Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

Hurricanes

Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

Eric Staal turns on the afterburners as he moves into the 'Canes offensive zone. Photo by Mike Hurst.

Jul 2, 2009

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RALEIGH, NC—Hockey Canada today announced the roster for its Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp, which will be held in Calgary, Alb., from Aug. 24-27. Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal and goaltender Cam Ward, were among 46 players named to participate in the camp, which is a prelude to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Vancouver, B.C., in February and March 2010.

Staal, 24, completed his fifth NHL season in 2008-09, scoring a team-high 40 goals and earning 35 assists (75 points) while playing in all 82 of the team’s regular-season games. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native led all Carolina skaters with 10 goals and 15 points in the team’s 18-game playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Staal (6’4”, 205 lbs.) has scored 164 goals and earned 194 assists (358 points) in 409 career regular-season games since being drafted by the Hurricanes in the first round, second overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the “taxi squad” of reserve players for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.

Ward, 25, completed his fourth NHL season in 2008-09, posting a 39-23-5 record, a 2.44 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage in 68 games played. His 39 wins ranked third in the NHL and broke the franchise record for wins in a season by a goaltender. In the playoffs, Ward posted an 8-10 record, a 2.67 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in helping Carolina to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. The Saskatoon, Sask., native ranks second in Carolina franchise history with 120 wins in 225 regular-season games played. Ward (6’1”, 200 lbs.) won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs most valuable player in 2006, leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship. The Hurricanes drafted Ward in the first round, 25th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

Ward should be there with Canada. Every game of the EF was close between the Pens and Canes (Mainly due to the play of Ward, although a few of those games got out of hand) Ward has also played with Team Canada in the World Championships. Btw, Canada's camp roster looks scary good, unlike the USA roster

RE: Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

And what do you have to say now since you obviously didn't know about the injury. You didn't comment on that.

Don't know who you are, but you obviously comment on these articles just to get a rise out of people.

Who DO you like on the Canes.

RE: Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

a great ride? how can it be a great ride if it ends in anything other than a championship. that is the thinking that breeds LOSERS!

that's right. cam ward is a LOSER. welcome to the club cammy, you have now lost a playoff series. no longer perfect. perhaps patrick roy or marty brodeur would be a more suitable net minder for the canadiens. they have lost also, but have substantially more hardware than cam, i'm on a four game losing streak, ward.

no wonder nobody likes hockey

RE: Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

Do you live under a rock. Everyone knows now that he was injured at the beginning of that 4 game losing streak and got worse as it continued. Even if he hadn't been, why be so negative. I'm tired of people sitting on the sidelines and complaining. Most of us who attended every game agree that it was a great ride.

RE: Staal, Ward to attend Canadian pre-Olympic camp

cam ward? seriously. the guy is on a four-game losing streak and hasn't done anything since the NHL went out of their way to keep buffalo or edminton from winning the cup. seriously, now that he has finally lost a playoff series, i expect to see him in the junkbin sooner rather than later. mystique shattered.

WRAL Sports Fan

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