In a country where Hockey is the main event whatever the season, all eyes will no doubt be on the lads donning the familiar red and white with black trim this fall when the puck drops on the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

While camps don’t start for this September tournament until the middle of August, most teams are busily tweaking their lineups to ensure they can throw a good team out there. Canada has recently released the list of the 26 players that they think will tear it up which includes the likes of Brodeur, Neidermayer, Pronger, Lemieux, Sakic and Yzerman to name a few. It’s interesting to note that there appears to be a passing of the torch happening on the Canadian squad, with 9 players that are 25 or younger suiting up for camp on August 20th. This was furthered when it was announced last week that Vincent Lecavalier would replace the injured Steve Yzerman, who told Wayne Gretzky that he wouldn’t be ready to go in time.

Yzerman, 39, was injured during the playoffs this past season when a puck struck him in the face causing some somewhat serious damage to his eye. You can look at this as a real blow to Team Canada because let’s face it; Steve Yzerman isn’t the kind of player that you can really replace. His on-ice awareness, his beauty hands, his attitude, his grittiness…these are all characteristics that are matched only by his amazing leadership capabilities. Personally I’d lie in front of an Al MacInnis zinger face first if it meant getting a tap on the shin pads from a guy that’s been a national hero for years and who is worshiped in Detroit as the longest serving captain in NHL history.

…But is it really a blow to the roster? Vinny Lecavalier was a unanimous decision by Canada management after a strong season that saw him put up 66 regular-season points, and 16 points in 23 postseason games en route to a Stanley Cup victory. Lecavalier appears to be coming into his own as one of the next great Canadian leaders that are so plentiful among the ranks of Canada’s best players. How he’ll handle the pressure of replacing Yzerman, we’ll have to wait and see. But I’m sure if at least one guy is pulling for him to light it up, it’ll be Stevie Y.

On that note, there are a few other players that may likely miss camp, namely Rob Blake, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery which opens the door for some other young guns that could jump into the lineup such as Jay Bouwmeester, who had an outstanding sophomore season with the Panthers.

All in all it should be an interesting tournament, and could be our last chance for a little while to watch some of these players skate with the impending lockout. KERRZY’S PREDICTION: Canada over the USA in the final game…after they both walk all over Russia’s team of no-names (hopefully for Russia no other players follow Khabbibulin’s lead haha).