Goyette to carry Canadian flag

Quebecer Danielle Goyette, a member of the Canadian women's hockey team, has been chosen as Canada's flag-bearer for the Torino Games.

Goyette will carry the flag at the opening ceremony in Turin, Italy on Feb. 10.

Goyette, a native of St-Nazaire, Que., was a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning women's hockey team in 2002 and was also on the squad that won silver in 1998.

The Canadian Olympic Committee made a formal announcement Thursday afternoon at news conferences in Montreal and Calgary.

Traditionally, the Canadian flag-bearer is a recognizable, respected and successful athlete. This year, the field of candidates was narrowed when a few top athletes asked their sport federations not to nominate them for the honour.

Some of these athletes were concerned that carrying the flag would be a potentially strenuous and unnecessary distraction that could ultimately hurt their medal chances.

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