Steve Yzerman's wish list for Canada's entry at the 2010 Winter Olympics includes, skill, speed, grit and versatility.

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Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic #19 celebrates a goal during a game in 2007.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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So it was no surprise that the 46 players named Thursday to attend Canadian men's national team orientation camp next month in Calgary can do more than just put the puck in the net.

"What we've tried to do is build a list and cover all the aspects of what we feel this team will be made up of, as far as youth, experience, size, speed, skill level and grit - all the elements that make for a championship team," said Yzerman, the executive director for the men's national team.

The list of players invited to the Aug. 24-27 camp, includes five goaltenders, 16 defencemen and 25 forwards.

Among the forwards earning invites were young stars such as Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf, Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter, Anaheim's Corey Perry and Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp. They are joined by longtime Canadian leaders such as Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, Flyers' Simon Gagne, Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Boston Bruins' Milan Lucic and Detroit Red Wings' Dan Cleary, Dallas Stars' Brenden Morrow, and Colorado's Ryan Smyth, a mainstay with the Canadian program, were among the muckers added to the camp.

"We wanted to bring some different types of players, some guys that maybe aren't leading their teams in scoring, but are very good players in a different role," said Yzerman. "And in doing that, we had to remove a different type of player."

Lucic, who scored 17 goals and 25 assists in 72 games this past season, to go along with 136 penalty minutes has attracted the most attention. He's a player that provides youth, ability, muscle and toughness.

"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," said Yzerman. "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."

Defensively, puck-moving blue-liners such as Washington Capitals' Mike Green, Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester and San Jose's Dan Boyle, are joined by veteran Olympians Scott Niedermayer of the Ducks and Chris Pronger of the Flyers.

Also joining the blue-line brigade are defencemen such as Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks, Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf of the Flames, and youngster Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings.

The five goaltenders getting the call are New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur, Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo, Carolina Hurricanes' Cam Ward, Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Columbus Blue Jackets' Steve Mason.

Luongo and Brodeur represented Canada at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy.

Canada's management group, which includes Yzerman, Hockey Canada executive vice-president of hockey operations Johnny Misley, Hockey Canada president/CEO Bob Nicholson and associate directors Doug Armstrong, Ken Holland and Kevin Lowe put together the list with the help of the coaching staff.

The coaching staff was named two weeks ago, and includes head coach Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings, and associate coaches Jacques Lemaire, Lindy Ruff and Ken Hitchcock.

"We all got to voice our opinion, then we made the decisions," said Babcock. "I don't think there was a whole lot of disagreement at all. There was just good talk and process that went into it, and I imagine there will be much more of that."

Among the 46 players announced Thursday, 40 have senior international experience, including world championship, World Cup of Hockey/Canada Cup or Olympic experience. Thirty-six of the players wore the Maple Leaf for the national junior or national under-18 team.

Three members of the Staal family also got the call, including Marc, a defenceman with the New York Rangers, and forwards Eric of the Carolina Hurricanes and Jordan, of the Penguins.

"They are three big, strong, skilled, good young players," said Yzerman. "From our perspective, it's coincidence that they are brothers, we didn't bring them because they are brothers."

Colorado Avalanche centre Joe Sakic, who has yet to decide if he's returning for a 21st NHL season, was invited, as was forward Dany Heatley, who is under contract to the Ottawa Senators, but has demanded a trade.

Boston Bruins centre Marc Savard, who led the Bruins in scoring this past season, and last summer's No. 1 overall draft pick, Steven Stamkos of the Lightning were invited.

"For each role on the team, for each position, there is more than one candidate for this," said Yzerman. "We tried to bring depth at every different type of player. When we get to the Olympics next year, depending on the season start next year and the potential injuries to players, some of these guys that didn't necessarily make this camp, aren't automatically excluded form this team.

"Things can change in the next six months significantly."

Canada, which won the gold medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, slipped to seventh at the 2006 Games.

Yzerman learned plenty from both of those experiences and has helped him in trying to build the perfect beast as Canada prepares to host the world Feb. 12 to 28.

"I've been to these tournaments, single-game eliminations. The types of players that I've found to be successful, I think hockey sense is important, I think skating ability is important, competitiveness, versatility, and guys that are responsible players," said Yzerman. "They are single-elimination tournaments. If you lose a game, you are out of the tournament. You can't afford guys that are going to be high-risk that are going to make a lot of mistakes.

"At the end of the day, I want to bring the best all-around players."

2009 Canadian orientation camp invites

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur (Montreal, Que./New Jersey); Marc-Andre Fleury (Sorel, Que./Pittsburgh); Roberto Luongo (Montreal, Que./Vancouver); Steve Mason (Oakville, Ont./Columbus); Cam Ward (Sherwood Park, Alta./Carolina)

Defencemen: Francois Beauchemin (Sorel, Que./Anaheim); Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton/Calgary); Dan Boyle (Ottawa/San Jose); Brent Burns (Ajax, Ont./Minnesota); Drew Doughty (London, Ont./Los Angeles); Mike Green (Calgary/Washington); Dan Hamhuis (Smithers, B.C./Nashville); Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C./Chicago); Scott Niedermayer (Cranbrook, B.C./Anaheim); Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton/Calgary); Chris Pronger (Dryden, Ont./Philadelphia); Robyn Regehr (Rosthern, Sask./Calgary); Stephane Robidas (Sherbrooke, Que./Dallas); Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, B.C./Chicago); Marc Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./N.Y. Rangers); Shea Weber (Sicamous, B.C./Nashville)

Forwards: Jeff Carter (London, Ont./Philadelphia); Dan Cleary (Carboneau, N.L./Detroit); Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, N.S./Pittsburgh); Shane Doan (Halkirk, Alta./Phoenix); Simon Gagne (Ste-Foy, Que./Philadelphia); Ryan Getzlaf (Regina/Anaheim); Dany Heatley (Calgary/Ottawa); Jarome Iginla (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary); Vincent Lecavalier (Ile-Bizard, Que./Tampa Bay); Milan Lucic (Vancouver/Boston); Patrick Marleau (Aneroid, Sask./San Jose); Andy McDonald (Strathroy, Ont./St. Louis); Brenden Morrow (Carlyle, Sask./Dallas); Rick Nash (Brampton, Ont./Columbus); Corey Perry (Peterborough, Ont./Anaheim); Michael Richards (Kenora, Ont./Philadelphia) Derek Roy (Rockland, Ont./Buffalo);' Joe Sakic (Burnaby, B.C./Colorado); Patrick Sharp (Thunder Bay/Chicago); Ryan Smyth (Banff/Colorado); Martin St-Louis (Laval, Que./Tampa Bay); Eric Staal (Thunder Bay/Carolina); Jordan Staal (Thunder Bay/Pittsburgh); Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, Ont./San Jose); Jonathan Toews (Winnipeg/Chicago).