Team Canada unveils projected lineup against Team Czechia, and there are some major changes
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring in overtime to win with defenseman Devon Toews (5) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden.](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/641334.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring in overtime to win with defenseman Devon Toews (5) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden.")
Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
On Thursday, Team Canada's men's hockey team will begin its Winter Olympics campaign against Team Czechia, and on Wednesday morning, we got a projected lineup.
If you are a hockey fan, you will certainly be watching the Winter Olympics this week, as the men's tournament is about to kick off on Wednesday.
Team Canada is slated to begin play on Thursday against Team Czechia, and there is plenty of fanfare around this game, especially as Canada is the favorite to win the gold medal.
At this time, it is expected that goaltender Jordan Binnington will get the start for Team Canada on Thursday, although head coach Jon Cooper refuses to make an official decision.
Meanwhile, Team Canada had a practice today, and it was here where we got a real sense of what the starting lineup will be on Thursday.
Team Canada lineup vs. Czechia
As you can see below, the first line is going to be Connor McDavid, Tom Wilson, and Macklin Celebrini. The second line is Brandon Hagel, Sam Reinhart, and Nathan MacKinnon.
Centering the third line is Sidney Crosby, with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone on his wing. From there, Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki, and Brad Marchand make up the fourth line.
Unfortunately for Seth Jarvis and Sam Bennett, it appears as though they are going to be the spare players for the tournament.
Celebrini - McDavid - Wilson
Hagel - MacKinnon - Reinhart
Marner - Crosby - Stone
Marchand - Horvat - Suzuki
Jarvis, Bennett
Toews - Makar
Morrissey - Parayko
Theodore - Sanheim
Harley - Doughty
Binnington
Kuemper
Thompson
Hagel - MacKinnon - Reinhart
Marner - Crosby - Stone
Marchand - Horvat - Suzuki
Jarvis, Bennett
Toews - Makar
Morrissey - Parayko
Theodore - Sanheim
Harley - Doughty
Binnington
Kuemper
Thompson
This lineup is simply sensational. The only issue is the goaltending, although that could certainly surprise us given what Binnington did at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Winter Olympics are going to be a lot of fun, and this Canadian lineup promises to be one of the best ever.
Also read on Blade of steel :
Jon Cooper makes it official and names Team Canada's starting goalie
Jon Cooper makes it official and names Team Canada's starting goalie