Jovanovski and Bertuzzi will be featured in the soon-to-be-unveiled Hockey Canada 2006 pin collection, as will the other 21 players named in late December to represent Canada at the Turin Winter Olympics.
For the 29-year-old Jovanovski, the announcement came as no surprise. The Windsor native was a member of the triumphant 2002 gold-medal winning squad in Salt Lake City and his play this season was clearly good enough to warrant another invitation.
``This is the biggest stage and to be included in that says a lot,'' Jovanovski said after his name was called by Canucks assistant general manager Steve Tambellini, a Team Canada executive. ``My family is really excited.''
Bertuzzi's selection was more controversial. The hulking forward has not represented Canada in a best-on-best tournament _ neither an Olympics or World Cup of Hockey _ and was recently suspended for 17 months from all hockey for his March 8, 2004, attack on former Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore.
The Canuck was also having a so-so National Hockey League season after not playing anywhere last year. But Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky has always liked what Bertuzzi could do when he was on form and was quick to invite the Sudbury, Ont., native to last August's orientation camp when the suspension was lifted.
``It is pretty rewarding knowing that they believe in me and feel the so-called baggage that I carry wasn't going to interfere with this team,'' Bertuzzi said. ``It was something I was excited to hear and I'm looking forward to moving on. It means a lot to my family. That's something they were really looking forward to happening and there's no better place than to go over there and have my first Olympics.''
Jovanovski and Bertuzzi figure to have far different roles on Team Canada than they do with the Canucks. Both receive top minutes for their respective positions and are mainstays on Vancouver's first-unit power play.
Jovanovski is an excellent skater and can rush the puck with the best of them, but he tends to force passes at times.
He isn't likely to receive 25 minutes of ice time on a blue-line filled with Norris Trophy winners such as Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Rob Blake. Robyn Regehr and Adam Foote might be called upon in the stopper roles.
Bertuzzi, meanwhile, could find himself on a third or fourth line, playing behind talented and high-scoring wingers Jarome Iginla, Simon Gagne, Dany Heatley and Rick Nash.
Olympic head coach Pat Quinn likely won't put up with Bertuzzi's penchant for turning over the puck and taking needless penalties, so the powerful winger will have to be at his most disciplined in Turin.
``Todd plays on a first line in Vancouver, Todd can play on a first line in Turin,'' Quinn said. ``But we are not so sure we are going to have first, second, third and fourth lines. We'd like to have four firsts.''
On the day Jovanovski and Bertuzzi made the team, the former jumped into the latter's arms for a photo opportunity. The entire country will likely embrace them if they return home from Turin with gold medals dangling around their necks.
