"Most important is to make the team first," Lucic told NHL.com. "I haven't looked into the roster. I'm not looking to change a thing. The things I do well — be hard on the forecheck, strong on the puck — are why they picked me. It wouldn't be smart to try and be fancy. I play my game, hard and simple, and I won't have any regrets."
The Vancouver native was one of 46 players invited to Team Canada's orientation camp – basically a tryout for the Olympic team, which will compete in the 2010 Winter Games in February. Since the Olympic style of play doesn't involve fighting — a Lucic specialty – it was a bit of a surprise that Looch got an invite.
Roster spots are usually reserved for snipers, playmakers and speedsters due to the larger ice surface and slightly altered rules. For instance, a standard NHL rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, with goal lines 11 feet from the end boards. The international ice is 210 feet long and 98 feet wide, and the goal lines are 13 feet from the end boards. This means that the Olympic hockey game features a lot more speed and skill and less body checking, board work and glove-to-glove combat.
Despite the difference in style of play, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has a lot more to offer the Canadian squad than just time in the box. Although he totaled 136 penalty minutes last season with the Bruins, the second-year stallion also buried 17 goals and helped out on 25 others.
"Lucic is a big, strong, skilled forward that can go up and down his wing, and he can make a play and score a goal," said executive director of Hockey Canada Steve Yzerman, who helped pick the 46 invitees. "Based on his play in the playoffs, he's a guy that can bring a different element, so we won't have four lines that do the same thing. Milan is developing into a player who I feel can be on this team.”
Camp will be in session from Aug. 24-28, roughly half a month before he needs to report for B’s camp. The extra session could be a good way for the winger to get a jump on his preseason conditioning.
"I'm preparing a little earlier," he said. "Canada camp comes 2 1/2 weeks before regular [Boston] camp, so I'm going on the ice a little earlier, getting into more game-like situations to prepare, doing on-ice stuff."
Just two of the 45 other invited guests are younger and just one other forward is listed as heavier than Lucic, who is likely shooting for a third or fourth line spot.
“We say muscle, but I’m not bringing somebody to go out and beat up the other teams here — that’s not the way you are going to be effective in this tournament,” Yzerman added. “Big, strong, fast, skilled players give you an advantage, and he [Lucic] has potential to really add a dimension to our team that can be beneficial."
Who’s hot?
Fenway Park. The Red Sox’ bandbox will be getting a midwinter thaw job and temporary face-lift this December as the Bruins prepare to host the third annual Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic. The B’s will battle the Philadelphia Flyers in a tribute to two of the fiercest, most physical franchises in the history of the league.
“To be able to play outside at Fenway Park, in a regular-season game, you never thought it would happen,” Bruins vice president and hockey legend Cam Neely told NESN.com. “It’s a great experience to be a part of. Every player in the NHL wants to be part of this. It’s quite a spectacle and great for the fans. It’s unbelievable for Boston and our fan base.”
Who’s not?
Winger P.J. Axelsson, the longest-tenured Bruin, is likely to sign with another NHL team soon, ending his 12-year (11 season) run with the Black and Gold. The free agent recorded six goals and a career-high 24 assists last season for the B’s, but Boston found a replacement for the veteran penalty kill specialist, signing unrestricted free agent Steve Begin earlier this offseason.
Quote of the week
"I think it will be one of those events that is going to be frequently cited as a key event in the long and diverse history of Fenway Park."
— Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino on the Winter Classic
What to watch for
The B’s announced their 2009-10 regular-season schedule last week, and tickets will go on sale soon. The Black and Gold kick off the much-anticipated campaign with five straight home games from Oct. 1-12, opening with a tilt against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. The action won’t die down when Boston hits the road, as the B’s head south to Dallas for a rematch of last season’s blood bath — a 5-1 Bruins win that featured 146 total penalty minutes and seven misconducts. The B’s welcome the Habs to the TD Garden on Nov. 7 for the first of three games this season, and Boston welcomes the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins to town twice, on Nov. 10 and March 18. Also, last season’s Cup spoilers, the Hurricanes, come to town for the second game of the season on Oct. 3 and once more on April 10.
