I saw something on Twitter this morning that Dwayne Wade is producing a film on the 2008 Redeem Team. A “stacked” team that was put together for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,China. Looking at the roster, I can see what they were trying to Redeem but this roster was expected. There isn’t a stacked team with Michael Redd on it. Very good in his own right but doesn’t compare to the Dream Team or even the 2005 World Junior Team for Canada.
Because of the NHL lockout this team was stacked beyond belief, and unless you know hockey, you won’t appreciate some of the names that were on this list. I remember seeing this team thinking there was no way they can lose. Not realizing that every other team was as strong in their own right because of the lockout.
NOTABLE NHL PLAYERS IN TOURNAMENT
Belarus: Sergei Kostitsyn (353GP in NHL) and Andrei Kostitsyn (398 GP and 103 G)
Czech: David Krejci (Stanley Cup Champ 2011 with Boston Bruins, 686 Pts), Roman Polack (806 GP) and Michael Frolik (Two Stanley Cups with Chicago Blackhawks), Rotislav Olesz (365 GP)
Finland: Tuukka Rask (291 Games won and Stanley Cup Champion in 2011 with Boston Bruins, Vezina Trophy)
Germany: Thomas Greiss (282 GP)
Russia: Alex Ovechkin (1278 Points, 706 Goals, 8x Maurice Richard Award, Conn Smythe, 3x Hart Trophy, Art Ross, Stanley Cup Champion with Washington Capitals 2017-2018), Alex Emelin (456 GP), Alex Radulov (1st round pick, 442 GP, 334 Pts), Evgeni Malkin (1076 Pts, Calder Trophy, 2x Art Ross, Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, 2x Stanley Cup Champion) and Anton Khudobin (99 Wins)
Swiss: Raphael Diaz (201 GP)
USA: Ryan Callahan (757GP, 386 Pts), Dan Fritsche (256GP and Memorial Cup Winner), Phil Kessel (1st round pick by the Boston Bruins and 2x Stanley Cup Champion with Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017) Pat O’Sullivan (AHL Rookie of the Year, 161 Pts), Rob Schremp (1st round pick by the Edmonton Oilers, leading score of the OHL and Memorial Cup Champion with London Knights)
Drew Srafford (428 Pts), Alex Goligoski (Stanley Cup Champions 2009 with Pittsburgh Penguins, 868GP), Ryan Suter (1st round pick, 1142GP, 588 Pts), Al Montoya (67 Wins), Cory Schneider (409 GP, Best Goalie in AHL, Best GAA in AHL, WIlliam Jennings Trophy)
*A lot of these players had successful careers in the KHL as well
Team Canada, led by Head Coach Brent Sutter, were destined to win. Because of the Lockout, players that played in the NHL were eligible to participate. Patrice Bergeron had already played a full season with the Boston Bruins and Mike Richards was on an NHL roster. Captain Mike Richards and tournament MVP Patrice Bergeron lead this team all the ay to a 6-1 win over rival Russia. The same Russian team that had Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.
Three tournament all-stars (Patrice Bergeron, Dion Phaneuf and Jeff Carter), Undefeated team and they outscored their opponents by 34 goals; Oh and don’t forget a 17 year old Sidney Crosby. Only three players didn’t see a game is the NHL: both goalies Jeff Glass, Rejean Beachemin and Stephen Dixon.
Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Jeremy Colliton, Sidney Crosby, Nigel Dawes, Stephen Dixon, Colin Fraser, Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd, Clarke MacArthur, Corey Perry, Mike Richards, Anthony Stewart
Defensemen: Cam Barker, Shawn Belle, Braydon Cobourn, Dion Phaneuf, Brent Seabrook, Danny Syvret, Shea WeberGoalies: Jeff Glass, Réjean Beauchemin
Head Coach: Brent Sutter
So you can understand the level of talent that was on this team, you need to look at their careers in the NHL.
F – Patrice Bergeron: 4x Frank J. Selke Award, Stanley Cup Champion with Boston Bruins in 2011, over 1000 GP, 869 Pts, 103 Pts in Playoffs in 136 Games.
