Claude Julien will try to lead the Canadian Olympic team to the gold medal. For a second consecutive Olympiad, the Canadian hockey team will not be filled with NHL players. However, behind her bench, she will be able to rely on one of the most experienced coaches.
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It had already been announced that in the absence of the skaters from the Bettman circuit in Beijing, Claude Julien would replace John Cooper as Canada’s head coach.
Yesterday afternoon, the former Canadian driver spoke to the media, along with Shane Doan, who will act as the team’s general manager, and Scott Salmond, who will hold the position of players.
“Going to the Olympics is an amazing opportunity. I want to come back with a gold medal for our country and for our players. They paid ultimate prices to keep playing. It would be a great reward for them,” said the Franco-Ontarian.
Julien has already had the Olympic experience. In 2014, he was part of the group of assistants who had supported Mike Babcock. In Sochi, Canada had wiped the slate clean, successfully defending its Olympic title acquired four years earlier.
For Julien, it was another feat to add to his roster after winning the Stanley Cup, at the head of the Bruins, in 2011.
“As a child, we grew up dreaming of the NHL and the Stanley Cup. They are rare those who dream of the Olympic Games, agreed Julien. And yet. What I experienced in 2014 was incredible. Between a Stanley Cup and a gold medal, the difference is not so great. To be among the best and represent your country is fantastic.”
Not before January 24
This time, Julien and his acolytes will try to bring gold to the country after having had to settle for the bronze medal, a result all the same very satisfactory given the circumstances, in Pyeongchang.
The Canadian team will hold its training camp in Switzerland starting on Sunday. It is not before January 24 that we will know the final composition of the formation.
“We want to take the time to continue evaluating the players. Also, we want to make sure they are healthy before revealing our team,” said Salmond.
Before leaving for China, the team will play a preparatory match against Switzerland in Zug on February 1. Once there, on February 7, they will face the United States in an exhibition match, two days before the official opening of the Olympic tournament.
The group of players who will present themselves to Julien and the staff of the Canadian formation will be far from being unknown to them.
During the fall, the Julien had the chance to lead the Maple Leaf at the Channel One Cup.
“It adds to the baggage of experience. It was a great opportunity to evaluate the players. We were also able to see Russia, Sweden and Finland at work,” said Julien.
Power and McTavish: nothing confirmed
On Thursday, the United States unveiled the formation that will fly to Beijing. A very young team in which there are no less than 15 NCAA hockey players.
It would be surprising if Canada adopted the same philosophy. However, last week, TSN’s Darren Dreger argued that the positions of Owen Power and Mason McTavish had already been confirmed.
“Nothing has been announced yet,” Julien said. They are young players for whom we have immense respect. They are definitely part of the discussions.”
Power, a 19-year-old defenseman, was the very first pick in the last draft (Buffalo). Drafted two spots down, McTavish, an 18-year-old center, played nine games with the Ducks from mid-October to mid-November.
Both were important parts of Team Canada Junior before the World Junior Championship was put on hold.