area. After the recent win, when asked about Blackwood’s growth potential in his role, Bednar quickly affirmed,
“Yes, I do. I think he’s a great goalie in this league and I think he has the potential to be one of the best.”
As the hours draw nearer to the announcement, both fans and analysts are eagerly awaiting the outcome, hopeful that Blackwood will have the chance to don the Canadian jersey at the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan.
