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denis play may make this summer exciting to say the least...
RIGA, Latvia (CP) - He's spent time in the past as both a star and spectator, but all that matters to Marc Denis is that he's always come home a winner.
The 28-year-old has won gold medals in all three IIHF tournaments he's attended with Team Canada and plans to make it four at this world championship.
Denis was named the starter over Alex Auld for the team's quarter-final game Wednesday against Slovakia (TSN, 12:15 p.m. ET), but insists that getting the nod meant little to him.
"Team is always first when you wear your country's jersey," he said after practice on Tuesday. "How many good players are here playing on the fourth line? How many offensive defenceman are not getting time on the power play?
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"You don't hear anybody whining about that. Being part of a winning team and adventure is always worth it no matter what your role is."
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For now, Denis will focus on beating the underachieving Slovaks.
Slovakia came into the tournament ranked No. 5 in the world, having won three medals in the last five championships, including the gold in 2002.
But the Slovaks struggled throughout the round robin, losing 2-1 to Belarus and 4-3 to Russia, and skating to a 2-2 tie with Switzerland. Despite convincing wins over Sweden and Kazakhstan, the Slovaks needed an 8-0 win over Ukraine on Tuesday to finish fourth in their group and advance to the medal round.
Former Ottawa Senators draft pick Rastislav Pavlikovsky leads Slovakia in scoring with one goal and six assists. Captain Marian Hossa of the Atlanta Thrashers has five assists but only one goal while Chicago Blackhawks forward Milan Bartovic has two goals and four assists.
So far, goalie Karol Krizan has been a pleasant surprise for the Slovaks. The 25-year-old, who has never played professionally in North America, boasts a .920 save percentage and a tournament-best 1.50 goals-against average.
Denis, however, should be every bit as good at the other end for the Canadians, who are ranked third in the world.
He has never lost a game in goal for Canada, racking up a 7-0-2 record while collecting gold medals at the 1996 and 1997 world junior championships before going 3-0-0 so far here.
He was also the third goalie during Canada's gold-medal win at the 2004 world championship, dressing as a backup for two games but not seeing any action.
Watching from the bench was just as rewarding because the team achieved its goal.
"It was all worth it," Denis said. "It was a great three-week sacrifice because I left Prague that year with a gold medal."<
Forgive him for sounding like a CD stuck on repeat, but Denis knows that consistently high expectations are part of what separates Canada from its competitors.
Another is the way its teams come together as this group seems to be doing. Family members who have travelled to Latvia joined the players on the ice before practice for a giant photo session on Tuesday.
It kept the mood light ahead of the biggest game of the tournament.
"We're trying to make it a real team atmosphere and include everybody in it," said defenceman Brad Stuart, whose wife Melissa is here. "I think that just kind of emphasizes the fact we're all in it together."
Coach Marc Habscheid thinks it's important to include the families and give them time to commemorate the experience.
"We've always said the families are a big part of it," Habscheid said. "It's a little sign of togetherness.
"It's a good time to get a team picture, we couldn't do it any earlier."
They also might not be able to do it later. That's the reality of must-win games like the impending quarter-final against Slovakia.
In other action Tuesday, the United States beat the Czech Republic 3-1, Belarus defeated Switzerland 2-1 and host country Latvia topped Norway 4-2.
The Americans will meet Olympic champion Sweden in the quarter-finals while Russia will face the Czech Republic and Finland will play Belarus.
Denis knows he must be at his best against the Slovaks.
"Obviously, I want to be part of the solution," he said. "I've been around long enough to see enough situations where not too much fazes you and that's the attitude you've got to have."<
Still, the Montreal native admits that it's a little strange to be considered a veteran.
He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche and led the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens to the Memorial Cup in 1997. He was named the Canadian hockey league's top goalie that year.
But Denis' progress stalled a little and he didn't get the chance to be a full-time NHL starter until being dealt to the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000.
"It's a process," he said of the transition to the NHL.
Denis said the 1999-2000 season in Colorado was important because he got to back up Patrick Roy, the NHL's all-time wins leader.
That season sparked his development.
"I learned a lot from watching, in my opinion, the greatest goalie of all time," Denis said.
Experiences like those have made him a leader here for Canada.
His teammates believe in him.
"He's a great goaltender," said forward Patrice Bergeron, also a member of the 2004 world championship team. "I'm happy he's getting his chance right now. He's proving that he can play." Denis was particularly good in a 4-2 win over Finland in the final round-robin game on Monday. Not only did he make 38 saves, he also kept the Finns from scoring a goal that would tie the game once Canada took the early lead.
It was a key victory that came one night after the Canadians had lost to the Czech Republic with Auld in goal.
Habscheid says the team has faith in both of its netminders.
"They're both great players," he said. "They've got international credentials and history behind them and they've both played well for us at the tournament.
"We wish we could play both of them."
But that assignment now falls to Denis, whose enthusiasm is infectious.
"He's a pretty laid-back guy," said Stuart. "He always seems like he has a remark or come-back for everything. He's a pretty funny guy."
denis play may make this summer exciting to say the least...
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