Hockey·Point of View

Vote: Pick Canada's 2014 Olympic hockey team

Let the debate begin. Vote for the NHL players you think deserve to help Canada defend its Olympic men's gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Play GM & choose your squad

Canada will defend its Olympic men's hockey gold in Sochi. (Getty Images)

Could you imagine Jarome Iginla not sporting a Team Canada jersey for the 2014 Sochi Olympics? How about New York Rangers linemates Brad Richards and Rick Nash not teaming up for several goals in Russia?

It could happen, should Canada’s executive director Steve Yzerman opt for youth instead of Iginla and Richards, who will be 36 and 33, respectively, when the Olympic tournament begins in a year’s time.

Heck, we don’t even know for sure if National Hockey League players will be participating, since it wasn’t a topic for discussion during the recent collective bargaining talks with the league.

While the players appear on board, the NHL reportedly has some concerns such as access to its players during the Olympic tournament and stopping league play at mid-season for two weeks.

"We’ll get [the Olympics] on the agenda and try to move this as quickly as possible," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said recently.

We'd like to move the player selection process along, so it’s time for you to play the role of general manager and form the squad you believe has the best chance to lead Canada in its quest for a second consecutive men's gold medal.

In the polls below, vote for three goalies, seven defencemen and 12 forwards. Go ahead and defend your selections or write in a candidate in the comments section.

Need some help? Check out which Canadian players Tim Wharnsby's panel of experts picked.

Let the debate begin.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doug Harrison has covered the professional and amateur scene as a senior writer for CBC Sports since 2003. Previously, the Burlington, Ont., native covered the NHL and other leagues for Faceoff.com. Follow the award-winning journalist @harrisoncbc