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2006
Turin Olympic Coverage

From the author of Legends of Team Canada and creator of 1972 Summit Series.com

Gretzky to guide Canada in Turin

Canadian Press
6/15/2005 10:42:32 AM

The Great One wants the best players in the world at next February's Olympics. So do NHL players.

But Wayne Gretzky, who confirmed Wednesday he will resume his role as Team Canada's executive director for the Turin Games, also understands why allowing NHL players to go for gold is a tough decision for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his 30 owners.

''We think it's important not only for people in Canada but for the National Hockey League. In saying that, the tough part now is that we're in a different situation than we were in 2002,'' Gretzky said during a Hockey Canada conference call.

''We just missed one full season and I know there's probably some concerns from owners, probably more in the United States, in the sense of getting started again and trying to build that enthusiasm for the National Hockey League again and then having to shut down for 17 days.''
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Bettman has said in the past he doesn't want to take a break next season after seeing the lockout wipe out the entire 2004-05 schedule. The idea is that teams in some markets have their work cut out to reconnect with fans and two weeks off won't help.

He probably has some owners who feel the same way. And while the Olympic tournament featuring best on best is must-see TV in Canada and some northern U.S. markets, the same can't be said for many other American cities.

But the NHL Players' Association has strongly urged the league during labour talks to include Olympic participation in the new collective bargaining agreement, and it appears the union may get its way after accepting a salary cap, although nothing is set in stone at this point.

The men's Olympic hockey tournament runs from Feb. 15-26, with defending champion Canada opening against Italy on the 15th.

Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe, who resumes his role as Gretzky's right-hand man on Team Canada, has been a strong supporter of Bettman during the lockout. But he too wants NHLers in Turin.

''Gary Bettman is going to do what's best for the game of hockey, and in this case the NHL, and I think he recognizes that the Olympics is important for the National Hockey League,'' Lowe said. ''And if he can juggle all that, he'll certainly get that done. He has many issues on the table. The CBA, as we know it, is very complicated. There's 30 markets and 30 different sets of circumstances.

''And you throw in the Olympics, that's one more thing. But I have all the confidence in the world that Gary Bettman will do the right thing.''

It's all about timing. If a CBA does indeed get done by the end of the month or early July, then Turin is likely a done deal. But if negotiations drag on past that period, the league will become less inclined to include a break in a season that will likely be delayed.

While Gretzky says he'll help Team Canada regardless of NHL participation, it's clear the Phoenix Coyotes managing partner would rather choose from the best NHLers possible, a recipe that helped him produce winning squads at the Salt Lake City Games in February 2002 and the 2004 NHL World Cup of Hockey.

But Gretzky, ever the diplomat, insisted Wednesday's announcement was not meant to nudge the NHL in the right direction.

''No, no, I don't think what we do today is going to make a big dent in the negotiations that they have going on and by no means are we trying to hinder them,'' Gretzky said. ''This is something that as hockey people we're preparing for. We're hoping a resolution comes to pass in the little while here and we hope we can go to the Olympic Games with the National Hockey League players.

''But we just wanted to be pro-active here, we wanted to get everything ready and able to put the best possible team together.''

Gretzky, who hopes Mario Lemieux will once again play for Canada, will also be helped by Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Steve Tambellini, who was GM of Canada's silver medal team at the IIHF world championship last month in Austria.

National team head coach Marc Habscheid, who was behind the bench in Austria, will be an assistant in Turin along with the familiar cast from Salt Lake City: head coach Pat Quinn of the Toronto Maple Leafs and assistants Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers, and Ken Hitchcock and Wayne Fleming of the Philadelphia Flyers.

But the Quinn group will not be behind the bench if the NHL decides not to take part in the Games. In that case, Habscheid will be head coach.

''I, too, hope that the NHL players will be allowed to go to Torino because that means I'll be going and I'm really excited and thrilled to be included in our quest of another gold medal,'' Quinn said.

Gretzky took a pass on the world championship because of his mother Phyllis, who is battling lung cancer in Brantford, Ont., but is now doing better.

''My mom's doing pretty well,'' Gretzky said. ''She just finished her fifth chemo treatment. She seems to be doing very well. She's extremely upbeat and positive.''

Lowe also didn't take part in the IIHF tournament, admitting it was in large part because of the lockout.

''No question because of the labour unrest is why I stepped aside,'' said Lowe, who has been outspoken in his support of having a salary cap. ''I felt it was better for Hockey Canada, I didn't want to create a crutch or a barrier for that club to have any success. My feeling at the time is that my involvement might have done that.''

That Gretzky has committed to Turin begs the question whether or not he will indeed take over head coaching duties with his Coyotes, although he could still balance both portfolios.

''I've yet to say whether I am coaching or not, that's still a topic of conversation,'' Gretzky said. ''At this point in time, my thoughts are towards the Olympic program.''

If the NHL commits to Turin, Hockey Canada will invite 34 NHL players to attend an Olympic orientation camp in Vancouver and Kelowna, B.C., in mid-August, similar to the orientation camp that took place in Calgary in September 2001.

Hockey Canada, meanwhile, continues to prepare under two scenarios, also opening a three-day camp Wednesday in Edmonton for 31 non-NHL players, the likes of Jamie Heward, Stacey Roest, Jeff Shantz, Hnat Domenichelli and Jimmy Waite, all of whom play in Europe.

They'll be ready to go for Canada in Turin if the NHL isn't.

GO CANADA GO!

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Joe Pelletier