Weber, Keith Olympic bound
r By Kevin Parnell – Kelowna Capital News
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r A pair of former Kelowna Rockets will be representing Canada at the 2010 Olympics.
r Defensemen Shea Weber and Duncan Keith were both named to Team Canada for the hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.
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r Weber, 24, is no stranger to international play having won medals with the senior men’s national team at the 2009 and 2007 World Hockey Championships as well as with Canada’s World Junior team in 2005.
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r The Nashville Predators blueliner has six goals and 15 assists in 38 games so far this year and is expected to play a prominent role on the Canadian blueline.
r Weber played three full seasons with the Kelowna Rockets before the 6-foot-4, 230 pounder spent a year in the AHL and is now in his fifth season with Nashville in the NHL.
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r Keith only played a single season with the Rockets but mesmerized fans with his blazing speed. He had 46 points in 37 games with the Rockets in 2002-03 before playing two years in the AHL. He is also in his fifth NHL season.
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r Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman also named Keith’s defence partner Brent Seabrook to the team, saying that the chemistry the pair have in playing together will help.
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r "Having the tandem of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith was important for us,” Yzerman told CTV after the selection process.
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r Keith also has some international experience. The Penticton native recorded two assists and was plus nine in nine games during the 2008 World Championships, helping Canada to a silver medal.
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r Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton said it’s a proud moment for the Rockets organization to see two former players named to such a prominent team.
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r “We’re very proud of both Shea and Duncan,” said Hamilton. “It’s great for our fans to be able to identify so closely with two players who will be playing for Canada at the Olympics.”
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r Canadian Olympic coach Mike Babcock said the success of Team Canada at the Olympic hockey tournament will come down to who does the little things the best.
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r “The teams who win at the end are going to be good without the puck,” he told the Toronto Sun. “We’re all going to be talented. When you look at every (other) roster, and try to picture what they’re going to be like, they all scare you to death. But when they look at our team, they have to think we’re pretty good, too.”
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r The Olympic hockey tournament begins Feb. 16
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