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On no less a stage than the semi-finals at the Nagano Games of 1998, Russian captain PAVEL BURE accomplished a feat that, amazingly enough, no player from the old Soviet powerhouse teams of the past had ever achieved.

Five goals in an Olympic contest.

Any questions with respect to why Bure was referred to as the Russian Rocket will find answers in the following footage of that game versus Finland in Japan; three of Bure’s five goals against Finnish goalie JARMO MYLLYS are the result of clean breakaways from center ice.

The game itself is noteworthy, as well. After Bure had personally given Russia a 3-0 lead, it is the Finns who rally to pull even at three from TEEMU SELANNE. Finland again fall down a goal but are rescued by SAKU KOIVU before the Russians go ahead for good via the skate of ANDREI KOVALENKO.

Bure’s third breakaway and, later, an empty-netter seals the deal as Russia triumphs 7-4 in a high-scoring affair : 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL_p_kMMc5E

Bure, the Russian captain at Nagano, ended the 1998 Winter Olympics as tournament top shot with nine goals in six games.

Canada's SIDNEY CROSBY reacts to his his goal versus SERGEJS NAUMOVS and Latvia at the 2006 IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia. Canada routed host-nation Latvia 11-0. The eyes of an entire nation will be on the Stanley Cup champion Crosby in Vancouver this February.

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CANADA national team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Goaltenders

• 7 app – 26 ga — 37 – Martin BRODEUR — NEW JERSEY
• 6 app – 18 ga — 30 – Roberto LUONGO — VANCOUVER
• 0 app — 0 ga — 25 – Marc Andre FLEURY — PITTSBURGH

Defensemen

• 4 app – 29 ga — 36 – Scott NIEDERMAYER — ANAHEIM
• 4 app – 27 ga — 35 – Chris PRONGER — PHILADELPHIA
• 2 app – 15 ga — 24 – Shea WEBER — NASHVILLE
• 1 app — 9 ga — 33 – Dan BOYLE — SAN JOSE
• 1 app — 9 ga — 20 – Drew DOUGHTY — LOS ANGELES
• 1 app — 9 ga — 26 – Duncan KEITH — CHICAGO
• 1 app — 8 ga — 24 – Brent SEABROOK — CHICAGO

Forwards

• 8 app – 64 ga — 28 – Dany HEATLEY — SAN JOSE
• 4 app – 33 ga — 25 – Rick NASH — COLUMBUS
• 4 app – 30 ga — 30 – Patrick MARLEU — SAN JOSE
• 4 app – 29 ga — 32 – Jarome IGINLA — CALGARY
• 4 app – 27 ga — 30 – Joe THORNTON — SAN JOSE
• 5 app – 27 ga — 30 – Brenden MORROW — DALLAS
• 2 app – 18 ga — 24 – Patrice BERGERON — BOSTON
• 2 app – 18 ga — 21 – Jonathan TOEWS — CHICAGO
• 2 app – 17 ga — 25 – Eric STAAL — CAROLINA
• 1 app — 9 ga — 22 – Sidney CROSBY — PITTSBURGH
• 1 app — 9 ga — 24 – Ryan GETZLAF — ANAHEIM
• 1 app — 9 ga — 24 – Mike RICHARDS — PHILADELPHIA
• 0 app — 0 ga — 24 – Corey PERRY — ANAHEIM

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Sure-fire future Hall of Fame selection MARTIN BRODEUR, who will be making his fourth appearance at the Winter Olympic Games this February in Vancouver, should be Canada’s main man in goal.

A fourth Olympic squad selection then for Philadelphia Flyers defenseman CHRIS PRONGER, the second overall pick of the 1993 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers, as well.

This edition of the Canadian national team features a plethora of youthful skating legs, however. Particularly on offense, where eight of eleven forwards are 25 years of age or younger. Overall, 12 of 23 Canadian players are twenty-five or below.

There can be no questioning the skill level of the young Canadian talent, though, who will be a force to be reckoned with.

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NOTE — DAN ROSEN of NHL.COM scored 19 of 23 with his roster predictions for Canada, not bad by any stretch.

