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Winter Olympics 2018: Men’s hockey power rankings

By Derek Grochowski

This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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AUGSBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 04: Derek Roy (CAN) celebrates his empty netter goal during the Deutschland Cup between Canada and Switzerland on 4 November, 2016 at Curt Frenzel Stadium in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
AUGSBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 04: Derek Roy (CAN) celebrates his empty netter goal during the Deutschland Cup between Canada and Switzerland on 4 November, 2016 at Curt Frenzel Stadium in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Canada

For the first time since 2006 Team Canada will not have Sydney Crosby on their team, that is an impossible hole to fill. Surprisingly Team Canada will be bringing no Olympic experience with them this year. All of the players on the roster will be playing in their first Olympics. This is a team that has a lot of experience in all other aspects of professional hockey. The line up is filled with former NHL players as well as stars playing in Europe. All three of their goalies has NHL experience which will be helpful when they face tougher competition.

Derek Roy was one of the last cuts from Team Canada in 2010. Eight years later he finally gets his opportunity. Roy last played in the NHL during the 2014-2015 season, he will be looking to earn an NHL contract after the Olympics.

Perhaps one of the most feel-good stories of the Olympics is Wojtek Wolski. Last year Wolski was in a violent collision during a game in the KHL and he fractured two vertebrae in his back. There was some doubt he would play again, now just over one year later he is suiting up for Team Canada in the Olympics.

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