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 Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby and Corey Perry in the 2005 World Juniors
On December 31, 2009 the country of Canada gleefully waited as team executive director Steve Yzerman stood at the podium and began to rattle off the players that will be wearing the red maple leaf for their country. The usual suspects of Sidney Crosby, Martin Broduer, Chris Pronger, etc. were named and for the most part people agreed. There was one player, however, who wasn't invited to the Team Canada camps that made the team. His name is Patrice Bergeron.
For the most part, people I've talked to are happy about Patrice Bergeron playing for Team Canada. Let me clarify by "people I've talked to" aren't just Boston Bruins fans either. There are fans of other teams who have had their superstars "snubbed" and look to Bergeron as a guy who doesn't deserve to be there.
To those people, I have to respectfully disagree. Two years ago, Patrice Bergeron suffered a concussion so severe many thought his career was over. After rehabilitation though, Patrice came back last season before suffering a second concussion against the Carolina Hurricanes. Fast forward to this season where Bergeron has been the most consistent player on the Boston Bruins.
Although the numbers aren't flashy, Bergeron leads the Bruins in points (31) and has already surpassed his totals goals from last season (8, currently has 11). The numbers, however, is not the only reason why Bergeron was selected to represent his country in Vancouver. Bergeron is known around the league as one of the best 2-way forwards in the NHL. He pays as much attention to the defensive aspect of his game as he does to the offensive aspect. With a forward group that is offensively charged (Thornton, Heatley, Iginla and Crosby to name a few), there is a huge need for a forward who excels in the defensive game.
Bergeron will also be useful on the penalty kill for Team Canada. In Boston, Bergeron has logged 84:05 minutes on the penalty kill which ranks him fourth amongst the team (Zdeno Chara, Derek Morris and Dennis Wideman are 1, 2 and 3) and first amongst forwards in Boston.
I think those who are mad that guys like Jeff Carter from Philadephia, Shane Doan from Pheonix or even Boston's own Marc Savard and believe Patrice shouldn't be on the team need to take a hard look at the roster. Like I said, the forwards are an offensive explosion but where is the defensive forwards?
On January 4, 2010 (weird to write that by the way), Bergeron broke his thumb after a Dennis Wideman shot bounced off of his hand, but Steve Yzerman has said that Bergeron's spot on the Canadian Team is safe. Bergeron is out of action for 2 weeks because of the broken thumb, but it does not require surgery.
Does Bergeron deserve a spot on the Canadian Olympic Hockey team? Absolutely. He's a terrific two-way forward who will help them offensively, defensively and on the penalty kill. A player like Bergeron, at full health, is the type of player every team dreams about. If I were Canada, I would put him on a line with Sidney Crosby because he and Crosby were masterful in the 2005 World Juniors.
 Greg Ezell writes about the Boston Bruins at Something's Bruin in addition to his work on Bloguin's Olympic Hockey Blog.
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