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GERMANY national team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Coach — Uwe KRUPP

Goaltenders

• 3 app – 11 ga — 26 – Dmitri PATZOLD — ERC Ingolstadt
• 1 app — 1 ga — 23 – Thomas GREISS — SAN JOSE
• 0 app — 0 ga — 24 – Dennis ENDRAS — EV Augsburg

Defensemen

• 6 app – 36 ga — 28 – Dennis SEIDENBERG — FLORIDA
• 6 app – 36 ga — 27 – Christian EHRHOFF — VANCOUVER
• 4 app – 22 ga — 30 – Michael BAKOS — ERC Ingolstadt
• 4 app – 19 ga — 25 – Alexander SULZER — NASHVILLE
• 2 app – 12 ga — 33 – Chris SCHMIDT — ERC Mannheim
• 1 app — 2 ga — 33 – Jason HOLLAND — EG Dusseldorf
• 0 app — 0 ga — 21 – Korbinian HOLZER — EG Dusseldorf
• 0 app — 0 ga — 32 – Jakub FICENEC — ERC Ingolstadt

Forwards

• 8 app – 42 ga — 35 – Sven FELSKI — Eisbaeren Berlin
• 6 app – 32 ga — 31 – Marco STURM — BOSTON
• 6 app – 31 ga — 26 – Marcel GOC — NASHVILLE
• 4 app – 23 ga — 26 – Alexander BARTA — EHC Hamburg
• 3 app – 18 ga — 28 – Michael WOLF — ECD Iserlohn
• 3 app – 18 ga — 22 – Philipp GOGULLA — Portland (AHL)
• 2 app – 12 ga — 32 – John TRIPP — EHC Hamburg
• 2 app – 11 ga — 28 – Thomas GREILINGER — ERC Ingolstadt
• 3 app – 11 ga — 24 – Andre RANKEL — Eisbaeren Berlin
• 1 app — 6 ga — 24 – T. J. MULOCK — Eisbaeren Berlin
• 0 app — 0 ga — 25 – Manuel KLINGE — EC Kassel
• 0 app — 0 ga — 21 – Marcel MUELLER — EC Koeln

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Just 13 out of 23 correct for the German Olympic team here at WORLD HOCKEY.

Nicht so gut!

Veteran JOCHEN HECHT of the Buffalo Sabres is a glaring omission from one-time Buffalo Sabres defenseman UWE KRUPP’s German national team heading for Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Games.

CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT of the Atlanta Thrashers is another National Hockey League player who has not been selected for Germany.

Two Canadian-born veterans with limited NHL experience on defense in JASON HOLLAND and CHRIS SCHMIDT. Both have played for Germany before. Another native of Canada with extensive minor league professional if not NHL experience, JOHN TRIPP, has been recalled to the colors of his adopted country.

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A clean sweep then today for WORLD HOCKEY over the writers at NHL.COM with the roster predictions for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games this coming February in Vancouver :

• WH 16 – NHL.com 15 — CZECH REPUBLIC
• WH 17 – NHL.com 15 — FINLAND
• WH 18 – NHL.com 17 — SWITZERLAND

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I was under the impression that Canada were to release their roster December 31, however, apparently it is out.

Swiss coach RALPH KRUEGER congratulates PAUL DIPIETRO on the former Montreal Canadien's two goals during Switzerland's surprising 2-0 shutout victory opposite Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Krueger represented West Germany internationally over the course of his playing career. Both DiPietro, who was not selected for the Vancouver squad, and Krueger are native-born Canadians.

