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Pressure on Canada’s juniors to repeatDAN RALPHTORONTO (CP) — Joe Canale finds himself in a no-win situation.The expectation is Canada'sjunior national hockey coach willguide his team to yet another world championship, this time in Ostrava, Czech Republic, starting Dec. 26.After all, Canada has won the tournament four of the past six seasons, including last year. Anything less would be disappointing.“There is pressure to win,there’s no doubt,” Canale said Wednesday at a news conference to announce the 32 players who will attend a selection camp fVom Dec. 13 to 18 in Kitchener, Ont.“I knew and my two assistant coaches knew it would be there.“But we're looking at it as the pleasure of coaching and learning fVom the best and the thrill of accomplishing something.Canale mounts Canada’s title defence with forward Martin Gendron and defencemen Joel Bouchard and Brent Tully as the lone returnees from last year's team, (^ndron became available thanks to the Canadian Olympicprogram.Canale was also hoping to obtain Olympians PuUl Kariya, Brett Lin^os and Todd Warriner. But, with the Winter Olympics being held Feb. 12-27 in Lillehammer, Norway, the trio will stay put.Canale’s job could have been made easier with Alexandre Daigle, Cliris Pronger, Chris Gratton, Rob Neidermayer, Jason Amott, Mike Rathje and goalie Jocelyn Thibault. But they’re all playing in the NHL.The Quebec Nordiques might make Thibault available, which is why Canale invited only three goaltenders to camp.Still, the only way Thibault et al will play is if they’re in Kitchener once camp starts. Junior club officials refrain from airlifting players to develop better team chemistry.“Chemistry is as important as talent, said Canale, chasing his second world junior gold medal after serving as an assistant coach last year. “We’ve found over the years it’s the team, not the I, that wins gold medals.“It would be nice to have players who have been there before,but we’re counting on those we’ve selected. If one or two others become available, that’s a bonus.”And Canale has no doubt he can win with what he has.Among those invited to camp are: Brandon Convery (Toronto's 1992 flrst-round selection); Todd Harvey (Dallas’s 1993 first-round pick); Jason Allison and Brendan Witt (Washington’stwo 1993 flrst-round picks); CJurtls Bowen (Detroit’s 1992 first-round selection); and Nick Stajduhar (the second of Edmonton’s two 1993 first-round picks)“We have a lot of character,” said Canale, who coaches the Quebec junior league’s Beauport Harfangs. “A lot of our guys are captains and assistant captains on their teams.“We feel real good about thatThanks to all our patrons from Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, we appreciate your help in making our first golf season a success.In appreciation, and just in lime for Christmas, we offer the following specials for 1994:• Corporate or Family Passes, transferrable (can be usedby any number of persons). GST Included.
Newspaper Details
Medicine Hat News
Medicine Hat, Alberta, CA
Thu, Dec 02, 1993
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason P.
USA 30 Aug 2018
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