Resistance is Futile

Much like the Calgary Flames in '03-04, this National Junior team was a real throwback to Olde Tyme Canadian hockey. They were not the most talented around, but were hard-skating, hard-checking and gave a full effort every single shift. The gold medal game was a perfect demonstration that hockey is first and foremost a team sport. Now how about a Sutter behind the bench in Turin?

Guillaume Latendresse had a disappointing tournament. He refused to be assimilated by the Sutter hockey borg, and hence rode the pine. Gui's stock dropped, but Habs' Russian prospect Alexei Emelin's skyrocketed. He led all defensemen in scoring, and played a very hard-nosed game all tournament long.