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SWITZERLAND nat’l team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Coach — Ralph KRUEGER

Goaltenders

• 8 app – 35 ga — 35 – Martin GERBER — Atlant Mytischy Moscow
• 3 app — 9 ga — 27 – Jonas HILLER — ANAHEIM
• 1 app — 0 ga — 24 – Tobias STEPHAN — HC Servette Geneva

Defensemen

• 13 app – 84 ga — 32 – Mark STREIT — NY ISLANDERS
• 13 app – 77 ga — 32 – Mathias SEGER — SC Zurich
• 9 app — 58 ga — 29 – Goran BEZINA — HC Servette Geneva
• 7 app — 42 ga — 26 – Severin BLINDENBACHER — BK Farjestad
• 1 app —– 7 ga — 23 – Rafael DIAZ — EV Zug
• 1 app —– 6 ga — 19 – Roman JOSI — SC Bern
• 1 app —– 3 ga — 21 – Yannick WEBER — Hamilton (AHL)
• 0 app —– 0 ga — 19 – Luca SBISA — Lethbridge (WHL jrs)

Forwards

• 13 app – 84 ga — 33 – Sandy JEANNIN — HC Fribourg-Gotteron
• 11 app – 71 ga — 33 – Ivo RUETHEMANN — SC Bern
• 11 app – 70 ga — 32 – Martin PLUSS — SC Bern
• 9 app — 56 ga — 34 – Thierry PATERLINI — SC Rapperswil-Jona
• 7 app — 40 ga — 26 – Andreas AMBUEHL — Hartford (AHL)
• 4 app — 21 ga — 26 – Raffaele SANNITZ — HC Lugano
• 3 app — 19 ga — 24 – Kevin ROMY — HC Lugano
• 3 app — 19 ga — 23 – Julien SPRUNGER — HC Fribourg-Gotteron
• 3 app — 18 ga — 27 – Thomas DERUNS — HC Servette Geneva
• 3 app — 17 ga — 27 – Thibaut MONNET — SC Zurich
• 2 app —– 9 ga — 24 – Roman WICK — EHC Kloten
• 0 app —– 0 ga — 33 – Hnat DOMENICHELLI — HC Lugano

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The Swiss have rostered a pair of 19-year-olds on defense for a relatively-young blueline corp featuring four of eight under 23 years of age.

Philadelphia Flyers 2008 first round pick (# 19 overall) LUCA SBISA, despite being sent back to junior hockey in Canada by the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks earlier this fall, stakes a spot.

Sbisa, who plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League, and ROMAN JOSI of SC Bern are both representing Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Championships currently being contested in Canada.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender ANTERO NIITTYMAKI, a hero for Finland at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, has been selected to his second Olympic squad for Suomi.

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FINLAND national team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Coach — Jukka JALONEN

Goaltenders

• 3 app – 13 ga — 33 – Miikka KIPRUSOFF — CALGARY
• 4 app – 13 ga — 31 – Niklas BACKSTROM —  MINNESOTA
• 2 app – 10 ga — 29 – Antero NIITTYMAKI — TAMPA BAY

Defensemen

• 12 app – 83 ga — 34 – Kimmo TIMONEN — PHILADELPHIA
• 7 app — 59 ga — 32 – Toni LYDMAN — BUFFALO
• 5 app — 33 ga — 28 – Lasse KUKKONEN — Avangard Omsk
• 5 app — 32 ga — 35 – Sami SALO — VANCOUVER
• 2 app — 13 ga — 28 – Janne NISKALA — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 1 app —– 7 ga — 25 – Sami LEPISTO — PHOENIX
• 1 app —– 0 ga — 26 – Joni PITKANEN — CAROLINA

Forwards

• 18 app – 138 ga — 36 – Ville PELTONEN — Dynamo Minsk
• 13 app – 100 ga — 31 – Olli JOKINEN — CALGARY
• 12 app — 84 ga — 39 – Teemu SELANNE — ANAHEIM
• 12 app — 83 ga — 35 – Saku KOIVU — ANAHEIM
• 10 app — 79 ga — 30 – Niko KAPANEN — Ak Bars Kazan
• 10 app — 72 ga — 34 – Jarkko RUUTU — OTTAWA
• 10 app — 66 ga — 36 – Jere LEHTINEN — DALLAS
• 8 app —– 52 ga — 30 – Niklas HAGMAN — TORONTO
• 5 app —– 39 ga — 29 – Antti MIETTINEN — MINNESOTA
• 5 app —– 39 ga — 26 – Mikko KOIVU — MINNESOTA
• 4 app —– 32 ga — 26 – Tuomo RUUTU — CAROLINA
• 1 app ——- 7 ga — 27 – Jarkko IMMONEN — Ak Bars Kazan
• 0 app ——- 0 ga — 25 – Valtteri FILPPULA — DETROIT 

