Eric Staal and David Krejci among players to watch in men's Olympic tournament

Action is underway in the men's Olympic ice hockey tournament at Beijing 2022.

The household names may be absent following the NHL boycott due to Covid concerns, but there is a chance for young tyros and old stagers to make their presence felt on the biggest stage in international hockey.

Canada start their campaign on Thursday (10 February) against PyeongChang 2018 silver medallists Germany who beat the Canadians in the semi-finals four years ago.

They feature two players at opposite ends of their careers who are expected to have a big impact at Wukesong Sports Centre over the next week and a half.

Eric Staal will captain Team Canada in Beijing on his second appearance at the Olympic Winter Games, 12 years after his debut at Vancouver 2010.

And what an unforgettable debut it was as Sidney Crosby's overtime goal secured home gold against the United States.

Now 37, Staal is expected to fill the role Crosby would have had as the team's starting centre.

A veteran of 1,293 NHL games and six-time All-Star, Staal reached last season's Stanley Cup Final with the Montreal Canadiens but most recently played for the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League.

His experience and ability will be key for Canada, and some strong performances might even earn him an NHL return after the Games.

When it was suggested he was one of the tournament's star names, Staal told the Associated Press: “Well, we’ll see when the games start.

"I’m excited to be here. It’s been a unique couple of years here with everything going in the world and when the NHL opted to not play and my situation was what it was and I jumped at this chance.”

If Staal is the embodiment of longevity, teammate Owen Power represents the promise of youth.

The 19-year-old was the