Avalanche forwards Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth have each received invitations from Hockey Canada to participate in Olympic orientation camp.
Sakic and Smyth were two of 46 players who received invitations today from Hockey Canada, whose executive director is former Detroit Red Wings great Steve Yzerman. Team Canada’s orientation camp will run from Aug. 24-27 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
Whether Sakic will play or not for the Avalanche next season continues to be in question. The Avs say he has informed the team what he will do, but that decision has not been made public yet and probably won’t be for at least a few days.
“He’s been such a great player and an example to the young guys,” Yzerman said in a statement, of Sakic. “If he’s playing at the time, I want him at the camp.”
Sakic, who turns 40 on Tuesday, is on vacation and wasn’t available for comment. Smyth, 33, has played on several Canadian national teams, so much so that his nickname among many in hockey is “Captain Canada.”