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Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender ANTERO NIITTYMAKI is recalled to the service of SUOMI for the first time since the 2006 IIHF World Championships. The 29-year-old product TPS Turku, in his first season with the Tampa Bay Lightning after seven years in the Philadelphia organization, was a last-minute replacement in goal for Finland at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Niittymaki responded by leading the Turin Games in both goals-against-average (1.34) as well as save percentage (.951) and, in addition to being named to the All-Star team, picked up the awards for both Best Goaltender and tournament Most Valuable Player.

One-time Philadelphia Flyers defenseman LASSE KUKKONEN of Avangard Omsk (35 ga, 5 go 2 as, 7 pts) in Russia also makes the grade for Finland.

The Finns do not pass on the experience of Stanley Cup champion JERE LEHTINEN of the Dallas Stars. The 36-year-old does not score with regularity anymore as Lehtinen’s two goals in 23 games for the Stars this season would indicate. However, Lehtinen is extremely responsible in his own end and has won the Selke Trophy for NHL best defensive forward three times in his career.

For Lehtinen, the Vancouver Games will mark a fifth appearance at the Winter Olympics for Finland.

36-year-old VILLE PELTONEN of Dynamo Minsk (34 ga, 3 go 13 as, 16 pts) is a bit of surprise as Finland’s all-time leading scorer at major internationals bags his fourth Olympic selection.

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CZECH REPUBLIC nat’l team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Coach — Vladimir RUZICKA

Goaltenders

• 5 app – 33 ga — 32 – Tomas VOKOUN — FLORIDA
• 1 app — 5 ga — 23 – Jakub STEPANEK — HC Vitkovice
• 0 app — 0 ga — 22 – Ondrej PAVELEC — ATLANTA 

Defensemen

• 7 app – 50 ga — 31 – Tomas KABERLE — TORONTO
• 6 app – 46 ga — 32 – Pavel KUBINA — ATLANTA
• 6 app – 42 ga — 32 – Marek ZIDLICKY — MINNESOTA
• 5 app – 41 ga — 31 – Jan HEJDA — COLUMBUS
• 4 app – 31 ga — 33 – Filip KUBA — OTTAWA
• 3 app – 27 ga — 27 – Zbynek MICHALEK — PHOENIX
• 2 app — 7 ga — 27 – Miroslav BLATAK — Salavat Yulayev Ufa
• 1 app — 7 ga — 23 – Roman POLAK — ST. LOUIS

Forwards

• 10 app – 58 ga — 37 – Jaromir JAGR — Avangard Omsk
• 9 app — 62 ga — 34 – Petr CAJANEK — SKA St. Petersburg
• 4 app — 27 ga — 27 – Tomas PLEKANEC — MONTREAL
• 4 app — 29 ga — 29 – Tomas ROLINEK — Metallurg Magnitogorsk
• 4 app — 24 ga — 29 – Josef VASICEK — Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
• 3 app — 24 ga — 28 – Martin ERAT — NASHVILLE
• 6 app — 23 ga — 33 – Patrik ELIAS — NEW JERSEY
• 4 app — 21 ga — 28 – Martin HAVLAT — MINNESOTA
• 1 app —– 7 ga — 25 – Tomas FLEISCHMANN — WASHINGTON
• 1 app —– 7 ga — 24 – Roman CERVENKA — Slavia Prague
• 1 app —– 5 ga — 23 – David KREJCI — BOSTON
• 2 app —– 4 ga — 25 – Milan MICHALEK — OTTAWA

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Apparently, the Czechs decide against the aging pair of veteran international Montreal Canadiens defensemen ROMAN HAMRLIK and JAROSLAV SPACEK, as well. The pair of 35-year-olds were both members of the Czech Republic’s 1998 gold medal squad at the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan.

Colorado Avalanche right wing MILAN HEJDUK is another veteran of Nagano who did not make the Vancouver roster for the Czechs.