F – Jeff Carter: Drafted 1st round #11 Philadelphia Flyers in 2003, over 1000 GP and 382 Goals, 2x Stanley Cup Champion with Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014
F – Jeremy Colliton: 2nd round pick NY Islanders and current Head Coach for the Chicago Blackhawks
F – Sidney Crosby: 3x Stanley Cup Champion with Pittsburgh Penguins, 1st overall pick in 2005 NHL Draft, 2x Maurice Richard Award winner, 2x Conn Smythe, 2x Ted Lindsay, 2x Hart Memorial Trophy, 2x Art Ross Trophy, 1283 Pts, 462 Goals.
F – Nigel Dawes: 212GP in the NHL Drafted in 5th round by the New York Rangers
F – Stephen Dixon: 224 Points in 236 GP in Quebec Major Junior League, Drafterd 7th round by the the Pittsburgh Penguins, 115 Pts in 3 seasons in AHL
F – Colin Fraser: 3rd round pick in 2003 NHL Draft by Philadelphia Flyers, 359 GP with 5 different teams in NHL, 290 PIM, 2x Stanley Cup Champion 2010 with Chicago Blackhawks and 2012 with Los Angeles Kings
F – Ryan Getzlaf: 1st round pick #19 by the Anaheim Ducks, Stanley Cup Champion in 2007 with Anaheim Ducks, 1000+ GP, 120 Playoff Pts
F – Andrew Ladd: 1st round pick #4 by Carolina Hurricanes, Stanley Cup Champion in 2010 with Chicago Blackhawks, 950+ GP, over 500 Pts
F – Clarke MacAthur: 3rd round pick by Buffalo Sabres, 552 GP and 304 Pts
F – Corey Perry: Stanley Cup Champion in 2007 with Anaheim Ducks, Hart Trophy Winner, Maurice Richard Trophy, 1180 Pts in 1045 GP
F – Mike Richards: 1st round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers, 2x Stanley Cup Champion with Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, 87 Playoff Points in 136 Playoff Games
F – Anthony Stewart: 262 GP in the NHL, 238 Pts in the OHL in 4 seasons,
D – Cam Barker: 1st round pick #3 by the Chicago Blackhawks, Stanley Cup Champion with Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 310 GP in NHL
D – Shawn Belle: 1st round pick by the St-Louis Blues, played 20 Games in NHL with the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild
D – Braydon Cobourn: 1st round pick #8 to Atlanta Thrashers, 900+ GP, 232 Pts and 706 GP
D – Dion Phaneuf: 1st round pick #9 taken by Calgary Flames, 1048 GP, 494 Pts and 1345 PIM
D – Brent Seabrook: 1st round pick by Chicago Blackhawks, 3x Stanley Cup Champions with Chicago Blackhawks 2010, 2013 and 2015, 1114 GP and 464 Pts
D – Danny Syvret: 3rd round pick by Edmonton Oilers, Memorial Cup with London Knights in 2005, 59 GP in NHL
D – Shea Weber: 2nd round pick to the Nashville Predators, Mark Messier Leadersip Award in 205, 990 GP, 570 Pts
G – Jeff Glass: 3rd round pick by Ottawa Senators, 15 GP in NHL, Spent career in KHL and AHL, currently in KHL
G – Rejean Beauchemin: 6th round Pick by Philadelphia Flyers, Career spent in AHL
Dominating the Competition
That talent level leaves no room for mediocrity. Although neither of the Goalies had much NHL experience at the time, they were two of the best in the CHLat the time, both of which were drafted in the NHL.
The Canadians opened the tournament with a 7-3 victory over Slovakia and a win over Sweden and Finland by a score of 8-1. The 17 year old Sidney Crosby found the back of the net 4 times in the first two games. Jeff Carter, Corey Perry and Patrice Bergeron were consistent in their campaign.
In the knockout stages, Canada defeated the Czech Republic 3-1. That momentum continued to a 8-1 victory in the Gold Medal game vs Russia.
Brent Sutter was blessed with this roster and was able to dial in on the master prize. The goal. Gold. Enjoy this highlight!