Saturday, February 2, 2002
Olympic GM urges 'heroes' to step up
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
LOS ANGELES -- The Great One wants only healthy soldiers to stand on guard for Canada at the Olympics.
With only 13 days until Team Canada faces Sweden in its first game in Salt Lake City, GM Wayne Gretzky told reporters last night his staff has sent out letters asking players who aren't healthy to bow out gracefully.
While he hopes all 23 players selected for the squad will take part, Gretzky left a small opening for Boston's Joe Thornton as he wants players to be 100% healthy.
"They're bigger heroes if they say they can't play," Gretzky said at a news conference. "If a player doesn't feel that he can play, then it's important that he lets us know."
After speaking with Steve Yzerman, who underwent knee surgery Monday, Gretzky is confident the Detroit Red Wings centre will be able to play, but has urged the star to let him know if he needs a break during the preliminary games.
San Jose winger Owen Nolan told reporters yesterday he might not be ready to go because of a sore back.
"I'm not going to jeopardize Team Canada's chances of winning a gold,'' Nolan said. "If I feel I can't give it the 100% that I want to, then I'm going to step down and give someone else who is healthy the chance to jump in there. Right now, I feel pretty good that I can play. We're just going to keep assessing it."
Yzerman will likely return to the lineup against the Senators next Saturday at the Corel Centre. He plans to play in three of the Wings' games before the Olympic break.
"I think he's going to be fine," said Gretzky. "He's going to be a big part of this team. What I've told him is, if he needs rest he should let us know."
Captain Mario Lemieux, who had hip surgery earlier this season, should be fine, but may not be used in back-to-back games.
"That's something we're going to be monitoring," said Gretzky.
In town for meetings with Team Canada's coaching staff -- including Senators coach Jacques Martin -- Gretzky said the No. 3 goalie has not been decided, but by all accounts it will be Dallas' Ed Belfour.
Coach Pat Quinn hasn't made the final decision, but the No. 3 goalie will be told before the Games begin. Indications are Belfour will accept that role, but if he doesn't, Phoenix goalie Sean Burke will be invited.
"We know what way we're leaning. We're not going to panic over it," said Gretzky. "We are going to let that player know strictly because maybe his family doesn't want to travel all that way and spend all that money knowing he's not going to be part of it.
"We're not going to have him go there to tell him when he gets there that he's No. 3. We've said all along that we want to give that goaltender the decision, put it in his hands."
If Belfour does pull the short straw, New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Toronto's Curtis Joseph will split the starting duties.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