JIRI HUDLER, the former Detroit Red Wing whose summer signing with Russian club Dynamo Moscow sparked controversy, is not on the Olympic list. The 25-year-old forward is currently twelfth in Kontinental Hockey League scoring with 34 points (14 go 20 as) from 38 games.

Several KHL players, despite Hudler’s omission, were selected including TOMAS ROLINEK (40 ga, 14 go 11 as, 25 pts) of table-toppers Metallurg Magnitogorsk and former NHL center JOSEF VASICEK (39 ga, 15 go 18 as, 33 pts) of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 

Defenseman MIROSLAV BLATAK (39 ga, 4 go 8 as, 12 pts, +24 rating) will oppose his club coach, VYACHESLAV BYKOV, in the round-robin at Vancouver when the Czechs face against the Russians. Bykov, Russia’s Olympic boss, is also the coach of KHL side Salavat Yulayev Ufa.

Stanley Cup champion SANDIS OZOLINS was not named to the roster of Latvia's national team for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The 37-year-old defenseman, already a two-time Olympian, has 5 goals and 14 points (- 5 rating, 81 pim) from 26 games for Dynamo Riga this season. Riga stand 16th out of twenty-four in the Kontinental Hockey League at present.

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LATVIA national team — 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vancouver

Coach — Oleg ZNAROKS

Goaltenders

• 11 app – 26 ga — 40 – Sergejs NAUMOVS — Dynamo Jrs Riga
• 10 app – 21 ga — 29 – Edgars MASALSKIS — Dynamo Riga
• 0 app —– 0 ga — 25 – Ervins MUSTUKOVS — Dynamo Jrs Riga

Defensemen

• 12 app – 72 ga — 35 – Rodrigo LAVINS — Dynamo Riga
• 10 app – 58 ga — 35 – Karlis SKRASTINS — DALLAS
• 7 app — 37 ga — 30 – Arvids REKIS — EHC Wolfsburg
• 6 app — 37 ga — 28 – Krisjanis REDLIHS — Dynamo Riga
• 5 app — 31 ga — 23 – Guntis GALVINS — Dynamo Riga
• 5 app — 29 ga — 28 – Georgijs PUJACS — Sibir Novosibirsk
• 1 app —– 7 ga — 22 – Kristaps SOTNIEKS — Dynamo Riga
• 1 app —– 4 ga — 22 – Oskars BARTULIS — PHILADELPHIA

Forwards

• 13 app – 76 ga — 33 – Aleksandrs NIZIVIJS — Dynamo Riga
• 9 app — 49 ga — 33 – Herberts VASILJEVS — EV Krefeld
• 7 app — 41 ga — 27 – Janis SPRUKTS — Dynamo Riga
• 7 app — 39 ga — 28 – Aleksejs SIROKOVS — Amur Khabarovsk
• 6 app — 36 ga — 29 – Martins CIPULIS — Dynamo Riga
• 6 app — 36 ga — 25 – Mikelis REDLIHS — Dynamo Riga
• 4 app — 24 ga — 34 – Girts ANKIPANS — Dynamo Riga
• 4 app — 24 ga — 26 – Armands BERZINS — Dynamo Riga
• 4 app — 25 ga — 24 – Lauris DARZINS — Dynamo Riga
• 3 app — 15 ga — 21 – Kaspars DAUGAVINS — Binghamton (AHL)
• 2 app —– 8 ga — 23 – Martin KARSUMS — Norfolk (AHL)
• 0 app —– 0 ga — 22 – Gints MEIJA — Dynamo Riga

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20 out of 23 for WORLD HOCKEY with Latvia’s Olympic roster.

A recall for ARVIDS REKIS of German club EHC Wolfsburg. The 30-year-old rearguard had his streak of seven consecutive major international tournaments for Latvia snapped at last spring’s IIHF World Championships.

Sadly no place for Dynamo Riga’s 37-year-old SANDIS OZOLINS, the one-time Soviet Union junior international. Ozolins was a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and a seven-time participant at the NHL All-Star Game. Ozolins was also chosen First Team All-Star by the National Hockey League for the 1996-97 season.

