CALGARY, Alberta — Coming off a disappointing finish three years ago in Italy, Canada's hockey team will likely be counting on its next generation of talent for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Some of Canada's usual suspects for big international events were at a four-day camp: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, Ryan Smyth and Martin Brodeur. But other international stalwarts such as Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Wade Redden, Ed Jovanovski and Joe Sakic were not.

Canada's next Olympic team looks younger, particularly on defense, than it did in 2006.

Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, Mike Green, Duncan Keith, Marc and Jordan Staal, Jonathan Toews and Marc-Andre Fleury are the next wave of talent.

Of the 46 players invited to the four-day camp that concluded Thursday in Calgary, 19 of them were 25 or younger.

Coach Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings was asked how he would balance the influx of youth with experienced players on his Olympic team in Vancouver in February.

"Some veteran leadership goes a long way," he said. "We don't want kiddie court there, either. One thing I know by coaching in a pressured environment like Detroit, it's harder to do it with kids.

"You need some veteran leadership and we're fortunate in this group we have that."

A reason for Canada's quarterfinal exit at the 2006 Olympics was that the team was too old and too injured. The pendulum will likely swing the other way in Vancouver with a handful of veterans asked to guide a group of 20-somethings.

Three-time Olympian Brodeur agrees that players such as Crosby, Fleury and Jordan Staal, who helped Pittsburgh win a Stanley Cup this year, are attractive choices for 2010, but also likes having some experience.

"These are the guys who are dominating the NHL right now. Obviously you've got to go with the best players and guys who are at the top of the league," Brodeur said.