Saturday, February 23, 2002

'Different route' to gold medal game

By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
 SALT LAKE CITY -- The road to gold has been paved with a silver lining for Team Canada.

 After getting off to a rough start with a 5-2 loss to Sweden in the opener, Wayne Gretzky's Team Canada is poised to battle for the gold medal tomorrow which is exactly where everybody wanted it to be.

 Unlike its 1998 trip to Nagano, this battle's been much different. There have been trials and tribulations along the way that included a scary 3-2 victory over Germany that had the country up in arms.

 "I told the guys when we were in Nagano we were 4-0 and we were being called the best Canadian team ever assembled when we went into that (semi-final against the Czechs). Then, it all came apart," said Gretzky. "This one has been a different route. In fact, it's been much different. The good thing is we've gotten better as this tournament has gone on and we've put ourselves in a position where we can win. This is a great opportunity."

 If Team Canada doesn't win gold, Gretzky is going to be the man who will have to answer for it. He'll be second-guessed because nothing but the top prize is good enough for people in our hockey-mad country. Not since 1950 has Canada brought home the gold from these Games and the country hasn't been this close since Sweden's Peter Forsberg beat goalie Corey Hirsch with a nifty move in 1994 in Lillehammer.

 A TV type was saying CBC could have more than 10 million viewers across the country for tomorrow's final.

 THE MEDAL PLAZA:

  The crowds at Canada Lodge continue to roll in as the Games move toward a conclusion. The country may not have enough medals, but people should be proud of the Canadian presence here because it's been outstanding. It's only 1,000 km to the border by car from here and many have made the drive down to show their support ... Shouldn't people at the Canadian Olympic Association be made to answer for this country's performance at these Games? Just in case you've forgotten, Canada was supposed to battle for third in the medal standings and they're not going to get close. The good news is athletes haven't been whining about government funding like those sent to Sydney in 2000. Instead, these competitors have blamed their performance on not getting the job done ... Cornwall's Lori Dupuis couldn't hide her excitement at picking up Olympic gold with the Canadian women's team. "I couldn't believe it was happening," Dupuis told reporters after the victory over the United States. "God, I am going to remember this for the rest of my life." ... This can't be good news: Sixty-minutes before the Team Canada-Belarus game, E Center employees are pushing one of the Zambonis around the ice.

 STANDING ON THE PODIUM:

  U.S. skier Picabo Street has only been retired for a week, but she's already been forgotten. Street had problems getting into the Main Media Center downtown the other day because she didn't have her credentials. "I didn't recognize (Street)," said one volunteer ... Singer Marc Anthony and former Olympic champion Katarina Witt were spotted at a downtown club Wednesday ... The venue for freestyle skiing here is considered among the most beautiful. Nestled in the Wasatch Mountains at nearby Deer Valley, it's the perfect spot to spend a sunny winter day ... Russian coach Slava Fetisov says President Vladimir Putin phoned twice to offer congratulations after his club beat the Czechs. More than 100 million Russians watched the game on TV ... Belarus G Andrei Mezin says his chest protector is so old, he cringes every time he takes a shot.

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2002 Games News Coverage