While the rest of the hockey world continues to debate Hockey Canadas selections and omissions for the mens team going to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, executive director Steve Yzermans roster has already earned a big thumbs up from The Great One. Kenta Maeda Jersey . "I really think he put together a good team," Wayne Gretzky told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com. "Hes got skill, hes got size, hes got depth, hes got a good coaching staff, and theyve done all their homework. Theyve done everything they can do. Now its up to the players to play at the level that they need to play at to bring back the gold medal." Gretzky is no stranger to building teams for the Olympics, as he helped select the 2002 and 2006 Canadian teams. The 2002 squad snapped Canadas 50-year gold medal drought at the Olympics in Salt Lake City, while the 2006 team finished off the podium in Torino. The team selection is always a controversial process, with fans and pundits naturally second-guessing the picks once theyre announced. "My son, who is 21, who doesnt follow hockey all that much, was showing me the second team that Canada could have put together, which would have been pretty good," Gretzky told LeBrun. "So, even kids down here are talking about it." Gretzky added that Yzerman, who also led the selection committee for Canadas gold-medal winning team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, did a good job of avoiding any real obvious controversy with most of their choices. "There was really no controversy on the three goalies," he told LeBrun. "Those are the three guys and with the ability to have eight defensemen instead of seven, there really wasnt any talk about so and so was left off." Theres one difficult task that Gretzky never had to endure - wear an NHL GMs hat at the same time and tell his own player that he didnt make the team. Thats something that Yzerman had to do with his Tampa Bay Lightning captain Martin St. Louis on Tuesday morning. "Ive always said that its an easy hard job," said Gretzky. "Its easy because youre picking from 50 really good players, so youve got an easy task in terms of having a good team. But its a hard task in getting down to those final few picks; thats what really makes it difficult. Its never fun. It wont be controversial if they win, but as always, itll be controversial if they lose." Maury Wills Jersey . Rajne Soderberg, the director of the Stockholm Diamond League event, said in an email Friday that the ban still holds. Euromeetings, the organization representing Europes top track events, "will continue to recommend that members do not invite athletes who we believe cause disrepute to our meetings and our sport. Chris Taylor Jersey .Y. -- A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No. http://www.baseballdodgersproshop.com/hyun-jin-ryu-dodgers-jersey/ . With the win, the Marlies complete a three-game series sweep of the Admirals and move on to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. T.J. Brennan added an empty netter with less than 25 seconds remaining for his second of the playoffs.FLORENCE, Italy -- United States-born forward Giuseppe Rossi was left off Italys final 23-man squad for the World Cup on Sunday. Coach Cesare Prandelli apparently judged that Rossi hadnt fully recovered from his latest right knee injury in January. It was likely a difficult decision since Rossi has always been one of Prandellis favourite players. Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was selected instead. Rossi played 71 minutes in Italys 0-0 draw with Ireland on Saturday but failed to make much of an impact. Rossi was also one of the final cuts by then-coach Marcello Lippi in 2010, although Lippi said last week that he regretted that decision. Now, Rossi will have to wait until 2018 -- when hell be 31 -- for a chance to play in the World Cup. Also cut from Prandellis 30-man preliminary squad were: forward Mattia Destro; Brazilian-born midfielder Romulo, who has been dealing with a muscle problem; and fullbacks Manuel Pasqual and Christian Maggio. Key midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was ruled out after breaking the tibia bone in his left leg against Ireland. Center back Andrea Ranocchia was selected as a 24th man to go to Brazil as a possible replacement for Andrea Barzagli, who has been fighting injury all season. Rossi was born in New Jersey to Italian parents and was offered a chance to play for the United States at an early age but he has always said it was his dream to play for the Azzurri. Rossi led Serie A with 14 goals in 17 matches with Fiorentina until he re-injured his right knee in January, sidelining him for four months. He returned a month ago but has not played a full 90 minutes since coming back and occasionally appeared hesitant against Ireland. Rossi initially tore his right anterior cruciate ligament during a match with Villarreal against Real Madrid in October 2011 and needed three operations before returning with Fiorentina in May 2013. Insigne scored twice when his Napoli club beat Rossis Fiorentina 3-1 in the Italian Cup a month ago. Joc Pederson Jersey. That was Rossis first match back. Besides sure starter Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Torino strike partners Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci were also chosen up front. Cassano made the squad following a resurgent season with Parma. After two years away from the national team, his appearance against Ireland was his first since the 2012 European Championship final. Immobile led Serie A with 22 goals in 33 appearances and Cerci is a reliable winger. Torino fullback Matteo Darmian, who made his Italy debut against Ireland and can play on either the right or the left, was also included, along with Argentine-born centre back Gabriel Paletta. In midfield, the newcomers are Paris Saint-Germains Marco Verratti and Parmas Marco Parolo. Verratti, in particular, shined against Ireland and is considered an eventual replacement for Andrea Pirlo. Four-time champion Italy opens its World Cup campaign against England in Group D on June 14 then faces Costa Rica on June 20 and Uruguay on June 24. The Azzurri play Luxembourg in Perugia on Wednesday then fly out to Brazil a day later. ------ Italy: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain). Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma). Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain). Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli). Jerseys NFL Cheap Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 ' ' '