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

Players Happy To Play With Bertuzzi Canadian Press 8/18/2005 12:20:53 PM KELOWNA, B.C. (CP) - Shane Doan is no stranger to Todd Bertuzzi. The Phoenix Coyotes forward has had his share of battles over the years with the Vancouver Canucks steamroller of a winger. So it's been kind of a relief during this week's Olympic team orientation camp when Doan found himself playing on the same line as Bertuzzi. ''He's a big man,'' said Doan. ''You never want to be caught in his tracks.'' Doan and Bertuzzi have played wing on a line centred by Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The unit has worked well together, with Bertuzzi setting up Richards for a goal during Thursday morning's scrimmage. ''I've always enjoyed his (Richards) skill and what he brings out there,'' said Bertuzzi, who was reinstated last week after serving a 17-month suspension for his on-ice attack of Steve Moore, then of the Colorado Avalanche. ''You just have to get in the right spot at the right time and get the puck on your tape.'' Alex Tanguay of the Avalanche also spent some time on the line Thursday. It was soon apparent Tanguay held no hard feelings toward Bertuzzi over the Moore incident. ''I wish he could be playing in Colorado with me,'' said Tanguay. ''He has such a big presence. He can hold onto the puck and slow down the game to his pace. With his size and strength he can play a little bit different game than anybody else. ''It fun to play with a guy like that. It gives you more time to get open and more time to do your thing.'' Doan and Bertuzzi are cut from the same mould. At six-foot-two and 216 pounds, Doan is an inch shorter and about 30 pounds lighter than Bertuzzi, but he still can deliver crunching hits. ''We're pretty much similar,'' said Bertuzzi, sweat dripping off his bearded face. ''We're both strong guys. He's very gifted with the puck and can make the same play down low as myself.'' Doan said he loves watching Vancouver's top line of Bertuzzi, Brendan Morrison and Markus Naslund, as long as they aren't playing against the Coyotes. ''The way they move the puck is fun to watch,'' said Doan. ''When you get a chance to play with him you know it's going to be creative, it's going to be fun. Nothing is better than that when you play hockey.'' Richards said its been fun playing with Bertuzzi. ''He's a really smart player,'' he said. ''I'm happy to see him on my wing.''< Bertuzzi said it has been adjustment playing with linemates different than Morrison and Naslund. ''I'm jumping into holes where I usually jump in for Markus,'' he said. ''I usually know where he's going. Guys anticipate in a different way. When guys are world class players like this it's not tough to adjust.''

GO CANADA GO!

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