Quebecers David Desharnais and Mark Barberio could represent Canada at the next Beijing Olympics, just like several other former Montreal Canadiens color holders.
According to what reports Scott Wheeler, of the sports media “The Athletic”, Desharnais will be a member of the team led by Claude Julien, just like Eric Staal and Daniel Carr among the attackers. Defensively, Barberio would also have been selected, according to his sources.
Only Desharnais and Carr evolved under Julien’s orders in Montreal. The native of Laurier-Station lived his last moments in the metropolis, he who was left aside more often than not at that time. He was eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers on February 28, 2017, two weeks after Julien’s arrival.
Barberio missed the Franco-Ontarian by two weeks, being claimed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche earlier this month. He and Desharnais have both played in Switzerland this season, but the fullback has recently been a member of Ak Bars Kazan in the Continental League. Since arriving in December, he has amassed three points in six games.
Staal meanwhile arrived at the beginning of the Dominique Ducharme era. The tall centerman signed a tryout with the AHL’s Iowa Wild earlier this year and has five points in four games so far.
Like Staal, Carr also played in the National League last year with the Washington Capitals. The left winger, who has played 94 games with CH, plays in Lugano, Switzerland.
Demers would also be there
Other names put forward to represent Canada at the next Olympics include Kent Johnson, Adam Cracknell, Landon Ferraro, Daniel Winnik, Owen Power and Quebecer Jason Demers.
The official announcement of the Canadian team for the men’s tournament is inevitably expected soon as the Beijing Games take place from February 4-20.
Hockey Canada announced its women’s roster on January 11. This includes Quebecers Marie-Philip Poulin, Mélodie Daoust and Ann-Renée Desbiens.