CALGARY -- Eric Staal is an Olympian again.
The Thunder Bay forward on Tuesday was named to Canada's men's Olympic Hockey team and next month will seek his second Olympic gold medal.
The 37-year-old, who posted five points in four games with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild tuning up for the Games.
“I have so many fond memories of competing at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and winning a gold medal on home ice, and I am honoured to once again be nominated for the 2022 Games in Beijing,” said Staal. “The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport, and I know our entire team is grateful for the opportunity to compete for a gold medal in Beijing and be a part of Team Canada.”
Staal, who spent 17 years in the National Hockey League, winning a Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a member of the 2010 Canadian team that won gold in Vancouver, and was on the taxi squad in 2006.
Team Canada is a mix of veterans and youth, including No. 1 overall pick, defenceman Owen Power and Mason McTavish, a first-rounder who spent the early part of the season with the Anaheim Ducks.
Maritimers Brandon Gormley and Alex Grant will bring NHL experience to the Team Canada blue-line, while Adam Cracknell has 201 games of NHL experience under his belt up front.
Staal has 441 goals and 1,034 points in 1,293 career National Hockey League Games, most recently with Montreal, a team he helped lead to last summer's Stanley Cup final.
