2014 TEAM CANADA OLYMPIC ROSTER
The complete Canadian roster is as follows:
Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, Mike Smith
Defence: Jay Bouwmeester, Drew Doughty, Dan Hamhuis, Duncan Keith, Alex Pietrangelo, P.K. Subban, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Shea Weber
Forwards: Jamie Benn, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Ryan Getzlaf, Chris Kunitz, Patrick Marleau, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Sharp, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Jonathan Toews
Eleven players are returning to the squad from the team that won gold at the Vancouver 2010 Games. Yzerman confirmed that the decisions were finalized on Monday night.
Canada's first game in Sochi is Feb. 13 against Norway. Canada will also play Group B games against Austria on Feb. 14 and Finland on Feb. 16.
Notable omissions from the squad at forward include Claude Giroux, Milan Lucic, James Neal, Joe Thornton, Eric Staal, Martin St. Louis, and Logan Couture. Left off the team on defence were Dan Boyle, Brent Seabrook, Marc Staal, and Mark Giordano.
Duchene was among the first to tweet his excitement about being named to the squad.
"So honoured to have the chance to represent Canada, @HockeyCanada and my hometown of Haliburton in the 2014 Sochi Olympics," tweeted Duchene.
"Such a great honor to represent my country. Dream come true for any Canadian kid growing up," tweeted Pietrangelo.
Yzerman, who is also general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, explained to TSN's James Duthie what it was like to call his player, Martin St. Louis, and tell him he did not make the team.
"It's not easy, not a call I was looking forward to doing. (His reaction) was no different than any other of the 14 players," said Yzerman.
Yzerman also discussed some of the other players who did not make the team, such as Giroux and Couture.
"Claude Giroux is a great player, and in the event of injury, these guys will all be under consideration. I cannot criticize any player that we did not put on this team," said Yzerman.
Yzerman added that several players are still under consideration should Canada need an injury replacement.
"In the end we've put together the best group of players we possibly can. Now we have to become the best team we possibly can," head coach Mike Babcock said.