MATS TRYGG, including B pool tournaments at the IIHF World Championships, has appeared on 11 occasions for Norway. Trygg, 33, is in his fifth season in the German elite league, his fourth with EC Koln. Prior to his arrival in the DEL, Trygg played six seasons with Swedish club BK Farjestad Karlstad.

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NORWAY national team — 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver

Coach — Roy JOHANSEN

Goaltenders

• 4 app – 19 ga — 32 – Pal GROTNES — IF Stjernen
• 2 app — 4 ga — 21 – Andre LYSENSTOEN — HeKi Heinola
• 2 app — 1 ga — 22 – Ruben SMITH — IF Storhamar

Defensemen

• 14 app – 86 ga — 39 – Tommy JAKOBSEN — IK Lorenskog
• 7 app — 40 ga — 33 – Mats TRYGG — EC Koeln
• 4 app — 25 ga — 22 – Jonas HOLOS — BK Farjestad Karlstad
• 3 app — 18 ga — 35 – Lars Erik LUND — IF Valerenga Oslo
• 2 app — 12 ga — 30 – Juha KAUNISMAKI — IF Stavanger
• 1 app —– 6 ga — 22 – Alexander BONSAKSEN — Mo Do Ornskoldsvik
• 0 app —– 0 ga — 25 – Ole Kristian TOLLEFSEN — PHILADELPHIA

Forwards

• 6 app – 37 ga — 31 – Mads HANSEN — IF Brynas Galve
• 5 app – 31 ga — 31 – Per Age SKRODER — Mo Do Ornskoldsvik
• 5 app – 31 ga — 29 – Morten ASK — EC Nuremburg
• 5 app – 30 ga — 34 – Tore VIKINGSTAD — EC Hannover
• 4 app – 25 ga — 29 – Anders BASTIANSEN — BK Farjestad Karlstad
• 4 app – 25 ga — 24 – Lars Erik SPETS — IF Valerenga Oslo
• 3 app – 19 ga — 23 – Kristian FORSBERG — Mo Do Ornskoldsvik
• 3 app – 17 ga — 26 – Patrick THORESEN — Salavat Yulayev Ufa
• 3 app – 15 ga — 25 – Marius HOLTET — BK Farjestad Karlstad
• 2 app – 13 ga — 23 – Mathis OLIMB — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 2 app – 13 ga — 23 – Martin ROYMARK — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 2 app – 13 ga — 22 – Mats Z. AASEN — Mo Do Ornskoldsvik
• 1 app — 6 ga — 21 – Martin L. YLVEN — HC Linkoping

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22 out of 23 correct for WORLD HOCKEY.

The one player keeping WH from a perfect score with Norway’s Olympic roster was former NHL defenseman ANDERS MYRVOLD. Hard to believe that Norway would pass on the 34-year-old’s extensive experience.

The Norwegians rostered a thirteenth forward instead in the person of MARTIN LAUMANN YLVEN, the HC Linkoping forward. Ylven’s selection means that 11 of 12 Norwegians playing in Sweden’s elite league made their nation’s Olympic roster for the Winter Games this February in Vancouver.

A wonderful present then for young Ylven, who turned 21 three days before Christmas.

Including his four B-pool tournaments at the IIHF World Championships, defenseman TOMMY JAKOBSEN has appeared on 18 occasions and played 106 games for Norway. The 39-year-old Jakobsen is the only Norwegian player on the 2010 roster to have experience at the Winter Olympics. Jakobsen competed at the 1992 Albertville and 1994 Lillehammer Games for Norway.

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Another razor thin margin with the final tally for Slovkia’s Olympic squad ending 19-18 in favor of NHL.com and ROCKY BONNANO.

Bonnano, it should be noted, accurately included both PAVOL DEMITRA and MIROSLAV SATAN on his Slovak roster.

Next up — a whole bunch of teams.

Four in all, including three — CZECH REPUBLIC, FINLAND, SWITZERLAND — involved in the informal contest with NHL.com here.