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Olympic update: Team Canada picks Drew Doughty, Jeff Carter of Kings

Nashville Predators goalie Marek Mazanec blocks a shot by Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
Nashville Predators goalie Marek Mazanec blocks a shot by Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was sleeping soundly, so much so that he didn’t hear his phone go off Tuesday morning.

After all, it was early. About 6:45.

Half an hour or so later, Doughty reached the man who had some important information, Boston General Manager Peter Chiarelli, a member of Team Canada’s selection committee for the Olympics. Doughty will be heading to the Olympics for Canada for the second time in his young career.

Unlike four years ago when he made it, Doughty was considered a lock for Team Canada, which was announced Tuesday morning. Chiarelli also called Kings forward Jeff Carter, who just missed out playing in Vancouver in 2010.

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“Any time you get to represent Canada and put on that jersey, it’s the biggest honor ever really,” Doughty said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “I’m so excited to be finally be named.”

He was especially thrilled for Carter, especially after what happened four years ago.

“I was pumped for him.… We’re both two London boys,” Doughty said of their hometown in Ontario. “We’ve known each other since we were young. Just grew up around the corner from each other so for us to be on the team together is really special. A special time for both our families.”

Carter declined to speak to the media Tuesday morning, apparently opting to discuss his Olympic selection after the Kings’ game against the Minnesota Wild at Staples Center.

The Kings did release a statement from Carter, who has a team-leading 15 goals. He was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers when he sat out last time, on call in case the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf was unable to play in the Olympics.

“Obviously it is exciting,” Carter said. “I missed out on this four years ago. It is something I have been working towards the past four years. It is a huge opportunity for a Canadian kid to go over there and represent your country while playing with and against the best players in the world.

“I got a call this morning at 7 a.m. from [Peter] Chiarelli from Boston. I had no idea until that point which way it was going to go. It was obviously a good call to receive.”

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Doughty said he spent a lot of time hanging out with Carter in Vancouver before the Olympics started.

“Getzlaf played so Carts had to go back home,” Doughty said. “He deserved to make this team. I have no doubt when he gets there, when he puts on the jersey, he’s going to be a dominant player for us. If they put him with somebody that can pass the puck to him, he’s going to score a lot of goals.”

Additionally, Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was named to Russia’s team on Tuesday and center Anze Kopitar is going for Slovenia. Last week, captain Dustin Brown and goalie Jonathan Quick made Team USA.

Doughty had some amusing observations about potentially facing some of the Kings’ teammates in Sochi, Russia. If so, he could be called upon to deliver some intel.

Said Doughty, smiling: “I’m going to have to, unfortunately. I remember last Olympics we kind of did a rundown of each player on the opposing team. If you played with them, you had to give the weaknesses and strengths of the player.

“So might have to let them know about Quickie’s.”

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter had a tart response about Quick’s alleged weaknesses.

“You have to spend a couple of days trying to figure that one out,” Sutter said.

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