Hiller named to Team Switzerland

The Ducks are loaded with Olympians. Anaheim Ducks have seven players included in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with hockey on the big stage and the main event of the Olympics this is a dream come true for players for any sport to represent their country. The biggest thing players need to do is not let the Olympics or any type of championship which displays their sport on the biggest stage it could find get to them. They can't let something like this bother them while the rosters are still being considered; this would not be the best for the athletes. It'd put too much stress on the player, it'd spike the heart rate, and it may get them over excited, too over the top which would lead to mistakes and take them out of the potential to wear their country's colors. This as the case most if not every player always states, this doesn't get to them they don't really think about it throughout the season. When they're chosen, the world is saying to them "you are one of the best, you're in the spotlight,but at the same time you're not alone. You're with some of the best players of your sport in the world. Your potential line mates, your potential teammates may be rivals in the NHL but they're your friends here" and saying "Some of those who made it into the Olympics; they're going to be on the roster of a rivalry country. It could be Finland and Switzerland. Russia and Canada. USA and Canada. USA and Russia, etc."

It's funny, the Ducks are near the bottom of the standings in the Western Conference yet look at the roster; we have the potential and having seven Ducks chosen for the Olympics; six currently on the Ducks roster with one young prospect is nothing short of amazing. It really shows the talent of Anaheim and being named will spark not only the players who were named but the entire team knowing their teammates are on the national stage; it's going to spark and set fire the locker room. Set up their confidence for the remaining of the NHL season.

Here are the names of the Ducks who made it;

Team Canada: Scott Niedermayer, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf
Team Finland: Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu
Team Switzerland: Jonas Hiller and prospect Luca Sbisa.

This is several Ducks first ever Olympics including Perry, Getzlaf, Sbisa and Hiller.

Hiller has definitely made a name for himself outside of his country, where he was virtually unknown until the NHL had its second lock out and until the then Boston Bruins and now San Jose Sharks Joe Thornton. When the lockout occurred in 2004-2005 players went to play with different countries ranging from every hockey country in Europe to Russia to just in house teams in their home country and city. Thus, Joe Thornton packed his bags and flew to Switzerland and played there. Most of these players he played with while were big names in Switzerland the names never crossed the ocean to North America where the NHL's home lies. This was in the case of Jonas Hiller. Thornton carried Hiller's name over to North America suggesting him to the NHL. Hiller would sign with the Anaheim Ducks and a huge reason being is former goalie coach Francois Allaire who had trained Hiller since he was 16.

According to a OC Register article who interviewed Hiller he stated this:

“It was always a dream,” Hiller said. “If you grow up, especially in Switzerland, where probably the Olympics are bigger than the NHL because the national team is closer than the NHL. That was definitely one of the dreams, and having a chance to play for the national team in the Olympic tournament is great.”

On playing against his teammates:

“There’s going to be some talk,” he said. “I think everybody’s all excited. It’s great that there are that many players from that team going there. I’m excited to play with those guys and the best players in the world.”

Hiller will sleep tight knowing he will represent his home country of Switzerland and most likely be reunited with those he played with while in Switzerland. Every player named to their respective country's roster will sleep tight. Night night while those who weren't named to the roster had their hearts broken will definitely try to keep it away from bothering them. Hiller is also playing for a country who isn't exactly part of the Big Seven in fact Switzerland isn't even on that list. Seeing players like Martin Gerber and Jonas Hiller really helps spark something for that country.

There is a feeling in the air that Hiller will be named the number one goalie for his country.Hiller may even stun the world with helping bring a medal for his country pushing a bigger and more developed country out of medal contention; former Ducks goalie Martin Gerber has also been named to the roster he currently plays in Russia and had suffered a neck injury in which the Russians over stated it which is good in all aspects Gerber may be healthy in time for the Game; Islanders Mark Streit is the only other NHL player born in Switzerland on the roster he currently players for the New York Islanders. Let the Games Begin!


Team USA has yet to name their roster, but the potentials are Bobby Ryan and Ryan Whitney look for Bobby Ryan to be named to the roster and Whitney could possibly be named as a 7th defenseman for the US the roster announcement will be named on the air on Friday the first day of 2010 at the Winter Classic in Boston at the famous and currently longest standing baseball park and the home of the Boston Red Sox; Fenway Park's Winter Classic will have Boston's home team Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers face on NBC for American audiences. The American players nerves couldn't be any more fiddled with being their country being of of the last to announce their roster and to do it at the very well viewed Winter Classic.