Sunday, February 24, 2002
Yzerman watches Canada's workout
By Bruce Garrioch -- Ottawa Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Steve Yzerman decided to save himself for the big game yesterday.
Instead of going on the ice with the rest of his Team Canada teammates, the Detroit Red Wings captain opted to stay off the ice with defencemen Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis along with forwards Mario Lemieux and Paul Kariya.
"I only play in the games," said Yzerman with a laugh as he headed towards the dressing room. "Actually, I'm a little bit sore (coming off knee surgery) and I'm fine to play but I'm better to take the rest."
Team Canada and the U.S. both held light workouts. However, in a strange move, U.S. coach Herb Brooks had all media kicked out of the rink before his practice started but made the players available later at the E Center.
Canadian coach Jacques Martin said a team dinner was planned for last night and then a 15-minute video session would follow at the Olympic Village later to go over the U.S. team in more detail with the players.
"We want to give the players some time to relax and prepare for the game. This should be fun because it is something they've been looking forward to for a long time," said Martin.
BIG DAY FOR MARIO: While Lemieux didn't practise, he's looking forward to trying to help Canada win a medal today because this wasn't something that was in the cards during his retirement. "To be captain of the team and have a chance to win the gold medal is something that I wasn't expecting," he said. "I didn't really think about the Olympics. I knew it was there but I was trying to help my team win the Stanley Cups." Lemieux said if the game goes to a shootout, he's not concerned about the pressure. "I think I'm six-for-seven in penalty shots in the NHL. I've done it before under pressure. I don't have a problem with it."
NO KARL MALDEN PLEASE: Team USA coach Herb Brooks had a good laugh yesterday when a Sun scribe asked him who he'd like to play his role if there's a movie made about his 2002 team. "I can tell you who my wife wants and it's not Karl Malden," said Brooks. "I think she's thinking more along the lines of Robert Redford and if he's there, she'd like to play herself." Following the Miracle on Ice in 1980, Malden was the featured actor in Brooks' role.
SURPRISED TO HEAR: Brooks didn't know about Vladislav Fetisov's comments about the officials following the 3-2 loss to the U.S. Friday but he was surprised to the hear the Russians believed organizers wanted a Canada-U.S. final."I don't know how anybody could do that. What, did the organizers set it up so Belarus could beat Sweden in the quarter-final? I don't believe that. I would think that Slava was just saying those things in the heat of the moment," said Brooks.
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2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
