Avalanche netminder set for major opportunity with new team
Photo credit: Michael Martin / NHLI
Colorado Avalanche star goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is gearing up for a significant opportunity with Team Canada, as he prepares to compete in a major role at the upcoming Winter Olympics Games in Italy.
Blackwood now appears to have a stronger chance of securing a spot on Team Canada's roster than many initially expected.
Mackenzie Blackwood might be considered for the Canadian Olympic roster.
Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that during an appearance on Sportsnet's The Fan Pregame, Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong stated that the fight for the three goaltender spots for the upcoming Winter Olympics remains completely wide open.
"
Jordan Binnington,
Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off with Binnington playing ever minute of action. They were also the only three goalies invited to Hockey Canada's orientation camp next week." -Deen
Here's what Armstrong had to say concerning the goalie situation for Team Canada.
«It's the opposite of what people think. I've told the other goaltenders that I've talked to that this is the most wide open competition on our team right now. There are probably eight or nine goalies that are fighting for three spots.» -Armstrong
Armstrong also mentioned that the extended list of potential goalies is busy completing paperwork behind the scenes to ensure eligibility for Team Canada.
"I'd suspect Blackwood can work his way onto the roster with an excellent early part of the season. Albeit, even if he does, I'm not sure what it would take to unseat Binnington from the starters position." -Deen
If Blackwood performs at a high level next season, there's no denying that he'll have a real shot at earning the honour of representing his country on hockey's biggest stage in the coming months.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
POLL |
AOUT 22 | 31 ANSWERS Avalanche netminder set for major opportunity with new team Do you think Mackenzie Blackwood should be on Team Canada's upcoming Olympic roster? |
yes | 25 | 80.6 % |
no | 6 | 19.4 % |
List of polls |