Team Quebec vs. Team The Rest of Canada

AP PHOTO

Let's just say that goaltending would be Team Quebec's strong point.

A big shoutout to Gilles Duceppe this morning. Not only has the guy grandstanded his way from the election trail to the sports pages with his talk of a Team Quebec, he's landed here in JABS' lap like a puck dropped from heaven.
As Cathal Kelly noted in an email this morning, Big Gilles knows the beautiful game:

"What I have noticed is that when you are at the World Cup ... Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own teams."

Wales! This guy's been watching since 1958!
But what would it look like, not only for Quebec but who's left (excepting Olympics, of course, which are held to national teams only)? Helped along by Hockey Page co-conspirator Spencer, we've put together possible lineups. And hey kids -- take the jump, and you can play along at home!

First, your Team Duceppe, managed by Spencer:

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Jose Theodore. Where have we seen this before?
Defence: Patrice Briesbois -- solid vet having good year; Eric Desjardins -- more experience; Phillipe Boucher -- another all-round guy for the top-4; Mathieu Dandenault -- all purpose and solid; Denis Gauthier -- physical presence; Marc-Andre Bergeron -- small, speedy, good fit for Olympic ice.Stephane Robidas as first sub.
Forwards by lines:
Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Mario Lemieux ... the been there, done that superstar line.
Alex Tanguay - Martin St. Louis - Pierre-Marc Bouchard ... the young, though very small, super-speed line.
Daniel Briere - Patrice Bergeron - Ian Laperriere ... more catch-me-if-you-can speed for the Olympic ice with Laperriere chasing pucks all over the place.
Luc Robitalille - Marc Chouinard - Martin Lapointe ... the checking line, with Lucky Luc included for added offence and experience. Subs: Eric Daze (who will undoubtedly be injured so we move on the next), J.P. Dumont, Mike Ribeiro.

And introducing Team Rest of Canada, chosen by me (I think you can come up with a better moniker than that):

Goaltenders: Joseph, Turco, Legace. Cujo resurgent and has point to prove, Marty Turco belongs here. Legace's been tremendous, Belfour also a possibility.
Defence: Niedermayer, Regehr, Redden, Jovocop, Blake, McCabe. First five are incumbents. McCabe's slapshot belongs. Bring Dion Phaneuf as seventh man, if you want. Significantly absent: Foote.
Centres: Sakic, Spezza, Richards, Thornton.
Wingers: Iginla, Heatley, Staal, Smyth, Draper, Crosby, Nash, Doan. Doan was on a good line with Smyth and Richards at worlds. Spezza-Heatley-Staal would sizzle. Sakic-Iginla-Crosby sounds intriguing. Thornton-Draper-Nash is the other trio, but with Nash on limp and iffy in the real world, options include Marc Savard, Steve Sullivan, Bertuzzi and I'm sure you can think of others.

Comments

[Drew O'Neil]

Australia's AFL has a State of Origin tourney that has teams made up of players born in each of the Aussie states. This would be of great interest in Canada in a hockey sense. Imagine a 6 team tourney made up of Ont, Que, BC, AB, Prairies, Maritimes? Not sure how the teams who pay the bills would feel. The CHL kind of does this in it's WHL / OHL / QHL round robin games. Food for thought I guess. The next Canada Cup could address this too.

[Gerry Murphy]

I know hockey is important to Canada and Quebec but how the hell did it get to be an election issue. Can you believe that Quebecers really want Gilles, the stickhandler, Duceppe anywhere near the House of Commons. Let's get real here and call a dufus a dufus. The man has now commited the ultimate act of treason. He wants to weaken our national hockey team and jeporadize our chances at Olympic gold. I say arrest him, mess up his hair and tell him to get serious. As Don would say "Hey leave our good Canadian boys alone or pay the price."

[cy]

Gerry, I know what you mean. The guy probably wears a visor during question period.

[The Oodler]

Having lived in New Zealand for a while and having watched both the State of Origin Rugby League and the Provincial Champs in New Zelaand, I'd have to say that those are some of the most excitin, not to mention intensely rough "footie" out there. No doubt that a provincial hockey tourney would be the same.

But when would it be played?

When the World Cup or other international tournaments come around, the Aussies (or Kiwis) put their provincial differences aside and put on the Green & Gold or Black. As Canadians would do with the Red & White.

As my family is originally from Montreal, I am offended every time Duceppe opens his mouth. Il est un grand imbecile, Non?

[Peter Ip]

Why not a Team Ontario? Wouldn't that be great as well? I mean, if Quebec has its own hockey team and if it has every bit to do with politics, then...Team Ontario would be like Chelsea in the English Premier League. With the hockey talent that this country possesses, maybe we could just abandon the NHL and make a all-Canadian league.

[Feddup T'dere]

Why doesn't 'dis guy and his equipe do 'de honourable 'ting and refuse d'eir pensions paid by gate receipts from team Canada apres 'dey retire?

[philippe]

I’ve been fantasizing (well, you know…) about putting together this type of solitudinal ice clash since lord knows when, probably all the way back to my days as a substitute goaltender for the Loyola Park Bantam B, 2 time-winners of the NDG house league hockey crown at the old Confederation Arena.

Anyhow, here’s how it goes: a four team all star weekend sudden-death format, with two semis and a final matchup between the following teams: Team Québec-Atlantic; Team Ontario-West; Team USA; and Team World.

Wouldn’t that be a much better event than a traditional All Star Game and boring Skills Competition?

Where the heck is Marcel Aubut when you need him?

[gerard]

i think quebec would never beat team canada so what are they thinking the bunch of sepertives. nothing against the montreal people but just most of quebec in general get a life team canada is the way it is and that is it most nhlr's from quebec are proud to play for canada not quebec and dont want to be there own country so leave it alone CANADA CANADA get IT WE RULE IN HOCKEY AND EVERY THING later

[Mathieu Thomas]

While I must admit that I root for Canada in international hockey competitions (what choice do I have?), it has long been my dream to one day see "une équipe Québec". Just to imagine the Québec national anthem being played at a Medal ceremony at the Olympics makes my heart skip a beat. Sorry guys, but I just don't feel anything when Canada wins something, except that I'm happy the Quebec-born players won something... and that the americans did not win. Finally, we would be able to feel something comparable to a Habs Stanley Cup, but this time on the international stage!

[Joi]

intriguing? definitely. Everyone knows that Quebec really DOES pump out a large portion of Canada's hockey talent, (not saying all. don't flame me here). Seeing a game of Ontario+West vs. Quebec+East would definitely be something incredible. But for Duceppe to turn it into an election issue is absolutely ridiculous. Sports is not and should not be political (even though i know many thought that the '72 Canada-Soviet series was, to a point). If he's going to make a point out of something like this, he really is going too far.

[Mike Schroeder]

I think it's a great idea! Then Canada can bring home 2 medals for every championship. Quebec getting silver and Canada getting Gold.
Go for it!