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2006 Turin Olympic Coverage
From the author of Legends of Team Canada and creator of 1972 Summit Series.com

Vintage Bertuzzi At Training Camp Canadian Press 8/17/2005 8:37:36 PM KELOWNA, B.C. (CP) - Any questions about how a 17-month layoff may affect Todd Bertuzzi were quickly answered in Wednesday's scrimmage at Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp. The big Vancouver Canuck forward showed he hadn't gathered any rust. He skated with confidence, demonstrated his usual soft touch with the puck and rattled the molars of Edmonton's Ryan Smyth with a hit. All in all, it was vintage Bert. "I haven't played or scrimmaged or practised like that in a long time," Bertuzzi said with a grin. "It was a high tempo pace and I'm looking forward to the next couple of days." Hockey Canada invited Bertuzzi to the camp after the NHL re-instated him last week. That ended Bertuzzi's suspension for his March 2004 sucker punch of Steve Moore, then of the Colorado Avalanche. A sellout crowd of over 4,000 crammed into Prospera Place and cheered Bertuzzi when he first stepped onto the ice. They also hooted their approval the first time he touched the puck during the scrimmage. "The people were awesome out there," Bertuzzi said. "It was a very nice to get back into the swing of things here." The six-foot-three Bertuzzi admitted he wasn't sure how much he should throw around his 240 pounds on the ice. "The first question I asked Jarome (Iginla) sitting beside me on the bench was `is there hitting?"' he said. "It's good for everyone to come in and skate and rub shoulders with each other out there, work the corners and get ready for the season." The line of Bertuzzi, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes and Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning quickly grabbed the attention of the Team Canada coaching staff. Wayne Gretzky, the Olympic team's executive director, liked what he saw from Bertuzzi. "Let's be honest, he's probably a little nervous right now," said Gretzky. "He hasn't played in a long time. It's going to take him time. Todd is going to be a big part of this team." Gretzky the executive might like the potential Bertuzzi shows for Canada repeating as gold medallist at the Turin Olympics. Gretzky the new coach of Phoenix still hasn't figured out a way to prevent the big power forward from scoring. "With the new rules, how do you stop him?" Gretzky said. "You can't hook him, you can't hold him. His reach is so strong and so long." It's been an emotional week for Bertuzzi. On Monday in Vancouver he answered reporters' questions for the first time since the Moore incident. Later that night he received a standing ovation from 14,000 people watching the Olympic team practice at GM Place. "I said before, that's why I came back," Bertuzzi said about the fans. "There was a lot of questions about me coming back (to Vancouver). I had a tough time thinking about all that stuff. The fans have always been good to me, very supportive. It made my decision a lot easier to come back." Bertuzzi balked when asked if he felt any relief after facing the media. "I respect your question but I'd like to talk just about hockey here," he said politely. "I dealt with it. I'd like to move forward with hockey questions."

GO CANADA GO!

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